BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – At the conclusion of the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships the University of South Alabama men's and women's teams placed fourth and eighth, respectively. 

The men's team finished the conference championships with a total of 85 points; Arkansas State won with a total score of 132.5. The women's team ended the competition with 20 points, with Texas State earning the title with a total of 141.5 points. 

"I am really pleased with the team's effort," commented Jaguar head track and field coach Paul Brueske. "A good percentage of the team earned personal records. The women had a few injuries going into the meet and many young runners. The men's team did well and we hope to build on that for outdoor."

Christoph Graf earned all-Sun Belt honors in the one-mile run with a second place finish. His time of 4:10.47 was just under a second behind the winner, it was also under a second behind breaking into South Alabama's records for the mile run. 

"Christoph and Patrick [Rohr] really emerged as leaders on the team and in the conference," commented Brueske. "I am looking forward to them competing during the outdoor season."

Also competing in the men's mile run were Patrick Rohr and Cameron Ellis who finished in sixth and eighth place, respectively, Rohr with a time of 4:15.15 and Ellis with a time of 4:17.53.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Beans also received all-Sun Belt honors by placing second place in the women's triple jump with a distance of 12.26m, less than a meter behind the winner. Ariel Johnson also competed in the triple jump and earned seventh with a measurement of 11.90m. 

"It was really good to see Kaitlyn go out and do well at conference," said coach Brueske, "I am hoping she will do just as well during the outdoor season."

Ravaughn Pope placed third in the 60-meter hurdles, earning all-Sun Belt accolades, with a time of 8.17 seconds. It placed him in fifth in the South Alabama all-time record books. 

Redshirt freshman Rafael Scott placed fourth with a time of 6.85 in the men's 60-meter dash, less than a second behind the winner. Competing in the men's 400-meter, Mark Watts placed fourth with a time of 48.02.

In the men's 5000-meter run Rohr (14:40.10) placed fourth, ten seconds behind the winner. Also competing in the race was Graf (14:42.15), who placed sixth. Competing for the women in the 5,000-meter run was Joanna McCoy, who with a time of 17:35.65 finished 10th just over three seconds away from scoring in the top eight.

Jasmine Ferguson placed fifth in the pentathlon with a total of 3,349 points; the winner of the event earned 3,553 points. Cameron Stokes competed in the heptathlon, placing tenth place with a score of 4,348 fewer than 100 points out of the scoring column.

Laura Labuschaigne, a freshman, placed sixth in the women's one-mile run with a time of 4:59.16, only two seconds behind the leader. 

Robert Mann competed in the men's 800-meter and earned a sixth place with a time of 1:53.93, just over two seconds behind the winner. In the men's triple jump Lezyon Legarde (14.43m) earned eighth place.

In the men's shot put Jan-Louw Kotze placed sixth place with a throw of 16.19m, while LaMia Miller finished ninth in the women's event with a distance of 13.52m.

Freshman Jordan Friz was ninth in the women's pole vault with a height of 3.58m as well.

"The bulk of the squad is returning for the indoor season, and more importantly returning next year," commented coach Brueske on the team's outlook. "The effort was there and we are determined to get better."

The Jaguars return to action with the start of the outdoor season at the Jaguar Opener, which the teams will host March 6-7.

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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