INDIANAPOLIS. – The University of South Alabama outdoor track and field programs will be sending 12 student-athletes to compete in the NCAA East Region Preliminaries May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla. The qualifiers were announced today by the NCAA. 

Senior Autavia Fluker (shot put and hammer throw) will return to the NCAA East Preliminary Round for the third time in her career, while redshirt sophomore Hunter Appling (110m hurdles), and redshirt junior Christian Ellis (triple jump) will be making their second appearances at regionals.

The Jaguars who will be making their first appearance to the NCAA East Preliminary Round will include freshman Dorian Curry (high jump), junior Xavier Rogers (400m), freshman Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault), sophomore David Dolan (pole vault), junior Noah Mumme (pole vault), senior Rickssen Opont (shot put and hammer throw), redshirt freshman Francois Prinsloo (discus throw), freshman Bodine Degli-Umberti (discus throw), and freshman Colette Uys (discus throw).

Redshirt sophomore Appling crossed the line at 14.00s in the 110m hurdles at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships last weekend to earn a spot in the event at regionals.

Junior Rogers recorded the second-fastest time in Jaguar history in the 400m at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships after coming in third place in the event with a time of 46.60s. His time is currently the third-fastest in the league.

Freshman Curry broke the school record in the high jump in the wake of jumping to fourth place with a PR height of 2.10m at the Crimson Tide Invitational on April 10.

Freshman Rademeyer qualified for the pole vault after setting a new outdoor record of 5.40m at the Texas Relays on March 26.

Senior Dolan's lifetime best mark of 5.30m in the pole vault at the Southern Miss Invitational, earned the Jaguar his first trip to regionals.

Junior Mumme claimed the pole vault title at the Southeastern-Conference Tune Up with a PR of 5.15m, with his mark being the fifth-highest jump in USA's all-time records.

Redshirt junior Ellis made his second consecutive regionals appearance after earning his second Sun Belt triple jump title at the SBC Outdoor Championships with a 15.50m leap.

Senior Opont qualified for the shot put after shattering the program's record by claiming the top spot in the event with an 18.84m performance at Auburn's Tiger Track Classic on March 20. He additionally qualified for the hammer throw after acquiring a career-best mark of 60.25m at LSU's Boots Garland Invitational on April 17. 

Redshirt freshman Prinsloo secured his sixth title in the discus throw after throwing a personal best of 60.17 at the Southeastern-Conference Tune Up. Prinsloo has the third-best seed mark heading into regionals.

Senior Fluker earned her third consecutive invitation to regionals after breaking her Sun Belt hammer throw record with her 68.17m victory at the SBC Outdoor Championships. Fluker also recorded a 16.00m shot put at the USA Invitational on March 12 to qualify for the event. She is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation in the hammer throw.

Freshman Bodine Delgi-Umberti set the school record in the discus throw after placing second in the event with a 51.19m mark at the USA Invitational.

Freshman Colette Uys finished third in the discus throw with a 50.47m throw at the Texas Relays on March 27, with her mark being the third-best on South's all-time performance list.

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.