Putting on a show and breaking records is what the UF men and women’s track team did at the season-opening indoor UAB Blazer Invite Friday afternoon.
Jayla Bostic (throws), Gissell Warner (jumps) and Bridgette Owens (hurdles) shined in their respective events.
“I’m very pleased with Jayla (Bostic) to win her event on the last throw with a new personal best and proud of Gissell (Warner) in the triple jump with a personal best by a foot and a half,” coach Mike Holloway said.
Bostic won the women’s weight throw title in her final throw with a new personal-best mark and meet record (20.43/67-0.5).
Warner claimed the women’s triple jump crown and meet record. She passed her personal best by nearly a foot and a half (12.63/41-5.25).
Both Bostic and Warner eclipsed UF’s all-time top 10 performances list.
Owens ran for a new meet record in the women’s 60-meter hurdle prelims and had the second-fastest mark in UF indoor history.
Owens finished the race in 8.30 seconds to place herself in the No. 1 seed for the event on Saturday’s finals.
The men’s also had stellar day-one performances.
Hurdler Eddie Lovett and sprinters Hugh Graham Jr. and Antwan Wright all earned top performances in their preliminary events.
Lovett clocked in the fastest time of the night in the men’s 60-meter hurdles at 7.82 seconds while Wright climbed to the No. 7 mark in the UF all-time indoor 60-meter dash top-10 rankings with a 6.65 second sprint.
With those elite performances in the prelims, the Gators will be well represented in finals Saturday as 12 athletes advance.
Day-two events from the UAB Blazer Invite kick off at 10 a.m. as Holloway looks to keep his team on the right track.
“It was a great way to get the season started, but we can’t get complacent,” Holloway said.
“We have to keep working hard – we’re very pleased with how we started.”
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @Laguna_Lawrence
Florida's Hugh Graham Jr., left, hugs Antwan Wright as teammate Dedric Dukes looks on after winning the 4x400-meter race during the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, June 8, 2013. Florida tied with Texas A&M for the men's championship.
