Despite winning the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championship, a certain piece of hardware has eluded the No. 1 Florida men’s track and field squad — a Southeastern Conference crown.
The last time the men’s team won the SEC Indoor Championship Meet was 2004, which seems like an eternity for a perennial contender.
“We’re always focused out here, but now everyone knows that it’s that time,” jumper Will Claye said. “This is when all the big marks have to come out, so we’re a little more focused.”
Claye, who is a candidate for The Bowerman award along with sprinter Jeff Demps and fellow jumper Christian Taylor, has already qualified for the national meet in both the triple jump and long jump.
Joining Claye in pursuit of a conference title in the triple jump and long jump will be Omar Craddock and defending SEC triple-jump champion Taylor.
“We plan on sweeping the triple jump,” Claye said. “Me and Christian plan on doing something big in the long jump.”
In addition to jumping, another promising event for the Gators is the heptathlon, which features junior Gray Horn.
Horn, who automatically qualified for nationals with a victory at the Texas A&M Challenge on Jan. 29, has finished second and third, respectively, in his first two SEC Indoor Championship Meets.
“No one’s taking this one from me,” Horn said. “I’m going to go in there and do my job and kick-start my team. I am very confident going into this.”
Horn’s automatic-qualifying score at the Texas A&M Challenge totaled 5,747 points, the second-best mark in school history.
Meanwhile, the No. 21 women’s team will be aiming to win a second consecutive SEC Indoor Championship.
Leading the women will be freshman distance runner Cory McGee, who posted the best women’s mile run mark (4:36.53) in the SEC this season.
“(McGee’s) fantastic. She’s gotten better every week, and she’s an extraordinarily focused competitor,” distance coach Todd Morgan said.
McGee has won SEC Freshman of the Week twice this season for her efforts at the Nittany Lion Challenge (Jan. 15) and the FloTrack Husky Classic (Feb. 11).
While the Gators have high expectations for both their men’s and women’s squads this weekend in Fayetteville, Ark., coach Mike Holloway is confident his teams will perform well.
“You feel pressure when you’re not prepared, but we’re very prepared,” Holloway said.
The Gators’ biggest challengers this weekend will be LSU and host Arkansas.
Both Tigers squads are ranked No. 2 nationally, while the Razorbacks women’s team ranks No. 4 and the men’s team is ranked No. 5.
“If we go out there and do what we’re supposed to do, then no one can challenge us,” Claye said. “Honestly, we have a really good group of guys, and I feel like nobody on our team is intimidated by any other team out there.”
HOLLOWAY HEADED TO LONDON: Holloway always maintains that the Gators try to get better each week — and the UF coach is practicing what he preaches.
Holloway was named an assistant coach for Team USA in the 2012 Olympics in London.
“It’s a great honor to be voted by my peers to represent the USA and be an assistant coach for the Olympic team,” Holloway said. “When I got the phone call, it was a chilling moment for me.
“I’m very proud and happy, but I’ve got a lot of work to do with the Gators before I even think about that.
“The big thing for me is that I’m excited to be representing the United States and to be around the world’s greatest athletes,” Holloway continued. “I’m also excited about the prospect of my family being able to go.
“I’ve been to London before, but my wife, my son and my daughter have never been there, so ultimately, it’s a crown jewel for the whole family.”
