BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of South Alabama track and field's Matt Weinhold broke a school record while Kaitlyn Beans and Rafael Scott earned two wins to highlight the Jaguar Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

"We had a good meet and had some really good performances," track and field head coach Paul Brueske said.  "When you break a school record, come out with a few wins and have a lot of athletes either set a season or personal record or come close to it, it's a good meet.  We still have a lot of work to do."

Weinhold broke the program's mark in shot put with a throw of 16.84m.  The junior added another top-10 finish in weight throw with a ninth place 16.11m throw, a new personal best in the event.

"Matt had a great throw today," Brueske said.  "Even with the record, I think there's even more in him.  We'll continue to work and I believe he could be even better."

Beans earned a victory in the women's triple jump with a 12.79m jump – .02m shy of a personal record – and placed second in the women's long jump with a 5.82m mark.  Scott notched his second victory of the indoor season in the 200m with a 21.46-second finish.

"Both had really solid performances," Brueske said speaking of Beans and Scott.  "They were both really close to their personal bests in those events."

In addition to Weinhold's performance, five men placed in the throwing events – four of them setting personal records.  In the weight throw, Zach Blahnik placed the highest of his teammates with a 17.26m throw to for a fourth-place finish.  Thomas Boyd placed fifth in both the weight throw and shot put with marks of 17.10m and 15.17m, respectively.  Senior Jan-Louw Kotze was also able to place in the top 10 of both events with ninth place in shot put (14.57m) and sixth in weight throw (17.08m).  Ethan Boyd (16.99m) and Jobi Finau (16.82m) both set their own personal records in weight throw while placing seventh and eighth in the weight throw, respectively.

Sean Collins, Tyler Hollenbeck and Preston Morrison all registered top five performances in the men's pole vault.  Collins placed second in the event after clearing 5.07m, the second time the sophomore has placed in a top spot in as many events.  Holdenbeck and Morrison both cleared a height of 4.62m to place in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Four Jaguars placed in the top 10 in the men's one mile, claiming second through fifth: Katleho Dyoyi led the Jaguars with a time of 4:10.17, followed by Warno Potgieter (4:13.31), Nathan Riech (4:14.97) and Ben Rolander (4:16.09).

Berron Tyson had two top five finishes on the day in the 60m hurdles (8:29.5 – second) and the long jump (fourth – 6.80m), both personal records.  Lezyon Legarde ended the meet with a 10th-place finish in the long jump (6.69m) and fourth (14.80m) in the triple jump.

For the women, five Jaguars record top-10 finishes in the women's weight throw. Michaela Preachuk set a personal best in the event with a 16.52m throw, placing fourth on the Jaguar all-time list.  Two others also set personal bests and found a place on the top-10 all-time list.  Michella Obijuaku (15.92m) and Autavia Fluker (15.52m) placed fourth and sixth while earning the fifth and sixth spot on the school record list in weight throw, respectively.  The two freshmen also placed in the top 10 for shot put with Fluker throwing 14.69m (sixth) and Obijaku with a 13.12m (10th) mark, both also personal bests.

In women's pole vault, senior Ireland Armstrong finished third in the event after clearing 3.65m, matching a personal best.  Caitlin Dressler cleared 3.50m to place fourth, while Savannah Howie finished eighth clearing 3.35m.

Altogether, over 15 Jaguars matched or set a new personal or season bests in the Invitational.

"We're really heading in the right direction," Brueske said.  "As long as we keep working, I think we can only improve from here."

South Alabama will be back in action and return to the Birmingham Crossplex for the Samford Invitational on Friday.

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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