BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of South Alabama senior Lindsay Schwartz scored 3,835 points in the women’s indoor pentathlon to earn her first victory of the season on the opening day of competition at the Birmingham Ice Breaker on Wednesday at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Schwartz’s score sets a new school record and also places her atop the current national indoor pentathlon rankings.

Out of the five events, Schwartz won the high jump on a mark of 1.67m, good enough for 818 points, and the 800-meter run (2:22.73, 787 pts.). She placed second in the long jump (5.63m, 738 pts.) and 60-meter hurdles (8.90s, 931 pts.), and threw for a mark of 10.48m in the shot put, earning her third place and 561 points.

Said USA head track and field coach Paul Brueske, “Lindsay is a tremendous competitor. She deserves to be mentioned among the top student-athletes in the nation right now.”

Leah Hixon also bested her previous fifth-place all-time mark by three points on Wednesday, totaling 3,236 points. Jasmine Ferguson finished eighth with 2,920.

Adam Patterson and Coastal Carolina transfer Charlie Tidwell also etched their names into school history on Wednesday. Patterson led four Jaguars into the top eight of the men’s weight throw, reaching a mark of 16.66m, which moved him up to third all-time in the indoor event. Tidwell’s first meet in a Jag uniform culminated in the form of a fourth-place all-time record, after he tossed for a 16.42m mark to finish fifth.

Steven Nobles, last season’s second-place conference finisher in the indoor weight throw, took fourth on a 16.53m effort, and Jeff Long threw for a personal-best 15.27m. Bobbie Williamson and Savannah Steiner finished among the top eight of the women’s weight throw, claiming second and seventh on marks of 15.23m and 13.47m, respectively.

Garrett Schumacher spearheaded a three-man Jaguar team along with Ashton Krause and Mikel Magnusson in the men’s indoor heptathlon. Through four events, Ben Davies, competing unattached, leads with 2,907 points. Schumacher (2,686), Krause (2,583) and Magnusson (2,274) stand at 4-5-6.

“This is a good start for us,” Brueske said. “We are by no means satisfied, I am excited to see what we do tomorrow. These kids are anxious to compete, and we believe this meet will be encouragement for them to continue to press during the holiday break.”

Competition will continue Thursday morning at 9 a.m. beginning with preliminary heats of the women’s 60-meter hurdles.

Wednesday’s results can be found here.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).