The Auburn men's sprint team excelled on the first day of the NCAA East Prelims, with eight athletes advancing to the quarterfinals. Notably, junior Kayinsola Ajayi shattered his own school record in the 100m dash, clocking in at an impressive 9.90 seconds. Additionally, Ja鈥橩obe Tharp achieved the fastest time in the 110m hurdles, furthering the team's momentum. Senior Devin Nugent also made headlines with a personal best of 49.19 seconds in the 400m hurdles, marking a significant milestone for the program. The women's events are set to continue on Friday with several athletes poised for competition.

By the Numbers
  • Kayinsola Ajayi's time of 9.90 seconds is now the world鈥檚 second-best time in 2026.
  • Devin Nugent鈥檚 personal best of 49.19 seconds is the fastest by an Auburn athlete in the 400m hurdles since 2008.
State of Play
  • A total of eight athletes from the men鈥檚 team have advanced to the quarterfinal rounds on Friday.
  • The women鈥檚 events will kick off on Day 2, featuring three runners and six field athletes.
What's Next

As the competition progresses, the Auburn women's team aims to make a strong showing on Friday, with key performances expected in track and field events. The focus will be on how the sprinters and field athletes capitalize on their momentum.

Bottom Line

Auburn's sprinters demonstrated elite performance on Day 1 of the NCAA East Prelims, setting new records and advancing multiple athletes forward, which underscores the program's competitive edge and sets a promising tone for the upcoming events.