BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of South Alabama track and field student-athletes Kaitlyn Beans (long jump) and Sean Collins (pole vault) claimed individual titles in their respective events Monday on the first day of the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championship held at the Birmingham Crossplex. 

South Alabama's men's team stands in first after day one with 39 points, and 3.5 points ahead of Texas-Arlington.  The women end day one of the championship meet tied for third with Arkansas State totaling 28 points, trailing Texas State (44 points) and Appalachian State (36 points). 

Beans' victory in the long jump with a 6.14-meter mark was a personal best for the senior and broke the South Alabama school record for the event.  The senior was just .2 meters shy of the Sun Belt Conference Championship record. 

"Beans has been an outstanding student-athlete for us for four years," Jaguar head coach Paul Brueske said.  "It was great seeing her get the gold in the long jump."

Beans now holds the program's the top mark in both the long jump and triple jump on the Jaguars' all-time list.

Collins' won the Sun Belt's Indoor Championship men's pole vault event for the second-consecutive year clearing 5.37 meters - which is also the best in the conference this indoor season. 

"Sean is just a winner," Brueske said.  "He has overcome so much adversity, so for him to come back and win it again is even more remarkable."

South Alabama's Warno Potgieter, Ben Rolader, Larry Lombard and Nathan Riech also claimed a victory in the meet in the 4,000-meter distance medley.  The Jaguars bested runner-up Appalachian State by two seconds to claim first with a 10:01.07 time.  The performance shattered the previous league best this season by more than 15 seconds.

"The distance medley relay was a big league win for us tonight," Brueske said.  "It's great momentum for the Jags moving into tomorrow."

Jobi Finau earned a silver medal honors in the men's weight throw with a toss 2-meters better than his previous personal record.  The junior recorded a 18.10-meter throw that now stands fourth on the Jaguars' all-time record list for the event. 

"Jobi struggled during most of the indoor season," Brueske said.  "We knew he was capable of throwing far.  It was great to see him get a medal and set a personal best when it mattered the most."

Laura Labuschaigne was the final Jag to earn medalist honors, placing third in the women's 3,000m with a 9:55.28-minute time.  Labuschaigne's performance was a personal best for the junior who came into the meet with the second-fastest time in the league this season. 

"Laura is a dependable athlete," Brueske said.  "She has made steady improvements since she arrived and we are very proud of her."

Rafael Scott qualified for both the men's 60m (6.63) and 200m (21.26) finals on Tuesday with second-place finishes in the preliminaries.  Freshman Emilie Berge also earned a spot in the women's 60m hurdles finals with a third-place 8.73-second performance, while Berron Tyson qualified for the men's 60m hurdles with a 8.20-second finish for sixth in the prelims.  

Tyson also began the Sun Belt's heptathlon on day one and through four events stands in third with 2,835 points. 

"Overall it was a good day," Brueske said.  "We have some folks in the finals tomorrow, and we have several legitimate scoring opportunities, so we are in a pretty good position right now.  If we come out tomorrow and compete the way we are capable anything can happen."

The Sun Belt Conference Championship meet will continue tomorrow beginning with the men's 60m hurdles in the pentathlon at 9 a.m and conclude Tuesday afternoon.  Results throughout the day can be found here. 

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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