Coach Mike Holloway and his No. 1 Gators men’s and women’s track teams left Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday with plenty to smile about.
Winning performances in four events highlighted the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational for Florida.
Both the men’s and women’s 4x400-meter relay teams won their events, capturing the top times in the NCAA and the world in 2015.
Senior hurdler Marquis Dendy leaped his way to victory in the triple jump, grinding out a 16.06-meter jump — good for fourth overall in the NCAA this season.
Junior runner Claudia Francis, who also anchored the women’s 4x4, was the first to cross the finish line in 800-meter run, doing so in 2:06.96.
The mark set a new personal record for Francis, as well as the 10th fastest time in program history and stands as the fourth-best run in the NCAA.
The Gators also notched runner-up finishes in six events, and set over 30 personal records during the meet.
“I am especially proud of them because of the level of competition we faced at this meet,” Holloway said.
“We came in, held our heads high and got it done.”
Follow Kyle Brutman on Twitter @KBrut13
Florida's Marquis Dendy reacts after competing in the long jump at the NCAA track and field championships on June 12 in Eugene, Ore. Dendy became the first athlete to win both the long jump and the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoors since 2002.
