BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of South Alabama men's and women's track and field team notched six victories at the Samford Alabama Track Challenge on Friday. 

"We had another good meet," track and field head coach Paul Brueske said. "We had several student-athletes that had personal bests today. I really think we are moving in the right direction, we just need to stay focused." 

In men's throws, Zach Blahnik notched his second victory in as many weeks in the men's hammer with a 60.49-meter mark, took third in men's shot put (15.03m) and placed fourth in discus (46.33m). Matt Weinhold also earned a first-place finish in the men's discus with a 50.65-meter throw - just over a meter shy of his personal best - and placed second in shot put with a career best 16.14m. Those marks rank the junior first and third in the Sun Belt for the events, respectively.

Four other Jaguars also placed in the top five in the throwing events, including Thomas Boyd, who placed fourth and fifth in shot put and hammer, respectively, Andrew Allen who placed fourth in the hammer with a personal best 57.12m. Ethan Boyd threw for his own personal record in the hammer with a 58.44-meter throw and Jobi Finau ended the day third in discus (49.20m). 

Kaitlyn Beans earned her third victory of the season with a first-place finish in the women's triple jump recording a 12.64-meter mark. The senior also placed fifth in long jump with a 5.61-meter leap. 

Two other Jaguars finished ahead of the senior. Taylor Young placed the highest in the event among her teammates in third with a career-best 5.64-meter jump, followed by freshman Elysa Griffin who also recorded a 5.64-meter mark. Young also placed in the women's triple jump top five with a 11.69-meter jump to place third. In the pole vault, Ireland Armstrong finished third clearing 3.85m while Caitlyn Dressler cleared 3.65m for fifth. 

For the men, Sam Brown finished second in the high jump, clearing a personal-best 1.90m. Berron Tyson placed third in the men's long jump with a 6.87-meter mark and finished third in the men's 110-meter hurdles with a personal-best 14.73-second time. 

Liz Bolden and Lamia Miller led the women in throws, as both recorded victories on Friday. Bolden's 40.51-meter throw fell less than a meter shy of her personal record. Dressler also placed fourth in the event with a mark of 36.42m.

Miller led two other Jaguars in shot put with a 14.42-meter throw to earn first place while also placing fourth in the hammer (53.45m). Michella Obijiaku finished third in shot put with a personal best 13.36-meter throw, and Autavia Fluker followed her in fourth (13.29m). Fluker was one of four Jaguar women who registered a top 10 finish in the women's hammer. Michaela Preachuk placed third (54.56m), Fluker sixth (51.52m), Meagan Hall (48.19m) and Jessie Droogsma (45.76m).

In the running events, Arius Gilstrap was the lone Jaguar sprinter to win an event at the Bulldogs' meet. The redshirt freshman led three other Jags in the men's 400m with a personal-best 53.36-second time. Larry Lombard crossed the line at 53.86 for fourth, Jacob Johnson at sixth (54.87s) and Javen Jackson at eighth (58.43s). 

On the women's side, South Alabama had seven runners place in the top five of six events. Nicole Durham recorded a third-place finish in both the women's 800m (2:20.80) and mile run (5:08.40), the latter a personal best. Cindy Von Ahlefeldt finished second in the women's 800m crossing the line at 2:19.48 with Gillianne Sharp coming in fifth with a 2:22.37-minute time. Jazmyne Tabb placed fifth in the 100-meter dash recording a 12.76-second time, Kailee Kiminski finished fourth in the 3,000m with a personal best 10:29.93-minute run while Taylor Dames and Marina Swanepoel also placed third in the women's 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles, respectively.  

South Alabama will return next week for the Pepsi Florida Relays slated to begin on Thursday, March 30. 

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—