Commencing with a constructive performance at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships at Lexington, Ky., Jayla Bostic threw her way to a top-five mark on Thursday.
Bostic, who was ranked ninth entering SECs outdoors, turned in a fifth-place finish with a best throw of 57.49 meters in the hammer to earn four points for the top-ranked Gators.
The junior thrower gave Florida its first points of conference competition and placed UF at fifth place on the women’s side following just one event and just one point behind fourth-place Kentucky. Georgia and LSU are tied for first after Day 1.
Coach Mike Holloway said he was very pleased with Bostic’s performance, especially since she ranked out of the top five entering SECs.
Joining Bostic in the only performances for the Gators on Day 1 of the conference contest was senior Brittany Harrell, who opened up in the heptathlon.
Harrell finished the day in sixth place after putting up 3,249 points after the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and the 200-meter dash (24.92 seconds), which were all-conditions best at 894 points earned.
“Brittany Harrell had a tough day, but she’s a fighter,” Holloway said. “She has a chance to do really well; she had a very strong day with the long jump, javelin and 800m – two of her best events in the whole heptathlon.”
She is now 407 points back from the leader as Day 2 of the heptathlon continues on Friday with the final three events (long jump, javelin and 800-meter run).
The No. 1 Gators commence the second day of conference championships at 1:30 p.m. as defending men’s hammer champion Kyle Strawn and thrower David Levin will complete in the prelims and finals of the hammer.
Running events will kick off at 6:15 p.m. as Rebekah Greene will run in the women’s 800m and Sean Obinwa, Andres Arroyo, Ryan Schnulle and Donnie Lee Jr. will represent on the men’s side.
Even though it was not an outstanding opening day for the Gators, it was solid enough for a beneficial standing.
“We’re going to go back to the hotel, get back out here tomorrow and get after it a little bit better than we did today,” Holloway said.
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Jayla Bostic talks with throws coach Steve Lemke after one of her hammer throw attempts during the Tom Jones Memorial Invite on April 19, 2014, at Percy Beard Track.
