At its second-to-last meet of the regular season, Florida’s track and field team shined.
Despite rainy conditions at the Arkansas Spring Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., the Gators nabbed eleven event titles and posted eight season bests on Saturday.
“We had a solid day today,” coach Mike Holloway said. “I’m very proud of the way we competed considering the cool weather conditions.”
Senior Jeremy Postin sustained his momentum from last week’s Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Gainesville by winning the men’s hammer throw with a season-best distance of 66.68 meters.
Following Postin in the hammer throw was sophomore Kyle Strawn, throwing a personal-best distance of 65.56 meters. Sophomore David Levin also threw a personal best distance of 59.59 meters.
“I’m very happy with the hammer throwers today,” Holloway said. “For three of them to throw seasonal bests and two of those to be PRs, that’s where we want them to be heading into the conference portion of the season.”
Also among the men who set personal bests this Saturday were sophomore Marquis Dendy and freshman Kadesh Roberts.
Dendy, the reigning NCAA Indoor Champion in the men’s long jump, set a PR in the triple jump with a distance of 15.53 meters. Dendy finished runner-up to fellow Gator Omar Craddock, who leaped a distance of 15.76 meters.
Roberts won the men’s 400m hurdles. By clocking a time of 52.86 seconds, Roberts won his first ever college event.
The No. 6 ranked women also had a very strong showing on Saturday, posting five event victories.
Sophomores Taylor Burke and Ciarra Brewer each set season bests in the high jump and triple jump, respectively.
Burke won her third consecutive long jump, clearing a height of 1.81 meters. Burke went undefeated in the month of April.
“I’m very pleased with Taylor jumping a seasonal best,” Holloway said. “She continues to get better as we move into the championship season.”
Brewer has also started a win streak of her own. By leaping a distance of 13.45 meters, Brewer won her second consecutive women’s triple jump.
With one meet left in the season, the Gators are now fully focused on the championship meets in May. The Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships will be held from the 9th to the 12th at the University of Missouri.
“Overall, we had a good meet and got some good things done,” said Holloway. “Now we go back home and start preparing for the conference meet in 13 days in Columbia.”
Sophomore jumper Marquis Dendy competes in the long jump at the SEC Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 23 in Fayetteville, Ark. Dendy qualified for the men's triple jump in next week's NCAA Outdoors Championships.
