MOBILE, Ala. – Sean Collins, who signed a National Letter-of-Intent to join the University of South Alabama track and field program in November, was named the 2014-15 Gatorade Alabama Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year on Friday.

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and the demonstration of exemplary character.  A Mobile resident who prepped at McGill-Toolen High and carried a 3.66 cumulative grade-point average, Collins is now a finalist for the Gatorade national honor.

This spring his best mark of 17-3.25 in the pole vault — set in April at the Mobile Challenge of Champions — both was a state record and ranked fifth in the country, while he won the event at the state 7A meet in May after posting a 17-0 height.  Collins also recorded 6,103 points to place second in the state in the decathlon; he finished just 57 points behind teammate Chris Taylor, who also will be joining the Jaguar program in the fall.

Collins' height of 16-6.5 during the indoor campaign was seventh-best in the nation, and he claimed the event at the state 7A championships in February as well.

Collins has twice been named the Coastal Alabama Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year after earning the honor while also being named to the AL.com super all-state track and field team this spring.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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