Saturday, February 25
Nashville, TN
2:55 PM
Florida Gators
at
SEC Indoor Championships
Andres Arroyo won the Gators' third indoor 800 meters title in the last five years.
Gators Add Three Individual Titles, Shatter 4x4 School Record to Close SEC Indoors
Saturday, February 25, 2017 | Track and Field
Florida totaled four men's titles, broke a school record, and saw its women collect three All-SEC honors this weekend
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Florida's men added three more individual titles to their haul and broke the 4x400 relay school record by nearly a full second, clocking one of the fastest times in collegiate history to close SEC Indoor Championships.
Senior half-miler Andres Arroyo briefly lost his lead in the 800 meters final, but used an outside pass and a strong kick down the homestretch to win his first individual SEC title. It was the fourth title in school history and third in the last five years for the Gators. Arroyo's winning time of 1:47.18 ranks eighth in Division I this year.
Junior KeAndre Bates, who won the long jump title Friday (Feb. 24) night, took the triple jump title by 20 centimeters over national leader Clive Pullen of Arkansas. Bates' victory is the 10th in school history, surpassing Tennessee for the second-highest total in SEC history. Bates is also the 11th man in meet history and fifth Gator in history to sweep the horizontal jumps. The other Gators to do so are Ron Coleman (1970), Mike Sharpe (1975), Christian Taylor (2009), and Marquis Dendy (2015).
Bates was the only man to win multiple titles this year, earning him the Cliff Harper Trophy. The award is given to the men's and women's individual with the highest point total. The El Paso, Texas native is the 11th Gator in history to win the award and the first since Dendy in 2015.
Freshman Grant Holloway became the second freshman since 2000 to win the 60-meter hurdles title, joining Gator Great Eddie Lovett (2011) as the only other man to do it during that span. On top of his fifth-place finish in the long jump yesterday, Holloway also became the first man since at least 2001 to score in both the 60 hurdles and long jump at SEC Indoors. (Video credit: SEC Network +)
In the final event of the night, the men's 4x400 relay quartet of Kunle Fasasi, Holloway, Eric Futch, and TJ Holmes clocked a runner-up time of 3:02.73—which broke the previous school record of 3:03.50, is the second-fastest oversized track time in collegiate history, and is the third-fastest time in collegiate history on any track. (Video credit: SEC Network +)
Freshman Clayton Brown was the only other Gator to earn an All-SEC honor, as he finished third in the triple jump. Brown's top mark of 16.58 meters (54 feet, 6 inches) is now the No. 3-ranked mark in the country, in addition to it improving his personal best by 24 centimeters.
The women collected a trio of All-SEC accolades in the form of Sharrika Barnett (400 meters), Yanis David (triple jump), and the women's 4x400 relay team of Brandee' Johnson, Destinee Gause, Taylor Sharpe, and Barnett. All three took second place in their events. And the 4x4 team tied the No. 6-ranked time on UF's all-time indoor top 10 (3:32.06). (Video credit: SEC Network +)
The men's team tied for third overall, marking their 13th top-three finish at the SEC Indoor Championships in Mike Holloway's 15 seasons as head coach. The women finished eighth, their lowest finish in Holloway's 10 seasons at the helm.
A two-hour television broadcast of the championship will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET Sunday (Feb. 26). A full results table and team standings for this weekend is below.
HEARING OUT (COACH) HOLLOWAY
Head coach Mike Holloway on the three individual titles won today…
"Very proud of all three of those guys. Andres did a phenomenal job today. We had a race plan and he executed it well. Really proud of the way he finished; he never gave up and had to dig down in the last 60 (meters) to win the race. Grant overcame a bad start to finish well and win his first title. For him to do that as a freshman I thought was a phenomenal job. KeAndre was just wonderful winning the triple jump today with a new personal best, and winning the Cliff Harper Trophy."
Holloway on some of the day's other standout performances…
"We had a very intense team meeting this morning; we talked about having some pride in who we are and competing harder. Did everything go our way? Absolutely not. But I don't think you saw anyone who put on a uniform today that didn't give their best effort. Everybody kept fighting, working hard. Eric Futch, great job in the 400. I was really proud of Taylor Tubbs in the 5k today. It just goes on and on. Great job by Clayton Brown in the triple jump. Sharrika Barnett second in the 400. Yanis David second in the triple jump. At the end of the day, we competed with a lot of pride and a lot of passion. That's what we're all about."
