Auburn Track & Field Dominates at Yellow Jacket Invitational

ATLANTA, Georgia – The Auburn track and field team kicked off its 2026 outdoor season with a resounding performance at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on the Georgia Tech campus this weekend, securing a total of 13 event wins – 11 individual titles and two relay victories.

Sprints Shine for the Tigers

Auburn’s sprint squad led the charge, capturing six individual races and both relay titles. Senior Reese Webster spearheaded the effort, sweeping the women’s 100m and 200m with times of 11.40 and 23.35 seconds, respectively. These times currently rank as the No. 2 and No. 7 times in the NCAA for those events.

Sophomore transfer Mekhi Dupree mirrored Webster’s success on the men’s side, winning the 200m in a blazing 20.34 seconds. This performance not only secured him the top collegiate outdoor time in the nation this season but also established him as the No. 6 performer in Auburn school history.

Mid-Distance and Field Event Success

The Tigers also excelled in the mid-distance and field events. LeBron Bessick and Zuriel Reed each secured victories in the 400m, setting personal records in the process. Bessick finished in 46.50 seconds, while Reed clocked in at 52.69 seconds, making her the No. 7 all-time performer at Auburn. Freshman Njabulo Mbatha also claimed gold in his Auburn outdoor debut, winning the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.76 seconds.

In the relays, the men’s 4x100m team of Azeem Fahmi, Alejandro Cardenas, Ian Myers, and Tyler Davis finished first in 39.75 seconds. The women’s 4x400m team of Brienna Boyce, Zuriel Reed, Shakynah Tresvant, and Cassidra Thompson achieved a nation-leading time of 3:35.85, currently ranking as the No. 4 time nationally.

Auburn’s field athletes also contributed to the team’s success. Senior Matthew Rueff and junior Marley Raikiwasa swept the men’s and women’s shot put, respectively. Rueff threw 17.88m/58-8, while Raikiwasa, competing for the first time after a year-long injury, threw 15.68m/51-5.5. Senior Seth Allen dominated the men’s discus throw with a mark of 59.27m/194-5, winning by nearly 10 meters.

Distance Runners Compete

In the middle-distance events, sophomores Nickson Chebii and Camila Gomes delivered strong performances. Chebii won the men’s 1,500m in 3:44.17, while Gomes claimed the women’s 800m title in 1:06.79.

Looking Ahead

The Auburn track and field team will continue its season in two weeks at the Pepsi Florida Relays on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida.