After having just three athletes competing last week, the Gators will bring a massive squad of 45 runners, jumpers and throwers to compete in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday and Saturday.
Juniors Nikki Stephens and Amanda Froeynes will be the first Gators in action on Friday, competing in the women’s pentathlon 60-meter hurdles. Froeynes will hope to recapture her outdoor form, coming off an SEC Championship in the Pentathlon last spring.
Junior Kala Penn will compete next in the women’s long jump, an event in which UF’s 10th ranked indoor long jumper placed second in two weeks prior at the Gamecock Opener.
Amara Wiggan was one of three Gators who competed last week in the Hokie Invitational, and the senior will look to win her third-consecutive event in the women’s weight throw.
Senior Clayton Brown will compete in the men’s high jump coming off a first-place finish in the Gamecock Opener. The five-time All American now ranks fifth on the all-time ranks among Florida indoor high jumpers. Brown will also share the 7 p.m. time slot on Friday with the men’s distance relay team, which will be followed shortly thereafter by the Women’s Distance Relay team.
Freshman Semira Killebrew and Junior Nikki Stevens will close out Friday’s action in the Women’s 200 meters, with Manson coming off a personal-record and first-place performance at the Gamecock Opener.
Connor Bandel stands out among Florida competitors on Saturday, as the junior will look to win his third-straight meet after a record-breaking performance at the Hokie Invitational.
Taylor Manson will compete again in the women’s 400 meters, accompanied by All-American Doneisha Anderson. Manson is coming off a strong second place finish in the Gamecock Opener, with the junior finishing just a second off of her personal record.
All-SEC second team senior Justin Pacifico will compete in the 800 meters after coming off of a second-place finish two weeks prior at the Gamecock Opener. Pacifico will be accompanied by promising freshman Jacob Miley, who earned a fourth-place finish two weeks ago in his first-career 800 meter.
Action will wrap up on Saturday at 5 p.m. as the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams will compete in the men’s and women’s 4x400 relays.
Follow Declan on Twitter @dawalsh_UF and contact him at dwalsh@alligator.org.
