The Gators have a lot motivating them right now.
One motivation that demands the women's track and field team's immediate attention is continuing its hot start to the outdoor season.
Daisy Glasser won the pole vault (3.80m/12-5.50) and Keely Medeiros won the discus throw (51.02m/167-5) at the Black and Gold Challenge March 19, where the Gators totaled five top-five finishes.
Returning to the same track this weekend for the UCF Invitational, Glasser will be looking for a repeat performance.
“Having been there, I’m familiar with the place,” Glasser said. “I’m looking forward to competing there again.”
The dawn of the outdoor season also motivates Glasser and her teammates to step up their game a notch.
Florida failed to defend its 2010 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship this season, and coach Mike Holloway expressed disappointment with their efforts.
But he was encouraged by what he saw out of the eight athletes UF sent to Orlando last weekend, especially the two winners.
“Keely and Daisy both did a good job,” Holloway said. “They both wanted to perform a little bit better, but I think that they got off to a great start.”
Paired with a coach like Holloway and an elite men’s team, named the No. 1 outdoor squad by the USTFCCCA this week, the women’s team is eager to prove itself by competing at a high level.
“Obviously we want to win SEC’s,” Glasser said. “We want to work very hard, but also work very smart.”
Glasser placed fifth and posted her personal best in the indoor pole vault (3.95m/12-11.50) at the SEC Indoor Championship this season and is looking to improve on that finish during the outdoor campaign.
Also looking to help the women make an outdoor push is sprinter Lanie Whittaker, who qualified for the national meet as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team.
“I don’t think we did very well (during the indoor season), but we have talent,” Whittaker said. “I’m going to step up and be a leader so our team can be at the NCAA meet and place.”
Holloway gave his word following the indoor season that the women’s would get better before the year was over.
“That’s the first thing we’re going to do this weekend,” Holloway said prior to the Black and Gold Challenge. “We’re going to start getting the women’s team back where they belong.”
