MOBILE, Ala. – After claiming her first Sun Belt Conference championship, Michaela Preachuk — a junior on the University of South Alabama women's track and field team — is the guest this week on the official podcast of Jaguar Athletics, "Inside JagNation."

The Lakeville, Minn., native was first in the weight throw at the league's indoor championship on Monday in Birmingham, breaking the school record in the event after posting a 19.44m mark on the fifth of six attempts; her efforts helped the Jags to a second-place finish in the team standings.  It was the second time in her career that Preachuk has earned all-conference accolades after placing third in the hammer throw at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championship her freshman season.  At the end of her first year at the collegiate level she also competed at the USA Track and Field Junior Outdoor Championship, where she would come in fifth place in the event with a career-best mark of 58.08m that stands third on the program's all-time performance list.  Preachuk ranks among the top 10 on South's all-time indoor record list with an 8.85 second time in the 60-meter hurdles recorded during the 2017 campaign as well.

Click here for Episode 79 of "Inside JagNation"

In this episode, Preachuk talks about Monday's performance at the SBC meet, her goals going into the competition and her approach to the event after advancing to the finals.  She also explains how she began competing in throwing events — Preachuk was originally listed as a combined events/hurdler on the roster when she joined the program — what she has done to improve over the last two-plus seasons, and her goals for the outdoor season that is slated to begin on March 2-3 when the team plays host to the Jaguar Opener.  Other topics in the podcast include her reaction to an all-conference performance at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championship her freshman year, competing at the USA Track and Field Junior Outdoor Championship at the end of that season, what she does in practice and how she prepares on the day of a meet.

Preachuk talks about what initially drew her interest to the sport, making the varsity team at Lakeville North High as an eighth grader, why she wanted to join the program at South Alabama, and what she would like to do professionally after earning her degree from the school.

Click here for "Inside JagNation" archives

Previous editions of "Inside JagNation" are available for free on iTunes, and can be downloaded by searching for "South Alabama Jaguars." 

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).

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