Auburn Track & Field Gears Up for Bob Pollock Invitational with Star Power and Momentum
CLEMSON, S.C. - Auburn Track & Field is heading into the Bob Pollock Invitational this weekend with a full head of steam and a roster that’s as deep as it is talented. The Tigers are set to compete Friday and Saturday at the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex, and if recent performances are any indication, fans should be ready for fireworks.
Head coach Leroy Burrell isn’t just bringing a squad - he’s bringing a statement. Auburn is rolling into Clemson with 47 athletes (24 women, 23 men) and some serious firepower, including national champions, world-class newcomers, and rising stars who’ve been tearing up the track this season.
“This is the meet where we felt some of our guys who competed late into the summer at the world championships in Tokyo would open up,” Burrell said. “And sure enough, you’re going to see some really familiar names.”
That includes none other than Ja’Kobe Tharp, the reigning NCAA indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles and a Bowerman Award finalist. Tharp hasn’t competed since lining up in the 110-meter hurdles final at the World Championships in Tokyo back in September, but he’s set to make his 2025 indoor debut Friday afternoon in the 60-meter hurdles - the same event he dominated last winter. If he’s anything close to the form he showed last season, the rest of the field could be chasing shadows.
But Tharp isn’t the only headline. Auburn is also unleashing Asande Mthembu, the world’s No. 2-ranked 400-meter hurdler, who’s making his much-anticipated debut for the Tigers. The South African standout brings elite international experience to Auburn’s sprint group and could be a game-changer as the season unfolds.
Then there’s the sprint crew - Kayinsola Ajayi, Israel Oloyede, and Omari Lewis - all ready to make noise in the 60 meters. Burrell’s confident in their ability to deliver, and with the speed they’ve shown in training and early meets, don’t be surprised if they push the leaderboard.
“Those guys are going to light up the 60 meters,” Burrell said. “It’s a very competitive event, and they’ve been itching to get out there and put their names on the list.”
The Bob Pollock Invitational is known for its fast track, and Clemson’s indoor oval is one of the smoothest in the country - a perfect setting for Auburn’s athletes to open up and get into rhythm as the heart of the indoor season approaches.
Auburn comes in with momentum after a dominant showing at the Samford Open earlier this month, where the Tigers racked up 12 individual event wins and 13 new personal bests.
Senior Omari Lewis was a standout, blazing to a personal-best 6.58 in the 60 meters - the fourth-fastest time in Division I this season and a new meet record at the Samford Open. That kind of speed puts him firmly in the national conversation.
On the women’s side, Reese Webster continued her breakout campaign by sweeping the 60 and 200 meters, highlighted by a 7.32 in the 60 - another meet record. She’s been one of the most consistent performers on the team and looks poised to contend at the national level.
In the women’s 400 meters, senior Cassidra Thompson took gold with a strong 54.31, while on the men’s side, seniors Devin Nugent and Lebron Bessick finished second and third, respectively, before teaming up to help Auburn win the 4x400-meter relay in 3:13.86 - a time that speaks to the depth and cohesion of the squad’s relay units.
The Tigers also flexed their muscle in the field events. Auburn swept the men’s throws, with junior John Leonard winning the weight throw and senior Matthew Rueff taking the shot put. On the women’s side, All-American Megan Hague added another win in the shot put, notching the second-best mark in program history - a sign she’s trending toward elite form.
Senior Alyssa Quinones-Mixon continued her winning ways in the pole vault, earning her second first-place finish of the season, while in the distance events, junior Hallie Portfield led a dominant showing in the women’s mile. Her 4:50.38 win headlined a race where Auburn claimed four of the top five spots and saw five athletes set new personal bests.
With a mix of seasoned veterans, elite newcomers, and rising stars, Auburn is bringing a balanced and dangerous squad into Clemson. The Bob Pollock Invitational will be a key checkpoint for the Tigers as they build toward the SEC and NCAA Indoor Championships - and if this weekend goes according to plan, Auburn’s name will be all over the national rankings come Monday.