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MOBILE, Ala.  – The University of South Alabama men's and women's track and field teams will have one final meet to compete at home this spring as the Jaguars host the South Alabama Invitational beginning on Thursday at the Jaguar Track. 

"This is our largest meet of the home season and it looks like we will have quality teams here," head track and field coach Brueske said. "We're looking for our student-athletes to continue to improve and expect this meet to bring out some personal-best efforts."

The meet will begin with women's heptathlon and men's decathlon events the first day and conclude on Saturday.  The Jaguars have already played host to both the Jaguar Opener and Jaguar Classic last month.

As part of the program's final competition at home this spring, 15 seniors or graduating student-athletes will be honored on Saturday at 1 p.m. Among them are multiple athletes who have earned all-conference recognition up to All-American honors.

"This senior class has worked extremely hard over the past 4 years," Brueske said. "They have set records and helped elevate our program."

Two Jaguars who will be honored Saturday hold top spots in the league rankings in their disciplines - Kaitlyn Beans (women's triple jump) and Barbara Rivera (women's javelin). Beans currently ranks 31st in the NCAA for the event as well as 13th in the league in the women's long jump. 

Coming into the weekend, Zach Blahnik is ranked in the Sun Belt's top 10 for three disciplines including second in men's hammer, sixth in men's discus and 10th in men's shot put. Eight other Jaguar seniors come into their final home meet among the top 10 in the SBC in their events, Lezyon Legarde (seventh,men's triple jump), Berron Tyson (ninth, men's 110-meter hurdles and sixth in long jump), Nathan Riech (fourth, men's 1,500m), Tyler Holenbeck (eighth, men's pole vault), Ireland Armstrong (fourth, women's pole vault), Katy Cihlar (seventh, women's discus), LaMia Miller (seventh, women's shot put and sixth in hammer), and Marina Swanepoel (sixth, women's 400-meter hurdles). Nicole Durham, Ivy Chastain, Joanna McCoy, Katleho Dyoyi, and Cameron Ellis will also be recognized on Saturday.  

Twelve underclassmen also hold top-five league rankings in their disciplines, highlighted by sophomore Sean Collins atop of the men's pole vault rankings while junior Laura Labuschaigne stands in second in the women's 1,500m. Jessica Matthews (women's javelin), Niel Giliomee (men's pole vault), Matt Weinhold (men's discus), Andrew Allen (men's javelin), and Kristina Szabo (women's triple jump) all rank third in their respective events. 

The first event of the decathlon will get underway at 10 a.m. on Thursday to open the meet, with the start of the heptathlon scheduled 30 minutes later.  The second half of both competitions will get underway at the same time on Friday, with field events including the javelin, shot put, triple jump and men's pole vault slated for a 4:30 p.m. start that day.  On Saturday, field events will begin at 9:30 a.m., while action on the track begins with the women's 100-meter hurdles will start at 11:30 a.m. Live results will be available here. 

In addition to the Jaguars, the field will include either individuals or full squads from Mississippi State, Samford, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy, UAB, Southern, Southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans, Mobile, Mississippi Valley, Meridian Community College, Jacksonville State, Columbus State and Alabama A&M. 

Three Jaguars - Labuschaigne, McCoy and Ashley Heitling - will compete on Friday at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. 

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

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