Aug. 28, 2007

OSAKA, Japan - Gábor Máté, the NCAA outdoor champion in the discus for Auburn in 1999 and 2000, finished fifth in that event at the IAAF World Championships Tuesday.

Máté, competing for Hungary, registered a top throw of 64.71m while recording the highest finish among former Tigers through the first four days of competition in Osaka. Máté's top mark came on his third throw, and after a shorter mark on his fourth throw, he fouled on his last two attempts at moving up into medal contention.

In other action involving former Tigers, Vonette Dixon reached the finals of the women's 100m hurdles, finishing third in her heat with a time of 12.65 seconds. Dixon, a native of Jamaica, will be in lane eight when the finals are contested Wednesday evening.

In the men's 400m first round, two former Tigers advanced to the semifinals. In heat two, Avard Moncur advanced to the semifinals by finishing second in his heat. Moncur, competing for the Bahamas, crossed the finish line in 45.29 seconds, trailing only the United States' Jeremy Wariner, who had a time of 45.10.

In the fifth heat, Sanjay Ayre of Jamaica almost replicated Moncur's performance, finishing second in his heat with a time of 45.28 seconds. Both runners will next compete in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Action at the World Championships continues through Sept. 2.