Two Gators did not wait long to have career-best performances in the weight throw.
Sophomores Jayla Bostic and David Levin both set personal records in the event at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday.
"It just shows their hard work, and their work ethic," coach Mike Holloway said.
In the women’s field, Bostic’s mark of 18.85m was second behind LSU’s Denise Hinton (19.71m).
For the men, Levin finished third with a throw of 18.44m.
Both throwers have benefited from working with throwing coach Steve Lemke, who earned praise from Holloway on Monday.
"I make no bones about it, I think Steve Lemke is one of the best, if not the best, throwing coach in the country," Holloway said.
Holloway said Bostic and Levin have benefitted from being around other top athletes like senior Jeremy Postin and former Gator Kemal Mesic.
Although Bostic and Levin are inexperienced, Holloway said freshmen and sophomores are expected to compete and win at Florida.
Freshman Arman Hall turned in a stellar performance in his college debut.
Hall ran the final leg of the men’s 4x400-meter relay. The team turned in a winning performance, finishing in 3:07.59, the second-fastest time in the NCAA in 2013.
Hall placed second in the 200 meter with a time of 21.22 seconds.
"He was stuck down in Lane 3, and a lot of times, athletes get stuck in a lane they don’t really want to be in, and they kind of back off," Holloway said.
"He went out, competed hard, and actually that was the second-fastest time of his life."
Holloway reiterated that the meet was just the first of many for the Gators this season.
Florida has eight events before the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 8-9 in Fayetteville, Ark.
"The moment we wake up and think that we’ve made it (is) the moment we wake up and think that everybody’s going to lay down for us," Holloway said. "Then, clearly, we’ve lost our minds."
Throwers coach Steve Lemke (left) and coach Mike Holloway walk across the field at Percy Beard Track at Pressly Stadium during the 2012 Florida Relays. Seventeen Gators qualified Sunday for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which are set to begin June 5.
