Practice makes permanent, not perfect.
Those are the words coach Mike Holloway has ingrained in his team on how to approach each week of the indoor season.
Recognizing that concept, the UF track and field team remains for a second consecutive week in the top five of the USTFCCCA rankings.
However, Holloway could not care less about being ranked.
“Rankings mean nothing to me whatsoever,” Holloway said. “There’s one ranking I concern myself with, and that’s the one that comes at the end of the national meets. As long as were where supposed to be, then I’m good.”
With the fourth meet of the season taking place today at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet in Blacksburg, Va., hurdler Moriel Pitt, and sprinter/jumper Robin Reynolds lead the team after solid performances from the Razorback Invitational.
Reynolds and teammates Destinee Gause, Kyra Jefferson and Ebony Eutsey clocked the second-fastest time for a women’s 4x4 in UF history.
“It was just an awesome feeling for us to be running this fast so early,” Reynolds said. “It was better than what we did last year at this time.”
Reynolds’ position in the 4x4 is the opening leg, and is responsible for giving her three teammates an advantage over competitors.
“Being first leg is a big job, giving the lead for the team so they can be in a good position to set them up. Going into the race I have to pop off on the first leg so I try to do that and just go out there and get in good position.”
Reynolds was named Southeastern Conference Women’s Field Athlete of the Week earlier this season on Jan. 14.
Although running for a third-place finish in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.92, Pitt plans to progress.
Pitt said he felt like the competition there against other hurdles was pretty good, and is happy with his performance, but wants to build on it.
Heading into the Virginia Tech Elite Meet, the Gators focus on being permanent, not perfect.
“I’ll put my coaching staff against any coaching staff in the country,” Holloway said. “They understand what were about it’s part of our plan, also we have great athletes. You put great athletes and coaches together, this is what ya get.”
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @LagunaLawrence
