SAN MARCOS, Texas – The University of South Alabama women's track and field team earned 119 points to finish third in the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships, while the men's team collected 61 points to tie for seventh.
 
Sean Collins (pole vault), Autavia Fluker (shot put), Michaela Obijiaku (shot put) and Olivia Swan (400m hurdles) claimed all-conference honors in their respective events on the last day of competition.

MEET INFORMATION
Event: 2018 Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships
Dates: May 11-13
Host: Texas State 
Site: Bobcat Track & Field Stadium
Results

NOTES
Men's Running Events
-Warno Potgieter's 3:58.18 time in the 1,500m final was the fourth-fastest in the race and added five points to the team total. Migael Strydom claimed fifth place and four points with a 3:59.67 finish, and Ben Rolader crossed the line in 4:04.61.
-Keith Davis, Rafael Scott, Alex Elam and Thad Porter earned three points with a sixth-place, 40.43-second finish in the 4 x 100m relay.  
-Scott ran the 100m final in 10.47 seconds (2.2) and the 200m final in 21.18 seconds (1.5) to add two more points for the Jaguars.
-Larry Lombard's personal-best 1:53.67 time in the 800m final gained two points for USA.
-Javen Jackson, Davis, Jacob Johnson, and Porter completed the 4 x 400m relay in 3:25.32.
-Strydom finished the 5,000m in 16:04.45 on his first career attempt. Dylan Pausic covered the distance in 16:10.11, while Luke Fielding crossed the line in 16:27.65 in his first 5,000m race this season. Phillip Friedlander ran the event in 16:31.55.
 
Women's Running Events
-Swan had a career-best performance in the 400m hurdles final. Her 59.48-second time ranks second in the Sun Belt and moves the junior up one spot to second in school history.
-Laura Labuschiagne added a total of five points with a fifth-place, 4:35.36 effort in the 1,500m final and an 18:10.96 time in her first career 5,000m race. Carolien Millenaar covered the 1,500m in 4:44.98 and ran the 5,000m in 18:06.40 on her first attempt to pick up three points. Nicole Van Der Merwe completed the 5,000m in 19:02.01.
-Cierra Hedrick earned a point with an 11.85-second (2.0) time in the 100m final.
-The 4 x 100m relay team of Jazmyne Tabb, Hedrick, Taylor Dames and Elysa Griffin completed the event in 47.58 seconds.
-Hedrick, Cindy von Ahlefeldt, Griffin, and Swan ran a season-best 3:52.57 in the 4 x 400m relay.
 
Men's Field Events
-Collins claimed his third consecutive Sun Belt Outdoor Championships pole vault victory and ten team points with a 5.37m (17-07.25) mark. Niel Giliomee (5.07m, 16-07.50) and Chris Taylor (4.92m, 16-01.75) collected a combined six points after tying for fourth and seventh, respectively. Cameron Stokes cleared a career-high 4.77m (15-07.75).
-Jobi Finau's season-best, 50.22m (164-09.00) discus throw earned him a sixth-place finish in the event and three points toward the team total. Matt Weinhold added another point with a 48.98m (160-08.25) effort on his first attempt.
-Porter had a personal-best, 13.68m (44-10.75) (3.0) triple jump mark on his third attempt.
 
Women's Field Events
-Three Jaguars recorded career-best shot put performances for a total of 16 points. Fluker had the second-longest distance in the conference this season with a 15.38m (50-05.50) mark. Obijiaku's 15.35m (50.04.50) toss was third in the event and the third-longest in the Sun Belt. Esherika Hawkins launched a 14.46m (47-05.25) effort on her second attempt to take seventh place in the event and move to fourth in the all-time USA records. Angeline Smit tied for tenth with a 13.46m (44-02.00) throw.
-Kriszti Szabo ended her USA career with a season-best 12.13m (39-09.75) (1.6) triple jump that added two points to the team total. Taylor Young had an 11.41m (37-05.25) (2.9) jump and Darnesha Harris recorded a personal-best 10.83m (35-06.50) (4.5) finish.
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars will travel to Tampa, Fla. May 24-26 for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round.

QUOTES FROM COACH BRUESKE
On the team's performance at conference and overall effort this season… "We had some good things happen and some kids really step up, but we also had one too many opportunities that we did not capitalize on. A good thing is we have a lot of kids that did well this weekend returning next season."
 
On standout individual efforts from day three… "Sean Collins is such a tremendous competitor and seems to do his best at the most important meets. Olivia Swan has had a fantastic season. She has worked very hard and has really improved."
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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—