The Florida men’s track and field team are national champions for the second consecutive season, winning the NCAA outdoor title on Friday night behind four individual champs at Historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Freshman Grant Holloway had a standout performance for the Gators, finishing first in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.49 seconds. Holloway made division one history by claiming the outdoor 110-meter hurdles title in the same year he won the indoor 60-meter hurdles title.
“Amazing,” Holloway said in a release. “All the hard work finally paid off. It’s just a wonderful experience.”
The men’s 4x400 relay team finished fourth with a time of 3:02.16, outrunning SEC rival Alabama.
UF also competed well in the triple jump final, as junior KeAndre Bates took first place with 16.76 meters. Freshman Clayton Brown finished 11th with 15.82 meters.
In the 400-meter hurdles, senior Eric Futch finished in first place with a time of 48.32 seconds and fellow senior TJ Holmes finished in sixth with 49.98 seconds.
Senior Andres Arroyo finished his Gator career fifth overall in the 800-meter with a time of 1:47.28.
“We had a really tough heat,” Arroyo said in a release. “Everyone was good. I know those guys are fast and were going to take it out, just like me.”
In other events on the night, the Gators had modest finishes in the high jump final. Sophomore Johnny Victor tied for seventh with a jump of 2.13 meters and freshman Clayton Brown tied for ninth with 2.13 meters as well.
Overall, the Gators had a successful evening following their strong start on Wednesday. Their 2017 title is their fourth over the past six seasons and their seventh overall in program history including both indoor and outdoor championships.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been more proud of a group of young men that kept fighting all year long,” coach Mike Holloway said in a release. “We just never stopped fighting. That’s just who we are. That’s what this group is all about.”
The women’s team will strive to keep this energy moving forward as it finishes out the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday starting at 6:00 p.m. with the high jump final.
The Gators will look to place in the 4x100 relay, sophomore Sharrika Barnett looks to take home a title in the 400-meter, junior Jontavia Dykes looks to place in the discus throw and junior Darrielle McQueen looks to take home an encouraging rank in the triple jump.
Contact Mari Faiello at mfaiello@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @faiello_mari.
UF coach Mike Holloway smiles as he talks with his team during the 2016 Florida Relays at Percy Beard Track.
