After the Gators’ subpar effort from the previous NCAA Indoors, the Florida track squads had another chance at redemption.
With 25 athletes (12 women, 13 men) having traveled to Eugene, Ore., for NCAA Outdoors, Florida put on an impressive start qualifying 11 of the first 16 athletes to begin the competition.
The defending champion 4x100-meter men’s lineup sprinted to an easy first place finish — clocking a time of 38.77 seconds advancing Antwan Wright, Hugh Graham Jr., Arman Hall and Dedric Dukes to the finals.
“I think this is one of the most exciting championships we’ve been to when you look at the qualifiers,” coach Mike Holloway said. “Looking at it overall we’ve been as healthy as we have all year long.”
With the commanding opening to Day 1, other Florida athletes stood out in qualifying fashion.
Ryan Schnulle traveled back in the final stretch of 800-meter run to take second place and qualify for finals with a time of 1:49.48.
His co-800 meter runner senior mid-distance Sean Obinwa, who ran in the following heat after Schnulle, did not qualify and was eliminated from national competition ending his career with the Florida track program.
“It has been quite the honor to have competed with the best team in my eyes over the past five years,” Obinwa said via his Twitter account. “I may be done but my team isn’t.”
The women’s 4x100-meter will compete in finals as well as Robin Reynolds, Ebony Eutsey, Shayla Sanders and Destinee Gause. In addition, after adding to what was a impressive opening to nationals, Graham Jr., and his teammate Najee Glass both advanced in the 400-meter dash with times of 45.83 and 45.56.
However, sophomore sprinter Arman Hall just missed the list of qualifiers and will not compete in finals.
The field isn’t the same, the level of competition has elevated and No. 2/4 Florida has to put its potential to the side and rely on what can be there’s.
The Gators will return for Day 2 of the four-day event of nationals outdoors on Thursday with an additional 16 athletes competing.
Holloway prefers his team to rely on its natural talent.
“I understand as the head coach that I’m only as good as my staff,” Holloway said. “I have some of the best people out there, and those guys (coaches) are vital. We’re just looking forward to another good championship run.”
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @LagunaLawrence
Mike Holloway looks on during the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships on Nov. 1, 2013, at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
