Florida Gators
SEC Quad (Ark., Miss., Texas)
Gator Track Teams Perform Well at SEC Indoor Quad
Saturday, January 20, 2001 | Track and Field
The University of Florida men's and women's track and field teams hit the road for the first time this season to the University of Arkansas for the SEC Quad meet. The Gators return to Gainesville owning one automatic NCAA qualifier and six provisional qualifiers. Keyon Soley, a transfer student from UCLA, set a new school record in the long jump and was the Gators' automatic qualifier. She is the defending NCAA champion in the indoor long jump. The women's team posted four provisional qualifiers while the men's team had one.
Both the men's and the women's teams finished first in their respective four-team competition. The women's team totaled 185 points and easily defeated No. 3 Arkansas (147 points), Vanderbilt (83 points) and Mississippi (79 points). The men's team won just as easily with a total of 146 points. It defeated Texas (126 points), No. 1-ranked Arkansas (107 points and No. 15 Mississippi (94 points).
Soley won the long jump with a leap of 20-11.75. She beat her teammate Yolanda Thompson who was second with a mark of 19-1.50. Thompson was not to be outdone in the triple jump, as she won that event with a distance of 40-1.25. Thompson already provisionally qualified for the national meet last weekend. Soley's jump supplants the nine-year old record of 20-9.75 held by Dionne Rose.
Amber Robinson who provisionally qualified for the 200 last weekend improved her time with a first place finish in the finals of 23.90. The time is a new personal best. Faith Rein hit the provisional qualifying mark in the 400m, running 55.00. Freshman Niki Benjamin was second in the 400 with a time of 55.84.
The Bratton twins were at it again with Kamille having the upper hand today. She not only won the race but was also a provisional qualifier for the NCAA meet with her time of 2:09.62. Kristina was second with a time of 2:10.59. In the shot put, Candice Scott improved her status for the NCAA meet with a new personal record toss of 51-8.25. Her throw is good enough for second on the all-time Florida list.
Finally, Florida's 4x400m relay team ran 3:41.95, finished first and qualified for the NCAA championships provisionally.
"We competed tough," head coach Tom Jones said. "It was a good group effort. The distances ran well, the throwers performed well and the sprinters and jumpers came through big."
Aaron Armstrong was the headliner for the men's team. He ran 6.79 in the finals of the 60m to win the event. Armstrong was not finished, however. He went on to win the 200m to provisionally qualify for the NCAA meet with a time of 21.41.
Geno White, who qualified for the NCAA's in the 200 last weekend was the winner of the 400m with a time of 47.53. Nick Briley won his second straight shot put title with a distance of 54-8, defeating the second place thrower but a mere three inches.
Both Florida teams are idle next weekend and resume action on February 3 at home with the Gator Invitational.
Florida Qualifiers:
Automatic- m: none; w: Keyon Soley-long jump (6.39m/20-11.75) ** school record **
Provisional- m: Aaron Armstrong-200m (21.41), 60m (6.79) w: Faith Rein- 400m (55.00); Kamille Bratton- 800m (2:09.62); 4x400 relay (3:41.95); Candice Scott- shot put (15.75m/51-8.25); Amber Robinson- 200m (23.90)
