BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of South Alabama's track and field team earned 18 top-five finishes at the Samford Invite Thursday through Saturday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

The finishes were highlighted by four victories by Christian Ellis, Dorian Curry, Kirami Yego and Sebastian Reyneke, a freshman, who picked up his first collegiate victory in the heptathlon, totaling 5,263 points and climbing to second on the all-time program list. Curry claimed his second straight victory this season in the high jump (2.10m/6-10.75). 

MEET INFORMATION
Event: Samford University Invite  
Date: Jan. 20-22
Host: Samford
Site: Birmingham CrossPlex (Birmingham, Ala.)

MEN'S/WOMEN'S FIELD NOTES
- Reyneke placed first in the heptathlon, recording 5,263 points while taking victories in three events— the shot put (13.33m/43-08.75), high jump (2.04m/6-08.25) and pole vault (4.45m/14-7.25). He now sits at second in the Jaguar record books. 
- Sebastian Loschner placed fifth in the shot put with a 16.18m (53-1) mark and fifth in the weight throw (16.19m/53-1) while setting a personal best.
- Bodine Degli-Umberti (14.47m/47-5.75) and Colette Uys (14.10m/46-3.25) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the shot put. 
- Degli-Umberti also smashed her PR in the weight throw, broke a Samford Invite record and took second place after throwing a mark of 18.31m (60-1).
- Riley Caudil placed fifth in the pole vault after recording a 3.71m (12-2) height. 
- Ellis claimed a victory in the triple jump, posting a 14.85m (48-8.75) mark.
- Francois Prinsloo took fourth place in the weight throw with a 17.88m (58-8) distance. 
- Curry earned his second-straight victory of the season in the high jump with a height of 2.10m (6-10.75).
- Kiara Risher notched a second-place finish in the high jump with a 1.68m mark. 

MEN'S/WOMEN'S RUNNING NOTES
- Cierra Hedrick took the runner-up spot in the 200m dash, crossing the finish line in 24.96 seconds and clocked a time of 7.60 seconds for fifth place in the 60m dash. 
- Josie Pry set a personal record in the 60m hurdles (8.84) and finished fifth. 
- Freshman Kendal White set a new personal best while finishing fourth in the 60m hurdles and climbed into fifth the program record books, posting a time of 8.11. 
- Adele Magaud broke a personal record for the second straight time at a meet this season, this time in the mile with a time of 5:01.04 and a fifth-place finish. She now sits at 10th in the program all-time list.
- Yego posted a personal-best time in his 3000m victory, recording a time of 8:18.36.
- The 4 x 400m relay team of Josie Pry, Taviana Williams, Shay Lee and Ariana Ruffin took second place with a time of 4:12.89.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Paul Brueske
- On the meet: "I thought we improved this week, we had several personal bests and individual improvements. Once we get the full team back on track I suspect we will be quite competitive. Just have to get everyone healthy and ready to go."

UP NEXT 
The Jaguars will host the South Alabama Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Feb. 6.

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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