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“No Auburn Sprints Highlight Showing at LSU Invitational”
No Auburn Sprints Highlight Showing at LSU Invitational
BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Invitational drew some of the top collegiate track and field programs in the country this past weekend, but for the Auburn Tigers, particularly in the sprinting department, it was a day devoid of highlight performances. While the event showcased elite times, fast finishes, and breakout stars from competing programs, Auburn’s absence from the top sprinting marks turned heads and raised questions with the postseason quickly approaching.
Historically a program known for producing electric talent on the track—especially in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay—Auburn entered the LSU Invitational with modest expectations but left without much to build on. Not a single Auburn sprinter finished in the top three in the 100m or 200m races for either men or women. Likewise, the relay teams struggled to find rhythm, with handoff issues and a lack of explosiveness contributing to subpar finishes.
The men’s 100m saw LSU’s Godson Oghenebrume blaze down the track in 9.91 seconds (wind-aided), igniting the crowd and asserting dominance over a field that included heavy hitters from Alabama, Texas, and Florida. Auburn’s top finisher in the 100m, sophomore Brandon Adams, posted a time of 10.52, placing him 10th overall. While respectable, the performance didn’t generate the momentum the Tigers were hoping for heading into the SEC Championships.
In the women’s 100m, Auburn’s presence was equally muted. Junior sprinter Kayla Mitchell crossed the line in 11.61 seconds, placing 13th in a race that was won by Texas A&M’s Jania Martin in a wind-legal 11.08. The women’s 200m also told a similar story, with no Tiger finishing within the top eight. It was a rare off-day across the board for a unit that has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the outdoor season.
The muted performance at the LSU Invitational was made even more noticeable given Auburn’s long-standing reputation in sprint events. From former NCAA champions to Olympic finalists, Auburn’s sprinting pedigree has often placed it among the elite in collegiate track and field.
Notable Tiger alumni like Harvey Glance and Kerron Stewart set the bar high. Even in recent years, Auburn has consistently developed elite-level talent, making their performance in Baton Rouge all the more surprising. With the SEC Outdoor Championships looming just weeks away, concerns are mounting about whether this year’s sprint corps can rise to the occasion.
The 4x100m relays—traditionally a strong suit for Auburn—did little to improve the narrative. The men’s relay team struggled with baton exchanges and finished with a time of 40.51, placing sixth in a competitive field. LSU, Florida, and Georgia all posted sub-39 second times, demonstrating not only speed but cohesion—something Auburn appeared to lack.
The women’s 4x100m team had similar difficulties. A fumbled second-leg handoff cost the Tigers crucial time, resulting in a 45.78-second finish, well behind event-winner LSU, who clocked in at 42.71. In these short-distance relays, precision and chemistry often matter as much as raw speed, and Auburn’s lack of synchronization was glaring.
Head coach Leroy Burrell, himself a former world-class sprinter, acknowledged the disappointing outcome.
“We came in hoping to test ourselves against some of the best, and while we competed hard, we didn’t execute in key areas,” Burrell said post-meet. “There’s still time to clean things up, but we have to get sharper. We have to be better.”
While Auburn’s sprints faltered, there were some positives from the field and mid-distance events. Junior pole vaulter Ethan Strange cleared a personal-best 5.41 meters, finishing third overall. Freshman middle-distance runner Rachel Carver placed fourth in the women’s 800m with a solid 2:06.81—a promising time as she develops in her first collegiate season.
Javonte McBride also placed fifth in the men’s 400m with a season-best 46.32. Though not a podium finish, McBride’s performance was one of the few sprint-related events that showed growth.
“We didn’t have our best showing as a unit,” McBride admitted. “But I think everyone knows what we’re capable of. The LSU meet gave us a wake-up call. Now it’s about fixing the small things and coming back stronger.”
With just two weeks until the SEC Outdoor Championships, the timing of Auburn’s flat performance could serve as either a rallying point or a red flag. The Southeastern Conference remains one of the most competitive in all of NCAA track and field, particularly in sprints. Programs like Florida, LSU, and Arkansas continue to dominate national rankings, and Auburn’s room for error is slim.
Coach Burrell emphasized that the next two weeks of training will be critical.
“This is when champions are made,” Burrell said. “Not in comfort, but in challenge. I believe in our team, and we’ll get back to work immediately.”
Whether that belief turns into tangible improvement remains to be seen.
Several factors may have contributed to the Tigers’ lackluster sprinting performance. Injuries have plagued the roster, with key contributors like senior sprinter Malik Colson still recovering from a lingering hamstring issue. Additionally, weather conditions during the week limited outdoor training sessions leading up to the meet.
There’s also the intangible element—confidence. Sprinting is as mental as it is physical, and when relay handoffs are shaky or runners hesitate out of the blocks, it often signals deeper cohesion issues.
“Track is unforgiving,” said former Auburn All-American and current sprint volunteer coach Marcus Rowland. “When you’re off by even a fraction of a second, it shows. But I’ve seen this group’s potential. One good meet can turn everything around.”
Let’s take a closer look at Auburn’s current core of sprinters heading into the championship stretch:
- Brandon Adams (Sophomore) – Reliable but inconsistent. Has clocked 10.29 earlier this season, but hasn’t hit that mark again in recent weeks. Needs to regain form.
- Kayla Mitchell (Junior) – Versatile and experienced, but hasn’t broken the 11.50-second barrier in the 100m this season.
- Javonte McBride (Senior) – Solid in the 400m, but hasn’t dipped below the 46-second mark this season. A good anchor leg option for relays.
- Alyssa Jordan (Freshman) – Tremendous upside, but still learning race strategy. Could be an SEC breakout star in 2026.
With this group, the potential remains—but execution and consistency will be key.
Auburn will return home for a light training block before traveling to Gainesville for the SEC Outdoor Championships. The coaching staff plans to revisit relay handoffs, block starts, and overall mental preparedness as part of their final phase of preparation.
For a team that once considered sprints a crown jewel of its program, the LSU Invitational served as a sobering checkpoint. Can the Tigers rebound? Absolutely. But it will take more than raw talent. It will require urgency, discipline, and a renewed focus on the details.
The road to redemption may be short, but for Auburn, it’s not yet closed.
Final Word:
There’s a saying in track and field: “Fast is good. Consistent is better.” Auburn sprints weren’t fast at LSU—and they weren’t consistent either. But this is still a talented group, led by a coaching staff that knows how to get results. The next two weeks will define their season, and perhaps, reshape their future.
Will Auburn sprint back into contention—or fall further behind? The clock is ticking.
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