MOBILE, Ala. – For the second consecutive season, Emilie Berge and Sean Collins will represent the University of South Alabama at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships to be held Wednesday through Saturday in Austin, Texas.
Berge scored 5,718 heptathlon points—the second-highest point total in the nation at the time—at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in March to set a new Sun Belt Conference standard and qualify for her second nationals appearance. The junior finished 19th at last year's NCAA Championships.
Collins advanced to the pole vault finals for the third straight season after finishing sixth in the East Preliminary Round. The senior cleared 5.53m (18-01.75) at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championship to break the conference record he set in 2016 and claim his fourth consecutive league title. He earned All-American honors after finishing eighth in 2017 and tying for 11th in the 2018 NCAA Championships.
The men's pole vault is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Friday's heptathlon events will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the 100m hurdles, while the long jump starts Saturday's competition at 1:30 p.m.
MEET INFORMATION
Event: 2019 NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships
Dates: June 5-8
Host: Texas
Site: Mike A. Myers Stadium
Meet Information
Live Results
FIELD
Competing student-athletes advanced in their respective events based on finishing order at the NCAA Division I Regional Preliminary Rounds.
QUOTES FROM COACH BRUESKE
On Berge's season… "Berge just keeps getting better every year. She came in, had a tremendous indoor season and was the conference most outstanding performer for field events. She's set the school record in the pentathlon and heptathlon. She made it to nationals last year and is going back again this year. She's really been a blessing for our team. I think she's more confident now, and hopefully that will translate into an outstanding performance at the national meet."
On Collins' career as a Jaguar… "Collins has battled so much adversity over the past four years. He came in as a freshman and was a first-team All-American in his first indoor season. He set the Sun Belt outdoor pole vault record at the conference meet his freshman year and was doing great until he had an unfortunate injury. He's been saddled with those types of things for the past four years, but he's always found a way to make himself competitive and battle back. This year, he's been struggling with some issues but he put it all together at the outdoor Sun Belt meet to set the conference record and win his fourth championship; he did a tremendous job. He followed that up with doing what he had to do to get into national meet. If anyone can overcome adversity, it's Collins."
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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