When the UF track and field team travels to Birmingham, Ala., for its season-opening indoor meet this afternoon, one thing will be stressed above all: consistency.
The men’s team is just the third program to win three consecutive indoor national titles (2010, 2011, 2012), while the women notched the crown once — in 1992.
After falling victim to 2013 indoor national champion Arkansas, Florida is preparing to bring back the title this season with senior hurdler Eddie Lovett leading the way.
"They know that I’m here for the progression of the team period, men and women," Lovett said.
"As of right now, were all on the same page, and we’re heading into indoor starting strong, and hopefully ... be (as) consistent as we can."
Coach Mike Holloway is relying on his seniors to be the enforcers and create an atmosphere where the team is seen as one unit.
Both the men and women’s teams praise the idea of the squad being a family and neglect any type of separation.
"I practice with the boys a lot this fall," senior sprinter Ebony Eutsey said. "I definitely think they pushed me to the point where I was just like, ‘Oh my God.’"
"They still push us in practice and even in class if you need help. The help is there. We push one another.
"The motivation that they have for us is there, the determination they have for us is there, the focus is there. We’re just a family like [Holloway] said."
Leadership is another characteristic the seniors have shown in preparation for Friday’s meet.
Both Lovett and Eutsey see the importance of leading the rest of the team.
Eutsey said she shows the underclassman the importance of being responsible — coming to practice on time, getting the right supplements and going to tutoring are duties she and others hold as seniors and leaders.
Lovett tried to relate to his teammates by explaining his own faults.
"Last year, I felt like I’ve had pretty good consistency indoor, and somewhere towards outdoor, I maybe lost focus on the things I was focused on indoor," Lovett said.
"Bringing consistency and trying to instill that into my teammates and even on the women’s side, starting strong and finishing strong."
After scoring 59 points in the national championship last year, UF is fortunate to return the majority of those points in athletes to start off the UAB Invite.
Junior jumper Marquis Dendy and sophomore sprinter Arman Hall were both named to the Bowerman Trophy men’s preseason watch list.
Florida is the only team with two athletes on the list.
UF strengthens its Bowerman legacy that includes an all-time best 59 watch list appearances, as Dendy made his sixth appearance and Hall his first.
The UAB Invite will start today in the late afternoon. It will host 40 teams throughout the two-day event.
Holloway seeks to start the season strong.
"Overall, just very, very pleased with where the program is," Holloway said. "Very pleased with the progress and we’re ready to get this thing started."
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @LagunaLawrence
Eddie Lovett leaps over a hurdle during an NCAA East Preliminary Round in Greensboro, N.C., on May 24, 2013. Lovett has been leading the Gators in the build up to this season.
