BATON ROUGE, La. – The South Alabama Track and Field program put together an impressive start to its indoor season at the LSU Purple Tiger Invitational Friday night as Sebastian Loschner smashed the program record in the shot put and eight other Jaguars picked up new personal records.
In the Field
Loschner topped his previous personal best in the shot put with a monstrous heave of 17.46 meters (57 feet 3 ½ inches) to win the event and break the school record by nearly an entire foot. He would also go on to set a new personal best in the weight throw with a hurl of 16.21 meters (53 feet 2 ¼ inches)
On the women's side, thrower Bodine Delgi-Umberti continued her dominance that she showed a year ago by winning the weight throw with a hurl of 19.09 meters (62 feet 7 3 / 4 inches). She would also take second place in the shot put with a mark of 14.20 meters (46 feet 7 ¼ inches).
Kayden Engel had a strong outing in the women's high jump, clearing 1.61 meters (5 feet 3 ¼ inches) to grab second place. Caleb Mabins led the way for the Jags in the men's high jump, taking place fourth with a jump of 6.88 meters (22 feet 7 inches).
Iyana Johnson picked up two dominant finishes for the Jaguar women in the triple jump and weight throw. Johnson soared to second place in the triple jump with a leap of 12.28 meters (40 feet 3 ½ inches). She would also follow up that performance with a personal record in the weight throw with a mark of 16.95 meters (55 feet 7 ½ inches), making her ninth all-time in the event for South Alabama.
Sebastian Reyneke recorded an impressive personal record in the shot put, launching to a new personal best mark of 15.15 meters (49 feet 8 ½ inches). Samuel Mika also stepped up big and earned fifth place in the shot put with a mark of 16.05 meters (52 feet 8 inches).
On the Track
In his first meet as a Jaguar, Sacha Perrier blazed to a dominating win in the men's 3000 meters, securing a time of 8:27.98 to defeat the rest of his competitors by nearly seven seconds. Amos Pkemboi secured a spot inside the top-5 in the 3000 meters, running a time of 8:54.73 to place fourth, while Xavier Johnson clinched a new personal best with a time of 9:14.12.
The women's 4x400 meter relay of Grace Wolf, Tia Acker, Josie Pry, and Rachel Hunter turned in a stellar performance, finishing with a time of 3:58.41 to take second place in the event.
Javon Glenn blistered to an event win in the men's 200 meters with a time of 22.54. He would also set a new personal best in the 60-meter prelims, clocking a time of 7.073.
Kendal White began the competition by bolting to a time of 8.06 in the 60-meter hurdles prelims to secure a new PR and qualify for the finals in the event. He would claim a new PR in the finals after he logged a time of 8.01 to earn third place in the competition and secure second place in the Jaguar record books.
Nic Glass blasted out to a PR in the 60-meter hurdles, logging a time of 8.86.
The Jaguars would sweep the top three spots in men's 200 meters as Collin Roberts earned second place, posting a time of 23.23, and Juan Hill snatched third place with a 23.64.
Charlene Elizondo ran a smooth race in the women's 3000 meters to secure second place with a time of 10:38.76.
Tyndal Ann Griffth clawed onto the podium, finishing with a 2:31.96 to earn third place. Kate Miller came in right behind Griffth, earning fourth place with a time of 2:31.97.
Up Next
South Alabama will return to in-state action on Thursday, Jan. 18, and Friday, Jan.19 as they travel to Birmingham, Ala. to compete in the Samford Invitational.
