DES MOINES, Iowa — The Auburn men’s and women’s track and field teams began competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday at the Jim Duncan Track, where seven individuals were in action. The Tigers competed in three semifinal races and have one runner advancing to the finals.

Senior Joanna Atkins, who won the outdoor women’s 400 meters in 2009, will advance to the finals of that event after posting the fastest time in her heat of 51.69 seconds. Atkins finished third in the semifinals and will compete in the finals on Friday.

Freshman Keenan Brock clocked a time of 10.36 seconds in the men’s 100 meters as he finished third in his heat and narrowly missed a spot in the finals, placing eighth overall.

In the women’s 100 meters, senior Sheniqua Ferguson also barely missed advancing to the finals when she placed ninth overall with a time of 11.40 seconds. Ferguson will compete in the 200 meters semifinal Thursday.

Competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships continues Thursday with three Auburn athletes and one relay team in action. Ferguson and junior Nivea Smith will run in the semifinals of the women’s 200 meters and the women’s 4x400-meter relay team will compete in the semifinals of that event, while sophomore Maya Pressley will compete in the women’s high jump.

MEN’S TENNIS
4 Tigers end season ranked

The No. 19 Auburn men’s tennis team had four players represented in the final 2010-11 Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. In singles, senior Tim Puetz finished at No. 18 while junior Alex Stamchev finished No. 114. In doubles, Puetz and freshman partner Daniel Cochrane finished the year ranked No. 13 while Stamchev and sophomore partner Andreas Mies were ranked No. 84.

Puetz was 18-4 on the year, and he finished his career as a Tiger with the second most doubles victories in Auburn history with 89, third overall in singles victories with 93 and second in combined victories with 182.

In doubles, the Tigers’ top duo finished 15-8 (7-2 SEC), while defeating four top-50 opponents.

Stamchev finished the season 16-10 (6-5 SEC) while competing in the Nos. 2 and 3 spots for the Tigers. Stamchev and Mies held down the No. 2 position in doubles, finishing the season 18-5 (8-3 SEC). The duo finished the season winning 12 out of their last 14 matches.

MEN’S GOLF
Dufner selected for U.S. Open

Former Auburn golfer Jason Dufner was selected as an alternate to the 2011 U.S. Open held at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., the USGA announced Tuesday.

Despite shooting 11-under at the Ball Ground, Ga., sectional qualifier Monday, Dufner narrowly missed an automatic bid into the Open. The next day, however, Dufner was told by the USGA he was selected as the second alternate and will make his fifth appearance at the U.S. Open.

Dufner is no stranger to Congressional Country Club, having played the course twice before as part of the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods.