BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's track & field program is second and the men's program is fifth after the first day of the Sun Belt Indoor Championship. The women enter day two with 37 points, while the men have 24.5 points.
 
Emilie Berge contributed 18 of the women's points with a first-place finish in the long jump (10 points) and second-place finish in the high jump (8 points). The junior earned all-conference honors in both events.

MEET INFORMATION
Event: 2019 Sun Belt Indoor Track and Field Championship
Date: Feb. 18-19
Host: Sun Belt Conference
Site: Birmingham CrossPlex
Live Results
ESPN Coverage Day 1 | Day 2

NOTES AND RESULTS
-Berge's 6.03m (19-09.50) long jump mark was the best in the Sun Belt this season and the second-longest in South Alabama history. The junior was the only person to surpass 6.00m (19-08.00) in the conference this season.
-Berge and Taylor Dames finished second and fourth, respectively, in the high jump with 1.76m (5-09.25) efforts (based on attempts). Each tied personal-best marks in the event and finished second in the Sun Belt season standings. Dames added five team points and fellow senior Olivia Swan added two more with a 1.73m (5-08.00) height.
-Three Jaguars tied for third and picked up all-conference honors in the men's pole vault after clearing 4.83m (15-10.00). The mark is a personal-best for Noah Mumme and Chris Taylor, tying them for eighth in program history. It was senior Sean Collins' first attempt of the season. The finishes added 4.50 points each to the team score.
-Michaela Preachuk earned second-team all-Sun Belt recognition with an 18.39m (60-04.00) weight throw mark on her first attempt. It was the third-longest throw in the conference this season and added eight points to the women's team score.
-Jessie Droogsma moved from 10th to seventh on the Jaguar program performance list with a 16.96m (55-07.75) weight throw.
-Carolien Millenaar claimed four team points and recorded a personal-best time of 9:58.56 in the women's 3,000m. It was the first sub-10:00.00 race of the sophomore's career and moved her from eighth to seventh in the all-time USA record books.
-Freshman Hunter Appling (60m hurdles) and senior Larry Lombard (800m) finished fourth in their respective preliminary events to qualify for Tuesday's finals. Appling ran the 60m hurdles in 8.19 seconds, while Lombard crossed the 800m line in 1:53.31.
-Jobi Finau's season-best 18.17m (59-07.50) weight throw was the fourth-longest in the event. The throw came on the senior's fifth attempt and added five points to the men's team total.
-Graham Collins is fifth in the men's heptathlon standings and recorded personal-best marks in two events. The freshman won the 60m (7.13 seconds) and placed third in the long jump (6.75m, 22-01.75).
-Cierra Hedrick ran season-best times in two events to qualify for tomorrow's final. The sophomore crossed the 60m line in 7.64 seconds and the 200m line in 24.96 seconds.
-Harry Barthelemy and Christian Ellis recorded identical personal-best marks in the men's long jump (6.82m, 22-04.50).
 
UP NEXT
The Jaguars will conclude the Sun Belt Indoor Conference Championships Tuesday.

QUOTES FROM COACH BRUESKE
On today's performances: "It was not a bad first day. We had some definite high points. Berge was outstanding today, which is remarkable considering she is just coming off the flu. All things considered, I thought the vaulters competed well and were the highlight for the men so far."
 
On tomorrow's competition: "We have Lombard in the 800m, Appling in the 60m hurdles, and Hedrick in the 60m and 200m. Graham Collins has an opportunity to do well in the heptathlon. We also have legitimate scoring opportunities in the mile, 5,000m, shot put, triple and high jump, and 4 x 400m."
 
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
 
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