LEXINGTON, Ky. - Five University of South Alabama track and field student-athletes completed their postseason competing among the best in the region on Thursday on the opening day of the NCAA East Region Preliminaries held at the Kentucky Outdoor Track and Field Facility. 

"I thought the effort was solid," head track and field coach Paul Brueske said. "I feel like the student-athletes really went for it today." 

Zach Blahnik finished 23rd in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 63.54m. The senior's mark came from his second throw as he fouled the first and third throw. The Green Bay, Wis., native finished a spot better than his seeding coming into the meet (24th.)

Two Jaguars also competed in the javelin events on Thursday. Andrew Allen finished in the top half of the men's javelin with a throw of 60.13m, placing him 22nd in the event, 22 spots higher than his seeding of 44th. 

Barbara Rivera ended the day in 39th in javelin with a throw of 41.01m.

Megan James cleared the first height of 3.80m on her first attempt to place 33rd in the women's pole vault. James fouled the next three attempts at 4.10m, a height .10 meters higher than her personal best. 

Arius Gilstrap, South Alabama's lone track competitor, took 45th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.78. 

Action at the NCAA East Region Preliminaries will continue on Friday, with three Jags slated to compete in events. Taylor Dames will compete in the women's high jump, while Sean Collins and Niel Giliomee will participate in the men's pole vault. Both events begin at 4:30 p.m.

Lezyon Legarde and Kaitlyn Beans will also compete in the triple jump on Saturday.  Legarde is scheduled to compete at 3 p.m., while Beans will look to advance to the NCAA Championships a fourth time in the event at 6 p.m.

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—