OXFORD, Miss. – South Alabama's Track and field team delivered a series of standout performances, with several athletes posting personal bests and top finishes. Calli Stokes and Reuben Booysen highlighted the weekend as they each earned event wins in their respective events. True freshmen Presleigh Montalvo and Sam Warriner had impressive outings and etched their names further into the Jaguar record books.
In her first-ever heptathlon competition, Calli Stokes posted five new personal bests and two first-place finishes in the javelin (39.74 meters) and shot put (13.14 meters) to tally 4297 points to secure the event win.
A winner in his last two performances in the Javelin, Reuben Booysen continued his dominance with a toss of 66.19 meters (217-02) to clinch first place overall. Additionally, Booysen posted a PR in the hammer throw with a throw of 55.63 meters (182-06), placing him seventh. Mose Piper recorded the highest finish of his collegiate career with a third-place finish in the javelin after throwing 55.67 meters (182-07).
Freshman Samuel Warriner earned fourth place and the eighth-highest point total in program history in the decathlon with 6734 points in his first decathlon ever. Warriner's 110-meter hurdle highlighted his outing as he clocked a time of 15.15 to finish in second place and set a new personal best.
Kendal White ran a season-best 51.79 in the 400-meter hurdles to secure second place and earn a Top 40 NCAA ranking in the event. He finished four-tenths of a second off his personal best.
Will Frederick moved his name up the record books in the men's pole vault with a jump of 5.08 meters to take fifth place in the competition and secure the No.5 mark in South Alabama history.
Charleen Elizondo posted a 17:21.06 in the 5000 meters to take third place and clinched the eighth fastest time in program history.
Presleigh Montalvo finished in fourth place and logged the fourth fastest time in program history in the women's 100 meters with a time of 11.81.
Jadon Thomason took fourth place in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.29.
Ava Grace Wheaton earned third place in the javelin with a hurl of 43.38 meters (142-04).
Quotable
Head Coach Paul Brueske
"We had some good performances today. Calli Stokes won the heptathlon in her first-ever time competing in it. True freshman Sam Warriner got on the top ten list in his first-ever decathlon. Reuben [Booysen] got another PR in the hammer and won the javelin in windy conditions. Charleen [Elizondo] ran well, and she continues to get stronger. We had several personal bests, which was great to see. Overall, this team is improving, and we need to stay healthy and continue to get better."
Up Next
South Alabama will return for in-state action next week as they travel up Tuscaloosa to compete in the Crimson Classic on Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12.
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