BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —The University of South Alabama's track and field will compete in their first away meet of the outdoor season at the Samford Alabama Track Challenge on Friday. 

"We have had a good week of preparation leading into this meet," head track and field coach Paul Brueske said. "We are looking forward to our student-athletes to respond to the competition and continue to improve their personal bests."

South Alabama will have over 50 student-athletes compete at the Bulldogs' meet at the Samford Track Facility for the Challenge. In addition to the host Samford and South Alabama, the field will include the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Miles College and fellow league member Troy. 

Last weekend, South Alabama claimed 17 victories in the Jaguar Classic while sweeping both the men's and women's team titles. Many of those victors will be competing in the Challenge on Friday. 

Laura Labuschaigne leads the league in two events after a 4:32.08-minute time in the 1,500 meters and a personal best, a 2:14.18 minute mark, in the 800-meter run at the Jaguar Classic a week ago, while Cindy Von Ahlefedt stands sixth in the women's 800m and Joanna McCoy ranks fifth in the women's 1,500m. Senior Nathan Riech currently holds the second-best time in the league's 1,500m (3:53.49). Warno Potgieter holds fourth in both the 800m and 1,500m while Ben Rolader places third and seventh in the same events, respectively. 

In field events, the current Sun Belt Field Athlete of the Week Zach Blahnik leads the men's throwers ranking in the league's top 10 in three events. The redshirt senior is second in hammer, third in discus and seventh in shot put. Blahnik's shot put and discus personal-best marks moved him to eighth and seventh on the Jaguars' all-time list for the events, respectively, last weekend. Barbara Rivera and Jessica Matthews rank first and third, respectively, in the women's javelin while Andrew Allen holds third in the men's javelin and sixth in the men's hammer. 

Other Jaguars expected to compete at Samford includes two more conference leaders, Sean Collins - who leads the Sun Belt in the men's pole vault - and Lezyon Legarde who ranks first in the men's triple jump. Ireland Armstrong, Megan James and  Caitlyn Dressler all rank in the top ten of the league's women's pole vault standing in fourth, fifth and eighth, respectively. Kaitlyn Beans comes into the weekend third in the women's triple jump and tied for sixth in the long jump in the league standings. Along with Beans, a trio of Jaguars jumpers also placing in the events: Elysa Griffin (eighth) in the long jump and Kristina Szabo (sixth) and Taylor Young (seventh) in the triple jump. 

Action will begin Friday at 12 p.m. with the start of the men's hammer throw, with the first race the women's 3,000 meters at 3:30 p.m. at the Samford University Track Facility. Live results will be available on xpresstiming.com here. 

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at 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

 —USA—