March 26, 2008

AUBURN - Joanna Atkins was named to the Southeastern Conference's first-ever Indoor Track and Field All-Freshman team, the league office announced Wednesday. The team honors the top freshman finisher in each individual event from the SEC Indoor Championships.

Atkins was named to the team on the strength of her fifth-place finish in the women's 400m at the indoor meet. Atkins finished with a time of 53.38 despite behind jarred to the outside of a turn by an elbow from another competitor who was disqualified.

Atkins had a season-best mark of 52.95 in the 400m, which ranks second in school indoor history. She qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, where she placed 12th.

In other news, both the men's and women's teams earned national rankings in the initial outdoor rankings released Wednesday by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Tiger men are ranked No. 9 in the country, while the women are 17th.

Florida State, the defending outdoor national champions on the men's side, is ranked No. 1 in the men's poll, while LSU is the top-ranked women's squad after finishing as runner-up at last year's outdoor championships.

The Auburn track and field teams will compete Saturday, March 29, at the Yellow Jacket Invitational hosted by Georgia Tech.