BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Thirteen Jags recorded top-10 finishes as the men's and women's indoor track and field teams opened the indoor season at the UAB Invitational on Friday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Junior Matt Weinhold picked up his first career win in men's shot put, posting a 15.70m mark. Weinhold was one of four Jaguars to place in the top ten in the event. Jan-Louw Kotze finished in third (14.95m) with Thomas Boyd (14.53m) and Zach Blahnik (14.24m) finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, in the event.
"It was good to see Matt get his first win," Jaguar track and field head coach Paul Brueske said. "I know he is capable of much further and he'll continue to work. If our throwers continue to improve, they can really be an asset. This was a good meet to knock off the rust."
Kotze and Blahnik, along with three other Jags, placed in the top ten of the men's weight throw as well. Kotze posted a second-place finish with a 17.31m mark, and Blahnik threw a 16.94 mark for fourth place. Twin redshirt sophomores Ethan Boyd (16.64m) and Thomas Boyd (16.48m) placed fifth and sixth, with Jobie Finau (14.90m) rounding out the Jag throwers' rankings in ninth place.
Rafael Scott clocked in a time of 6.72 seconds, tying for second in the men's 60m with Southern Mississippi's Cra'Vorkian Carson. Shorter's Lester Miller won the event.
"Scott had a good first meet," Brueske said. "We're looking forward to seeing what he can do this season in the 60m and 200m."
For the women, eight Jaguars posted top-10 finishes in their respective disciplines.
Senior Ireland Armstrong led three other Jaguars in the pole vault, clearing 3.65m to match her personal best and placing in a three-way tie with teammate Jordan Friz and South Florida's Amanda Sinkler for third (3.65m). Also registering a top-10 finish in the event were Caitlyn Dressler in seventh (3.50m) and freshman Savannah Howie making her collegiate debut with a mark of 3.35m to earn her 10th place.
"Our women should be very competitive this season in the Sun Belt," Brueske said.
Senior jumper Kaitlyn Beans finished second in the women's triple jump with a 12.26m mark, only trailing leader Cristina Aldana of Shorter by .01m. Beans also notched a top-10 spot in women's long jump, just behind teammate Kristina Szabo. She placed seventh with a 5.51m jump.
In women's shot put, freshman Autavia Fluker finished fifth in her first collegiate performance with a 13.88m throw.
"Fluker really had a nice debut performance," Brueske said. "Although the female throwers are very young, they really have the potential to develop into solid performers."
South Alabama will next compete at the Samford Stand Alone Multi on Wednesday and Thursday, with the next full-squad meet, the Vanderbilt Invitational, scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
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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