The Gators saw plenty of success on the first day of the UAB Blazer Invitational, showcasing their talents while showing Birmingham, Alabama why they are the top-ranked team in the country.
Bridgette Owens shattered both the meet and school record in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, as she finished the race in 8.10 seconds, which is a full tenth-of-a-second better than the meet’s previous mark — a record which was set by Owens herself.
Ryann McEnany finished runner-up in her respective preliminary hurdle, clocking in at 8.64 seconds, good enough to qualify her for the final race.
Hurdlers Ashley Favors and Tyjah Eady did not qualify for the 60m hurdle final.
Owens and McEnany will race in the 60 hurdles final on Saturday at 12:50 p.m.
In the men’s 60-meter hurdle, all four of Florida’s hurdlers—Yanick Hart, Moriel Pitt, Jabari Hill and Caleb Chambliss—topped their heats. Hart, who finished in a preliminary-best 7.97 seconds, and Pitt will both race in Saturday’s final, which will start 12:50 p.m.
Junior sprinter Antwan Wright recorded the best mark among all participants in the men’s 60-meter dash, finishing the race in 6.68 seconds. Fellow sprinter Damien Daniels, racing in his first dash as a Gator, will join Wright as they will both race in Saturday’s 60m final at 1 p.m.
Junior sprinter Tyler Osorio did not qualify for the 60m final.
Junior sprinter Shayla Sanders won her preliminary heat in the women’s 60-meter dash, finishing in 7.44 seconds.
She finished second overall in the event and qualified for the final race, which will take place Saturday at 1 p.m.
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Bridgette Owens competes during the Tom Jones Memorial Invite on April 19 at the Percy Beard Track. Owens, who clocked a 12.80-second 100-meter hurdles on Saturday, was one of 25 UF athletes to advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
