MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men’s and women’s track and field teams will return to the Birmingham Crossplex on Wednesday to compete in its third meet of the season, the Birmingham Invitational.
 
The two-day event will mark the third consecutive trip to the Magic City for the Jaguars, who also participated in the Birmingham Ice Breaker (Dec. 7-8) and UAB Blazer Invitational (Jan. 12-13).
 
Head coach Paul Brueske said he was pleased with the team’s first two meets, but said there is much room improvement across all phases of competition.
 
“We’ve done well to break some records in the first couple of meets, but we have to continue to improve all across the board,” he said. “It’s just like the age-old saying, ‘If you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse.’ We will keep developing and keep getting better week by week.”
 
Senior multi-events student-athlete Lindsay Schwartz has recorded the most notable performance for the Jags thus far this season. At the Ice Breaker, Schwartz posted a new school record in the indoor pentathlon with a point accumulation of 3,835 points, which currently ranks fourth amongst NCAA female competitors.
 
Connor Smith cleared 4.65m (15-03.00) to break a third-place tie on the Jaguar all-time indoor pole vault list. The 6-5 sophomore currently ranks fourth in the event amongst Sun Belt Conference student-athletes. Smith is also tied with fellow Jaguar Ashton Krause at seventh on the conference high jump list with a 6-02.75 mark.
 
Latifah Johnson followed Smith’s first-day performance by rewriting the history books herself.  On day two, Johnson shattered the school’s previous indoor weight throw record on a 16.70m (54-09.50) heave. The mark was set on Johnson’s first meet since returning from a high ankle sprain and currently ranks fifth in the conference.
 
Anton Graphenreed currently stands second in the conference in the 200 meters (21.78s) and is tied for third in the 55-meter dash (6.41) following third-place finishes in both at the Blazer Invite.
 
Also ranking in the SBC men’s field events are Adam Patterson and Steven Nobles, who stand at fourth and fifth, respectively, in the weight throw. William Henley and Taylor Krause are tied for seventh in the pole vault, and Tyler Agee is eighth in the men’s 55-meter hurdles.
 
For the women, Bobbie Williamson is currently ranked sixth in the shot put on a mark of 12.73m (41-04.25). Shakeria Williams is fifth in the 200 meters (25.19), Erika Saxton is sixth in the 55 meters (7.20s) and Tori Lawson is seventh in the 3,000 meters (10:12.06).
 
Results from Wednesday’s competition will be posted on the Jaguar athletics website immediatelyfollowing the final event. Live results can be tracked by following the UAB Blazers athletics website.  
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Seasons tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).