Holloway on where both teams are at heading into NCAA Indoor Championships…
"We're in a good spot. We've got some work to do on the women's side. On the men's side, we've got all the pieces we expected to have going to the national meet. I'm sure we'll be one of the top-ranked teams going in, but those rankings mean nothing. We've got to go there and perform."
SEC INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS SPEAK
Andres Arroyo on winning his first individual SEC title…
"It feels amazing. My previous training partners—Ryan Schnulle and Sean Obinwa—all have SEC championships. Now I feel like part of the pack, joining them. It feels great. I just trusted my coach and I can see the progress. I feel confident. It's a big confidence boost. I keep trusting my coaches, and we've still got nationals. I feel great right now."
KeAndre Bates on his two titles and Cliff Harper Trophy this weekend…
"I appreciate this a lot. But every time I was getting out of the pit and just saying, 'Dang, I need to do better.' I had goals I wanted to reach. But I'm happy I won. I'm happy I got points for our team—that's the main thing for me. I'm not really worried about winning for myself. I want to (win), but for a bigger purpose. I knew I had it in me. I'm getting my focus back."
Grant Holloway on his SEC title-winning race in the 60 hurdles (via interview with SEC Network +'s John Anderson)…
"The race was actually not one of the best I've had. Sloppy start. But I just trusted the process and just kept going on along with it."
Holloway on how important it was to perform well today after the fifth-place finish in the long jump Friday…
"I wasn't pleased, so I tried to use that as motivation to come out here and do my best. Other than that, going to go back to Gainesville and get ready for NCAAs."
SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
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Senior half-miler Andres Arroyo briefly lost his lead in the 800 meters final, but used an outside pass and a strong kick down the homestretch to win his first individual SEC title. It was the fourth title in school history and third in the last five years for the Gators. Arroyo's winning time of 1:47.18 ranks eighth in Division I this year.
That #SECITF 800 ?? finish from @SpeedyArroyo... ??@FloridaGators have won three of the last five indoor 800s #GoGators
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) February 25, 2017
(????: @SECNetwork +) pic.twitter.com/baBxxgY03S
Junior KeAndre Bates, who won the long jump title Friday (Feb. 24) night, took the triple jump title by 20 centimeters over national leader Clive Pullen of Arkansas. Bates' victory is the 10th in school history, surpassing Tennessee for the second-highest total in SEC history. Bates is also the 11th man in meet history and fifth Gator in history to sweep the horizontal jumps. The other Gators to do so are Ron Coleman (1970), Mike Sharpe (1975), Christian Taylor (2009), and Marquis Dendy (2015).
Bates was the only man to win multiple titles this year, earning him the Cliff Harper Trophy. The award is given to the men's and women's individual with the highest point total. The El Paso, Texas native is the 11th Gator in history to win the award and the first since Dendy in 2015.
Only man to win multiple titles at this year's #SECITF Championships: @ijump_524 ????
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) February 26, 2017
Congrats on the Cliff Harper Award, KeAndre! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/LecEHqj2kk
Freshman Grant Holloway became the second freshman since 2000 to win the 60-meter hurdles title, joining Gator Great Eddie Lovett (2011) as the only other man to do it during that span. On top of his fifth-place finish in the long jump yesterday, Holloway also became the first man since at least 2001 to score in both the 60 hurdles and long jump at SEC Indoors. (Video credit: SEC Network +)
Freshmen to win the @SEC 60 hurdles title since 2000?
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) February 25, 2017
Both @FloridaGators--@XianZhi4 and @Flaamingoo_ ????
Here's the ???????????? pic.twitter.com/HcMKiWhUpl
In the final event of the night, the men's 4x400 relay quartet of Kunle Fasasi, Holloway, Eric Futch, and TJ Holmes clocked a runner-up time of 3:02.73—which broke the previous school record of 3:03.50, is the second-fastest oversized track time in collegiate history, and is the third-fastest time in collegiate history on any track. (Video credit: SEC Network +)
SCHOOL RECORD and second-fastest oversized track time in COLLEGIATE HISTORY!
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) February 26, 2017
3??:0??2??.7??3?? #GoGators pic.twitter.com/0wq0LGsbGe
Freshman Clayton Brown was the only other Gator to earn an All-SEC honor, as he finished third in the triple jump. Brown's top mark of 16.58 meters (54 feet, 6 inches) is now the No. 3-ranked mark in the country, in addition to it improving his personal best by 24 centimeters.
