Auburn Tigers Impress on Day 1 of NCAA Outdoor Championships with School Records and Top National Performances in Multiple Events

The Auburn Tigers men’s track and field team stormed into the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a purpose on Day 1, making their presence felt with a flurry of standout performances that rewrote the school record books and positioned the Tigers among the nation’s elite. From explosive sprints to clutch distance runs and exceptional relay showings, Auburn asserted itself not just as a participant, but as a legitimate contender for podium finishes by the end of the meet.

Coming into the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, the Tigers were flying under the radar on the national radar. But as the opening day unfolded, that quickly changed. The team’s energy, depth, and execution stood out, delivering not only qualifying performances but several that will be remembered in Auburn track history.

The highlight of the day came in the men’s 100-meter dash, where junior sprinter Brandon Smiley exploded out of the blocks and never looked back. Smiley finished his heat in a blazing 9.96 seconds, smashing Auburn’s previous school record of 10.01 and qualifying for the final with the second-fastest time in the nation this season. What made his performance more impressive was the composure he maintained through the middle segment of the race, surging ahead of a field stacked with All-Americans and title favorites.

Smiley’s emergence as a national sprinting force has been building all season, but Wednesday’s performance elevated him into a new tier of recognition. As he crossed the finish line and looked at the scoreboard in disbelief, the moment crystallized what Auburn’s coaches have seen in him throughout 2025: a sprinter with elite top-end speed, capable of delivering when it counts most.

Not to be overshadowed, Auburn’s quarter-mile duo of Kameron Jackson and TJ Miller delivered a 1-2 punch in the 400 meters that turned heads. Jackson clocked a personal-best 44.86 seconds, placing second in his heat and qualifying for the finals with the third-best overall time. Miller followed with a 45.11, a season-best mark that also secured a lane in the finals. The pair’s performances marked the first time two Auburn runners qualified for the 400-meter final at the same NCAA Outdoor Championship since the early 2000s, signaling the Tigers’ return to national prominence in the long sprints.

The 400-meter success was a continuation of a trend that’s been building all season under the direction of head coach Leroy Burrell, who emphasized speed development and technical refinement as keys to Auburn’s resurgence. Jackson’s sub-45 mark was not only a personal milestone but also Auburn’s first sub-45 performance in over a decade, highlighting how far the program has come in a short span.

The Tigers also made noise in the distance events, where sophomore Alex McBride shattered the school record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 28:04.77, placing fifth overall in a brutally competitive field. McBride, known more for his strength in cross country and the 5K, surprised many with his tactical race and strong finishing kick over the final 800 meters. His time broke the previous Auburn mark by more than 20 seconds and was a career breakthrough that earned him first-team All-American honors.

McBride’s performance added another layer of balance to Auburn’s Day 1 success. While the Tigers are known for their power in the sprints and jumps, his showing demonstrated that the program has developed distance depth capable of competing at the highest level. It was a gritty, strategic race that required patience, strength, and awareness—and McBride executed it masterfully.

Meanwhile, the men’s 4×100-meter relay team delivered perhaps the most electrifying moment of the day. The quartet of Smiley, Marquez Grimes, Jayden Lattimore, and Jamal Carter blazed to a season-best time of 38.17 seconds, finishing first in their heat and advancing to the final with the fastest overall qualifying time. The relay was seamless, with crisp handoffs and explosive sprinting down the backstretch, drawing roars from the crowd and marking Auburn as a legitimate title contender in the event.

The relay’s success is a testament to the program’s improved depth and chemistry. Each runner had already made noise individually during the outdoor season, but the collective result on Wednesday showed what’s possible when talent syncs up perfectly under pressure. If they replicate that performance in the final, Auburn could be celebrating its first NCAA title in the 4×100 since 2003.

Another significant development came in the field events, where senior long jumper Deonte Marcus set a personal record of 8.19 meters (26 feet, 10.5 inches), placing second in qualifying and advancing to the finals. Marcus has steadily improved throughout the season and delivered his best series of jumps under championship pressure. His consistent marks across the three rounds showed poise and maturity, giving Auburn a prime scoring opportunity on Day 2.

In the throws, sophomore standout Caleb Reynolds made a statement in the discus, launching a season-best 61.74 meters to earn a spot in the final flight. Though he entered the meet ranked outside the top ten, Reynolds outperformed expectations and kept Auburn in the team race with crucial qualifying points.

The cumulative effect of these performances was evident in the team standings, where Auburn finished Day 1 in second place overall—just behind perennial powerhouse Florida. It’s early in the championship schedule, but the Tigers’ balanced attack across sprints, distance, relays, and field events has created real momentum heading into the critical rounds to come.

Coach Burrell, speaking after the meet, praised his team’s focus and preparation.

“We talked about being aggressive, about showing the nation that Auburn isn’t just happy to be here—we’re here to compete for championships,” Burrell said. “What you saw today was the result of that mindset. Our guys believed they could hang with the best, and they proved it on the track and in the field.”

Burrell also emphasized that the job is far from finished.

“Day 1 is a great start, but that’s all it is—a start,” he said. “We’ve got finals coming up. We’ve got more work to do. But I’m proud of how we opened.”

Team leaders echoed Burrell’s sentiments, while also celebrating the history made. Smiley, visibly emotional after his record-setting 100-meter dash, reflected on what the moment meant.

“I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid—seeing my name up there with a time like that,” Smiley said. “To do it wearing Auburn colors, with my teammates cheering me on, man—it means everything. But I’m not done. We’ve got finals coming, and we’re chasing a national title.”

That ambition is no longer a pipe dream. With multiple finalists in the sprints and relays, a scoring presence in the distance events, and elite marks in the jumps and throws, Auburn has positioned itself for a historic showing at this year’s championships.

The transformation of the program under Burrell’s leadership has been both methodical and dynamic. His recruiting strategy emphasized versatility and untapped potential, and now those athletes are delivering on the sport’s biggest stage. The emphasis on discipline, technical refinement, and a culture of belief is paying dividends at the perfect time.

Beyond the performances, the energy surrounding the team was palpable. Auburn fans traveled well, their orange and blue visible throughout the grandstands, and the athletes fed off that support. Every time an Auburn name appeared on the scoreboard, cheers rang out—and by the end of Day 1, there were plenty of reasons to cheer.

As the Tigers prepare for the rest of the championship schedule, the focus now shifts to finishing strong. Smiley will attempt to become Auburn’s first national 100-meter champion in nearly two decades. Jackson and Miller will try to deliver a double podium in the 400. The 4×100 team has a legitimate chance to make history. And McBride, Marcus, and Reynolds are all capable of earning big points in their finals.

No matter how the rest of the meet unfolds, one thing is already clear: Auburn has reestablished itself as a national force in men’s track and field. Day 1 of the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships was not just a strong showing—it was a statement. And if Wednesday’s performance was any indication, the Tigers are just getting started.