MOBILE, Ala.  — The University of South Alabama track and field teams will host their second meet of the outdoor season — the 2017 Jaguar Classic — beginning Friday at the Jaguar Track.

"We are focused on self improvement at this meet," head track and field coach Paul Brueke said. "We want our athletes to build on our competition."  

The meet will begin with the men's and women's triple jump on Friday and conclude on Saturday. This is the second outdoor meet the Jaguars have hosted at home after South Alabama held the Jaguar Opener two weeks ago. 

At the Opener, South Alabama recorded twelve wins to kick off the outdoor season. 

Barbara Rivera claimed a win in the women's javelin with a 46.91 meter-mark  — a personal best — to move her into third on South Alabama's all-time list. Andrew Allen also recorded a personal best 62.92m in the men's javelin for a first place finish. The Mobile, Ala., native moved to fifth on the school's all-time list with the mark. 

The South Alabama men had three additional individual winners at the Jaguar Opener. Zach Blahnik was just over a meter shy of his personal record with a 62.25-meter throw to place first in the men's hammer. In the men's 400-meter hurdles, Larry Lombard won the event with a 54.47-second time. Alex Elam tied a personal best in the men's 100-meter dash with a time of 10.79 seconds to also earn a victory for the Jaguars. 

For the Jaguar women, winners from the Jaguar Opener expected to compete this weekend include Taylor Dames (1.74m in the women's high jump and 14.53 second in the women's 100-meter hurdles), LaMia Miller (14.12m in women's shot put), Elysa Griffin ( 5.48m in the women's long jump and 12.10 seconds in the women's 100m ), Taylor Young (11.69m in women's triple jump) and Megan James (3.81m in the women's pole vault).

"We were a little rusty at our first meet," Brueske said. "We had two weeks to get in some good training and addressed some of our weak points." 

The Jaguar Classic will begin on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and is slated to start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. For the full event schedule click 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).

Join the Finish Line Club, the track and field and cross country specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All donations to the Finish Line Club go directly to support the South Alabama track and field/cross country programs.  For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/finishlineclub


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