BIRMINGHAM – Jacksonville State opened the 2023 track and field season a little early on Friday at the Birmingham Southern indoor icebreaker meet at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Several Gamecocks made saw their first collegiate action on Friday, including freshman Lennon Ibsen who turned in a top five in her first pole vault competition. The Fort Payne, Ala., native cleared 3.55 meters in her debut meet for her fifth-place finish, just ahead of teammate Kayley Stanley in seventh. Savannah Yates, another local standout, placed 18th in the season's first action of the year.
 
Fellow true freshman Sambre Hoffman registered 16th in the triple jump with a distance of 10.65 meters. Meanwhile, Emma Cape came home 13th in high jump at 1.50 meters.
 
Senior Kirsen Gardner scored 18th in her first shot put of the season at 10.82 meters.
 
On the track, junior Sierra Wainer finished less than a second off a new personal best with a 5:28.38 time in the mile run for eighth place. Leandra Custodio also registered a top 10 finishing seventh in the 400-meter race with a mark of 59.28, just ahead of Gamecocks Hailey Tucker and Breanna Becerra.
 
In 60-meter hurdles, both Ashton Coats and Carolina Minozzi advanced to the semifinal heats on Friday, but just missed reaching the finals with 9.07 and 9.47 times.
 
JSU's next track and field  meet will come on January 14 with the UAB Vulcan Invite.