The women collected a trio of All-SEC accolades in the form of Sharrika Barnett (400 meters), Yanis David (triple jump), and the women's 4x400 relay team of Brandee' Johnson, Destinee Gause, Taylor Sharpe, and Barnett. All three took second place in their events. And the 4x4 team tied the No. 6-ranked time on UF's all-time indoor top 10 (3:32.06). (Video credit: SEC Network +)
.@Lilmamba_nuna ?? @_thedsg_ ?? @Tee_Sharpe ?? Sharrika Barnett = 3:32.06
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) February 26, 2017
2nd place at #SECITF, No. 9-ranked relay team in Division I pic.twitter.com/V1XdeoTQvv
The men's team tied for third overall, marking their 13th top-three finish at the SEC Indoor Championships in Mike Holloway's 15 seasons as head coach. The women finished eighth, their lowest finish in Holloway's 10 seasons at the helm.
A two-hour television broadcast of the championship will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET Sunday (Feb. 26). A full results table and team standings for this weekend is below.
HEARING OUT (COACH) HOLLOWAY
Head coach Mike Holloway on the three individual titles won today…
"Very proud of all three of those guys. Andres did a phenomenal job today. We had a race plan and he executed it well. Really proud of the way he finished; he never gave up and had to dig down in the last 60 (meters) to win the race. Grant overcame a bad start to finish well and win his first title. For him to do that as a freshman I thought was a phenomenal job. KeAndre was just wonderful winning the triple jump today with a new personal best, and winning the Cliff Harper Trophy."
Holloway on some of the day's other standout performances…
"We had a very intense team meeting this morning; we talked about having some pride in who we are and competing harder. Did everything go our way? Absolutely not. But I don't think you saw anyone who put on a uniform today that didn't give their best effort. Everybody kept fighting, working hard. Eric Futch, great job in the 400. I was really proud of Taylor Tubbs in the 5k today. It just goes on and on. Great job by Clayton Brown in the triple jump. Sharrika Barnett second in the 400. Yanis David second in the triple jump. At the end of the day, we competed with a lot of pride and a lot of passion. That's what we're all about."
Holloway on where both teams are at heading into NCAA Indoor Championships…
"We're in a good spot. We've got some work to do on the women's side. On the men's side, we've got all the pieces we expected to have going to the national meet. I'm sure we'll be one of the top-ranked teams going in, but those rankings mean nothing. We've got to go there and perform."
SEC INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS SPEAK
Andres Arroyo on winning his first individual SEC title…
"It feels amazing. My previous training partners—Ryan Schnulle and Sean Obinwa—all have SEC championships. Now I feel like part of the pack, joining them. It feels great. I just trusted my coach and I can see the progress. I feel confident. It's a big confidence boost. I keep trusting my coaches, and we've still got nationals. I feel great right now."
KeAndre Bates on his two titles and Cliff Harper Trophy this weekend…
"I appreciate this a lot. But every time I was getting out of the pit and just saying, 'Dang, I need to do better.' I had goals I wanted to reach. But I'm happy I won. I'm happy I got points for our team—that's the main thing for me. I'm not really worried about winning for myself. I want to (win), but for a bigger purpose. I knew I had it in me. I'm getting my focus back."
Grant Holloway on his SEC title-winning race in the 60 hurdles (via interview with SEC Network +'s John Anderson)…
"The race was actually not one of the best I've had. Sloppy start. But I just trusted the process and just kept going on along with it."
Holloway on how important it was to perform well today after the fifth-place finish in the long jump Friday…
"I wasn't pleased, so I tried to use that as motivation to come out here and do my best. Other than that, going to go back to Gainesville and get ready for NCAAs."
SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
- Results (Prime Time Timing)
- Television Replay: Sunday (Feb. 26), 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Day One Recap
- Meet Notes (PDF)
- Venue: Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility
| Saturday, February 25 (all events are finals) | |
| Event | Place (Points). Gator – Time/Mark | Notes |
| 400m (M) | 6 (3). Eric Futch – 46.26 |
| 400m (W) | 2 (8). Sharrika Barnett – 52.09 |
| 800m (M) | 1 (10). Andres Arroyo – 1:47.18 | No. 8-ranked time in Division I |
| Mile (M) | 5 (4). Jack Guyton – 4:05.44 |
| Mile (W) | 10. Hannah Brookover – 4:51.05 |
| 5,000m (W) | 7 (2). Taylor Tubbs – 16:19.85 |
| 60mH (M) | 1 (10). Grant Holloway – 7.64 | Facility record |
| 60mH (W) | 4 (5). Skylar Ross-Ransom – 8.21 |
| DMR (M) | 7 (2). Arroyo-Nick Uruburu-Justin Pacifico-Guyton – 9:50.93 |
| DMR (W) | 8 (1). Lauren Perry-Mikayla Barber-Brookover-Becky Greene – 11:36.29 |
| 4x400 (M) | 2 (8). Kunle Fasasi-Holloway-Futch-TJ Holmes – 3:02.73 | Indoor school record; second-fastest oversized track time in collegiate history; No. 2-ranked relay team in Division I |
| 4x400 (W) | 2 (8). Brandee' Johnson-Destinee Gause-Taylor Sharpe-Barnett -- 3:32.06 | Ties No. 6-ranked time on UF's all-time indoor top 10; No. 9-ranked relay team in Division I |
| PV (M) | 4 (5). Aaron Owens – 5.30 meters (17-4.5) |
| Michael Harris – NH | |
| TJ (M) | 1 (10). KeAndre Bates – 16.81 meters (55-2) | No. 4-ranked mark on UF's all-time indoor top 10; improved No. 2-ranked mark in Division I; facility record |
| 3 (6). Clayton Brown – 16.58 meters (54-6) | Improves No. 6-ranked mark on UF's all-time indoor top 10; No. 3-ranked mark in Division I | |
| TJ (W) | 2 (8). Yanis David – 13.69 meters (44-11) |
| 8 (1). Darrielle McQueen – 13.29 meters (43-7.25) | |
| Asa Garcia – FOUL | |
| SP (M) | 13. Connor Bandel – 17.45 meters (57-3) |
| WT (W) | 12. Lloydricia Cameron – 19.49 meters (63-11.5) |
| 13. Jontavia Dykes – 19.30 meters (63-4) | |
| 22. Amara Wiggan – 16.54 meters (54-3.25) | |
| Friday, February 24 (only finals listed – see Day One recap for full results listing) | |
| Event | Place (Points). Gator – Time/Mark | Notes |
| 3,000m (W) | 5 (4). Taylor Tubbs – 9:26.77 |
| 18. Becky Greene – 9:58.31 | |
| HJ (M) | Clayton Brown – NH |
| LJ (M) | 1 (10). KeAndre Bates – 8.04 meters (26-4.5) | No. 3-ranked mark in Division I; tied No. 4-ranked mark on UF's all-time indoor top 10 |
| 5 (4). Holloway – 7.73 meters (25-4.5) | Top freshman finisher; third freshman since 2001 to jump 7.73-plus meters at SEC Indoors | |
| LJ (W) | 6 (3). Darrielle McQueen – 6.36 meters (20-10.5) | Season-best mark; improved No. 11-ranked mark in Division I |
| 10. Yanis David – 6.21 meters | Season-best mark | |
| SP (W) | 4 (5). Lloydricia Cameron – 16.82 meters (55-2.25) | Third Gator since 2006 (Keely Medeiros, 2009-10; Mariam Kevkhisvili, 2008-10) with consecutive top-four finishes in women's shot put at SEC Indoors |
| WT (M) | 5 (4). AJ McFarland – 21.06 meters (69-1.25) |
| 9. Anders Eriksson – 20.31 meters (66-7.75) | No. 5-ranked mark on UF's all-time indoor top 10 | |
| Top 5 Men's Teams | |
| Place | Team – Points |
| 1. | No. 2 Arkansas – 98 |
| 2. | No. 9 Alabama – 93 |
| 3. | No. 1 Florida – 76 |
| No. 5 Texas A&M – 76 | |
| Ole Miss – 76 | |
| Top 5 Women's Teams | |
| Place | Team – Points |
| 1. | No. 2 Arkansas – 106.5 |
| 2. | No. 4 LSU – 94 |
| 3. | No. 6 Kentucky – 72 |
| 4. | No. 3 Georgia – 64 |
| 5. | No. 13 Ole Miss – 61.5 |
| 8. | No. 11 Florida – 45 |
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