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A spirit that is not afraid

Track 'em Tigers

The track and field teams broke a 20-year school record and won seven events this weekend at the GaREAT Collegiate Invitational in Geneva, Ohio.

The women's sprinters accounted for four of Auburn's victories, including a pair of 1-2 finishes and a victory in the 4x400-meter relay.

"We're pretty much where we need to be as a team," said head coach Ralph Spry. "We've gotten better each weekend."

Senior Eric Werskey earned a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships with his 19.41-meter shot put throw on his sixth and final attempt.

Werskey eclipsed the 19.40-meter mark set by redshirt freshman Stephen Saenz last weekend, which earned Saenz an automatic bid to NCAAs.

Werskey and Saenz now rank fourth and fifth respectively in the NCAA this year.

Junior Holly Knight didn't win her event, but her second-place time of 9:20:56 in the women's 3000-meter broke a 20-year-old school record.

The old record of 9:27:51 was set by Kelly McDonnell in 1991.

"I'm pleased overall with our performance," Spry said. "It was a great opportunity to run at a fast facility against good competition."

Sophomore Harry Adams won the 60-meter for the men with a personal-best time of 6.64 seconds that ranks fourth in school history and tied for seventh in the NCAA this year.

Senior Sheniqua Ferguson and junior Nivea Smith were both part of 1-2 Auburn finishes in the two shortest women's sprints, with Ferguson winning the 60-meter and Smith the 200-meter.

In the 200, Smith's time of 23.30 ranks eighth in the NCAA this year, while Ferguson's runner-up time of 23.40 ranks 11th.

Spry said he was glad to see so many individuals perform at their best at the meet.

"The shot put was a big event for us, and our women's sprinters ran very well, as did Holly Knight," Spry said. "Our key people mostly performed at the level we need them to this time of year."

Senior Joanna Atkins won her first 400-meter race of the season with a time of 53.06 seconds which ranks fourth nationally this season.

Senior Michael DeHaven was second in the men's 200-meter with a time of 21.20 seconds, while freshman DJ Smith placed third in the high jump with a mark of 2.08 meters.

Auburn's other champion on the women's side was sophomore Maya Pressley, who won her second straight high jump title by clearing 1.79 meters.

Auburn, ranked 12th in both the men's and women's national rankings, will return to action Friday and Saturday, splitting its squads between the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., and the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.

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