Running in the distance medley relay (DMR) requires the poise of four athletes to run nearly 2.5 miles.
Rebekah Greene, Ebony Eutsey, Agata Strausa and Cory McGee cruised to an 11:00.16 time in the DMR to headline the first day of the Rod McCravy Memorial in Lexington, Ky., on Friday.
The third-ranked women’s team clocked in the second fastest time in the nation and second-fastest mark in UF’s indoor record book for the DMR in a second-place finish.
Newcomer freshman Greene made her Gators debut with the three seniors as they finished just shy the UF school record of 10:58.77 set in 2012.
Coach Mike Holloway said he was really impressed with the women in the DMR on Friday.
In addition to the women’s DMR, juniors Jayla Bostic and Taylor Burke owned their respective events.
“I’m very proud of Jayla (Bostic),” coach Mike Holloway said. “Not only for a personal best for her (in the weight throw), but for her performance against a very quality field of athletes that scored at the NCAA Division I meet last year.”
Bostic took first place in the weight throw for the second straight meet.
After throwing for a new mark of 20.46m/67-1.5 for the victory, she has a new personal best for herself.
Burke took second in the women’s high jump with a season-best 1.83m/6-00.00.
Holloway said he was very pleased with Burke’s performance in the high jump and believed the team accomplished some key goals.
As for the men’s opening day performances, Kyle Strawn finished in fifth place in the men’s weight throw with a 19.35m/63-6.00 performance.
The men’s DMR finished in fourth place and left coach Holloway unpleased.
Ryan Schnulle, Hugh Graham Jr., Sean Obinwa and Andres Arroyo collectively ran in a time of 9:41.95 for a fourth-place finish.
“In the men’s distance medley relay, we have to get better,” Holloway said. “We didn’t get it done tonight.”
After being designated National Meet of the Week by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Gators will start competing the final day of the Rod McCravy Memorial tomorrow at 10 a.m. hoping to have more top finishes.
“We’re going to get rested tonight; we need to show up tomorrow, engage in the competition and raise the intensity to that of our competitors,” Holloway said. “If we do that, we’ll be fine.”
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @LagunaLawrence
