NASHVILLE, Tenn. / BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Alabama Track & Field wrapped up the final weekend of the regular season in dominant fashion, shattering four program records and collecting multiple event victories at the Music City Challenge and the Samford Bulldog Invite.
Charleen Elizondo stole the spotlight, breaking school records in both the women's mile and 3000 meters.
Elizondo opened the weekend Friday at the Music City Challenge with a blazing 4:41.70 in the mile to finish fourth overall, trimming .84 seconds off the previous program mark. She followed that performance Saturday by setting another school record in the 3000 meters, clocking 9:40.04 to edge the former record and cap a historic weekend.
Staying in the distance events, freshman phenom Brady Keller continued his strong debut campaign. Keller ran a program-record 4:01.70 in the men's mile Friday to place fifth overall, then returned to take second in the 3000 meters with a time of 8:17.97.
In the field events, redshirt freshman Jonathan Henderson soared to a new school record in the high jump, clearing 2.16 meters (7-1) to claim the event title. Henderson outpaced the competition by four inches, as the next closest competitor finished at 2.00 meters (6-6 ¾). On the women's side, Aubrey Evans placed fourth out of 21 competitors with a clearance of 1.64 meters.
The Jaguars also impressed in the pole vault. Will Frederick cleared 5.32 meters (17-5 ½) to secure a runner-up finish, delivering one of his strongest performances of the indoor season. The sophomore needed just one attempt at 5.17 meters before battling through 5.32 with a clutch clearance. Terek Logan followed in third place, clearing 5.17 meters (16-11 ½) after a clean progression through his early heights.
On the track, freshman Nieko Garnes captured his first collegiate victory in the 400 meters, winning the unseeded final in 47.94 — the sixth-fastest time in program history.
The 60 meters produced more podium finishes for the Jaguars. Jadon Thomason placed third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.99, while Presleigh Montalvo earned bronze in the 60 meters with a 7.51 finish.
Jordan Morrison added another strong distance performance, finishing third in the 800 meters in 1:51.63.
Over in Birmingham, Akasha Dudley highlighted the Samford Bulldog Invite with a first-place finish in the shot put, posting a personal-best mark of 13.86 meters (45-5.75).
Up Next
South Alabama turns its focus to the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, set for Feb. 23–24.
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