MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama junior Autavia Fluker had a 16.12m (52-10.50) shot put throw to set a new school record as USA hosted the Jaguar Opener at the Jaguar Track Friday.
 
Fluker's shot put mark ranks as the best in the NCAA this season.
 
MEET INFORMATION
Event: 2019 Jaguar Opener
Date: March 15
Host: South Alabama
Site: Jaguar Track
Results
 
NOTES AND RESULTS
Men's Field Events
-Thad Porter's third-place, 14.32m (46-11.75) triple jump mark ranks sixth in the all-time USA records.
-Freshmen Cade Marty and Devon Swainston took the top two spots in the javelin with throws of 51.64m (169-05.00) and 50.83m (166-09.00), respectively.
-Senior Sean Collins won the pole vault with a 5.10m (16-08.75) height. Chris Taylor and Noah Mumme cleared an identical 4.80m (15-08.75) to tie for third, while Connor Allred tied his personal-best mark of 4.50m (14-09.00).
-Sam Brown took second place in the high jump with a 1.94m (6-04.25) effort.
-Thomas and Ethan Boyd finished first and third, respectively, in the shot put with marks of 16.21m (53-02.00) and 14.51m (47-07.25, a personal best).
-Thomas Boyd also won the hammer throw with a 57.43m (188-05.00) effort, while Ethan Boyd took the runner-up spot with a 54.35m (178-03.75) mark.
-Finau was first among collegians in the discus after recording a 48.84m (160-02.75). The senior finished fourth in the hammer throw with a 50.55m (165-10.00) mark.
 

Women's Field Events
-USA had the top four collegiate finishers in the hammer throw: Michaela Preachuk (60.41m, 198-02.25), Fluker (57.31m, 188-00.25), Jessie Droogsma (49.94m, 163-10.00) and Halee Thomas (49.01m, 160-09.50). Fluker and Thomas recorded personal-best marks in the event and Fluker remains fifth in the Jaguar record books.
-Olivia Swan won the high jump with a 1.69m (5-06.50) effort.
-Hanna-Mai Vaikla moved to fourth on the all-time USA performance list with a first-place, 47.60m (156-02.00) javelin throw. Thomas finished second with a personal-best 42.11m (138-01.75) mark.
-Droogsma took the runner-up spot in the discus after a 45.25m (148-05.50) throw.
-Angeline Smit finished third in the shot put (13.86m, 45-05.50) and discus (44.23m, 145-01.25).
-Micayah Upshaw (11.43m, 37-06.00; +.1), Aryn McDowell (11.15m, 36-06.75; +.6) and Darnesha Harris (11.11m, 36-05.25; +.8) earned top-five finishes in the triple jump.
 
Men's Running Events
-Hunter Appling won the 110m hurdles on his first collegiate attempt with a time of 14.38 seconds (+1.1), the sixth-fastest time in the NCAA this year. The freshman ran the 400m hurdles in 56.27 seconds to earn a top-five finish.
-Javen Jackson picked up a victory in the 400m hurdles with a 55.30-second race.
-Mobile, Ala. native Keith Davis placed third in the 100m (10.75 seconds, +1.1) and fifth in the 200m (21.85 seconds, +1.6).
-Larry Lombard took the runner-up spot in the 800m after crossing the line in 1:54.91.
-Two Jaguars recorded personal-bests in the 1,500m: Warno Potgieter won the race with a 3:51.54 effort and Onesmus Kemboi finished second after running the event in 3:52.00.
-On their first collegiate attempts in the 3,000m, Kemboi took first place (8:45.49) and freshman Thomas Sand Nielsen finished second (8:49.13). Potgieter crossed the line in 8:58.45 for a top-five finish.
-USA finished first in the 4 x 400m relay with a time of 3:18.72 and second in the 4 x 100m relay with a time of 41.30 seconds.
 
Women's Running Events
-Cierra Hedrick's 12.15-second (+1.3) finish in the 100m was good for second place. The sophomore took third in the 200m with a time of 25.05 seconds (+1.6).
-Swan picked up her second victory of the day with a time of 1:03.15 in the 400m hurdles.
-Harris had top-five finishes in the 100m hurdles (14.77 seconds, +1.9) and the 400m hurdles (1:05.31).
-Silje Lindstad won the 1,500m on her first collegiate attempt with a time of 4:44.50. Andonet Cheruiyot finished third in her first race as a Jaguar after crossing the line in 4:46.25.
-Cheruiyot ran the 3,000m in 10:19.40 to take the top spot. Lindstad finished second in 10:30.63 and Susanna Pudner finished fifth with a time of 11:03.67.
 
UP NEXT
USA hosts the South Alabama Invitational at the Jaguar Track March 22-23.
 
QUOTES FROM COACH BRUESKE
On the opening meet: "We had some promising performances and several personal-bests today. We had a new school record (Autavia Fluker, shot put). A few athletes showed that they can really help us. We still have a few athletes that need to step it up, but we've got a lot of time. It's early in the outdoor season and I think we've got the potential to have a very competitive outdoor team. We've just got to keep getting better."
 
On Fluker's performance: "She works so hard in the weight room and on the track. She's dedicated. It's great to see someone who's worked so hard succeed."
 
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—