Gators’ DMR Team on NCAA Qualifying Bubble after UCS Invitational

Friday, February 16

Winston Salem, N.C.

8 PM

Florida Gators

UCS Invitational

Sam Ahrenolz ran the opening leg for the Gators' DMR team Friday night.

Gators’ DMR Team on NCAA Qualifying Bubble after UCS Invitational

Friday, February 16, 2018 | Track and Field

Florida's converted time ranks seventh nationally and would have made two of the last five NCAA Indoor Championships

By: Zach Dirlam

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Florida finished sixth overall in the men's distance medley relay at the UCS Invitational Friday night, and the quartet's time puts the Gators on the bubble for NCAA Indoor Championships qualifying.

The team of junior Sam Ahrenholz (2:58.21 – 1,200 meters), junior Kyren Hollis (48.65 – 400 meters), sophomore Justin Pacifico (1:50.19 – 800 meters), and redshirt sophomore Jack Guyton (4:02.44 – Mile) combined for a time of 9:39.49—which converts down to 9:31.72 after the flat-track conversion. The team's non-converted time ranks ninth on the school's All-Time Indoor Top 10.

The converted time, which will be used for NCAA Indoor Championships qualifying, currently ranks seventh on the national descending order list. Only the top 12 times following conference championship meets will qualify for NCAA Indoors.

Since 2013, when the NCAA transitioned to its current qualifying format, the Gators' time would make the field of 12 in two of those five seasons. Here is a look at the slowest qualifying time for NCAA Indoors the past five years:

2017 – 9:31.26
2016 – 9:30.48
2015 – 9:32.36
2014 – 9:31.82
2013 – 9:31.23

Florida last qualified a men's DMR team for NCAA Indoors in 2004.

Next on the docket for the Gators are the SEC Indoor Championships, which will be next Saturday and Sunday in College Station, Texas.

UCS INVITATIONAL MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)

Results
Venue: JDL Fast Track

*Friday, February 16 (all events are finals)*
Event	Place, Gator – Time \| Notes
DMR (M)	6. Sam Ahrenholz-Kyren Hollis-Justin Pacifico-Jack Guyton – 9:39.49 \| Converts to 9:31.72; No. 7-ranked time in Division I; No. 9-ranked time on UF's All-Time Indoor Top 10