LEXINGTON, Kentucky — It was a historic day for the Auburn track and field program as the Tigers punched 11 tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, including sprinter Kayinsola Ajayi and hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp posted the world’s top times in 2026 in their respective events. The qualifiers including five sprinters in the men’s 100m dash and two in the discus.
Ajayi ran a blazing 9.84 in the men’s 100m quarterfinals to post the second fastest collegiate time ever and the world’s top time in 2026. Joining Ajayi as qualifiers in the 100 for NCAAs included sophomore Israel Okon and seniors Tyler Davis, Azeem Fahmi, and Omari Lewis. It is Okon and Davis’ second bid to nationals, while Fahmi and Lewis earned their first individual event appearance.
Not to be overshadowed, Tharp advanced to his third consecutive outdoor championships, cruising to victory in the 110m hurdles in 13.05 to equal his personal best and school record. Tharp’s 13.05 equaled the time he posted at SECs two weeks ago and at the 2025 national championship.
Okon had a memorable day in his own right, becoming the second Auburn sprinter in school history to run a sub-10 in the 100m and sub-200 in the 200m dash, joining US Olympian Coby Miller. Okon ran a personal-best 9.99 in the 100 and 19.94 in the 200. Okon became the first Tiger since Harry Adams, Keenan Brock, and Marcus Rowland in 2012 to advance to NCAAs in both sprint events.
The quartet of Fahmi, Ajayi, Austin Kresley, and Davis made easy work of the men’s 4x100m relay quarterfinals, posting the top time of 38.20 to equal the facility record and notching the fourth fastest time in AU history. The two-time defending NCAA champions in the event, Auburn will look to become the first 4×1 relay to three-peat since LSU from 1992-94.
Senior hurdler Devin Nugent ran a lifetime-best 48.90 to advance to NCAA Outdoors for the first time of his collegiate career. Nugent was fifth overall and notched the ninth-fastest time in Auburn history.
Friday’s tone was set by senior Seth Allen and sophomore Kai Twaddle-Dunham who both punched their tickets to NCAAs in the discus throw after finishing fifth and ninth, respectively. Allen qualified for his third consecutive NCAA championship in the discus after his third and final throw of 58.94m/193-4 propelled him outside the cut line to a qualifying position.
Twaddle-Dunham earned his first nationals’ trip after a throw of 57.96m/190-2, giving Auburn two discus throwers at NCAAs for the first time since Marcus Popenfoose and Stephen Saenz in 2011.
Saturday’s final day of competition will feature five Auburn women and one relay in action beginning with Camryn Massey and Marley Raikiwasa in the discus throw at 1 p.m. ET. The women’s 4x100m relay team will get action on the track, going at 5 p.m. ET.
Individuals competing on the track will include Camila Gomes (1500m, 5:15 p.m.), Danae Nembhard (100m Hurdles, 6:15 p.m.), and Zuriel Reed (400m Hurdles, 7:25 p.m.).
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARIES
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
THURSDAY, MAY 29
DAY 3
Men’s Discus Throw
5. Seth Allen 58.94m/193-4 NCAA QUALIFER
9. Kai Twaddle-Dunham 57.96m/190-2 NCAA QUALIFIER
Men’s 4x100m Relay
1. Auburn 38.20 NCAA QUALIFIER, =FR
Azeem Fahmi, Kayinsola Ajayi, Austin Kresley, Tyler Davis
Men’s 110m Hurdles
1. Ja’Kobe Tharp 13.05 NCAA QUALIFIER, =PB, FR
Men’s 100m
1. Kayinsola Ajayi 9.84 NCAA QUALIFIER, SR, FR, World No. 1 2026
4. Israel Okon 9.99 NCAA QUALIFIER
9. Tyler Davis 10.07 NCAA QUALIFIER
10. Azeem Fahmi 10.09 NCAA QUALIFIER, SB
12. Omari Lewis 10.12 NCAA QUALIFIER, =SB
Men’s 400m Hurdles
5. Devin Nugent 48.90 NCAA QUALIFIER, PR
Men’s 200m
1. Israel Okon 19.94 NCAA QUALIFER, PR, AU No. 4 performer
14. Mekhi Dupree 20.54
KEY:
SR – School Record
FR – Facility Record
PR – Personal Record
SB – Season Best
