Florida’s No. 1-ranked men’s and No. 5-ranked women’s track and field teams will head to Arkansas to compete in the Razorback Invitational this weekend for the Gators’ fourth meet of the 2018 indoor season.
The Gators are looking to remain focused entering the meet, which takes place today and Saturday, and hope to continue their early-season success.
Redshirt junior AJ McFarland broke his own school record in the weight throw by seven centimeters (21.74 meters) last weekend at the Clemson Invitational, but he isn’t satisfied.
“When you achieve one thing, there’s something else to strive for,” McFarland said.
Sophomore Grant Holloway will compete in his first long jump competition of the 2018 indoor season exactly one week after tying the third-fastest 60-meter hurdles time (7.49 seconds) in collegiate history.
The time earned Holloway the USTFCCCA Division I Men’s National Athlete of the Week and SEC Men’s Co-Runner of the Week.
Junior Sharrika Barnett was part of the women’s quartet that clocked the fifth-fastest time in UF history last week in the 4x400 relay at 3:31.17. To stay focused, Barnett said she concentrates on controlling her nerves.
“I just try to focus on running… or executing how coach (Mike) Holloway says I should,” Barnett said. “It’ll all fall in place when I do that.”
Barnett — along with male sprinters Kunle Fasasi and freshman Benjamin Lobo Vedel — will compete in their first quarter-mile this weekend.
Coach Holloway said that after the teams’ success at the Clemson Invitational, it was important for his athletes to come back with a clean slate.
“We always talk about leaving your failures (and) successes in the building,” Holloway said. “Our mindset is always that we’re just trying to get better.”
Follow Alanis Thames on Twitter @alanisthames.
Coach Mike Holloway's men's (No. 1) and women's (No. 4) indoor teams will look to capitalize on a fast start to their seasons. “We always talk about leaving your failures (and) successes in the building,” Holloway said. “Our mindset is always that we’re just trying to get better.”
