Florida’s No. 1 men’s and No. 5 women’s track and field teams concluded a competitive weekend at the Razorback Invitational on Friday and Saturday with some of the best times and marks in the nation.
The Gators’ first night of action featured dominant long-jump performances by sophomore Grant Holloway, who won with a mark of 7.97 meters, and senior KeAndre Bates, who finished second with a mark of 7.88 meters.
Holloway and Bates are now ranked second and third nationally in the long jump.
The Gators concluded their weekend in Arkansas on Saturday with eight times and marks that ranked in the top 15 nationally, including two top-five results.
Bates now leads the country in the triple jump after his 16.48-meter mark on Saturday.
Junior Sharrika Barnett led the Gators in the quarter mile, crossing with a time of 51.64 for third place. Barnett’s time set a personal record and put her at No. 3 on the Gators’ all-time indoor top 10.
Freshman Taylor Manson had a solid quarter-mile run of 53.20 on Saturday, good for the sixth-fastest time in the nation. Manson also beat her personal best by nearly a full second.
Coach Mike Holloway expressed his content with the improvements that his teams showed over the weekend.
“Obviously there are places we could be a little bit better,” Holloway said in a release. “But if I were to give us a grade, we are a B-plus or so right now.”
The Gators continue their indoor season this Friday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to compete in the Bayou Bengal Invitational with only their weight throwers scheduled to travel.
Follow Alanis Thames on Twitter @alanisthames.
Florida track and field coach Mike Holloway was pleased with his teams' performance at the Razorback Invitational this past weekend after the Gators recorded eight marks that rank in the top 15 nationally.
