Florida Gators
Tyson Invitational
Gator Track Teams Roll in Final Tune Up for SECs
Saturday, February 10, 2001 | Track and Field
The University of Florida men's and women's track and field teams were at the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas this afternoon. It the Gators' final tune up before the SEC Championships (Feb. 24-25 in Lexington, Ky.) Florida had 15 NCAA qualifying marks.
The men's team had five qualifiers on the day to go along with some other good performances. Freshman Rickey Harris was second in the 400m with a qualifying time of 46.53. He is already qualified for the NCAA championships with the 4x400m relay team. Stephen Jones finished third overall in the 60m hurdles with a provisional qualifying time of 7.82. This was his fastest time of the season in only his second race of the year. The distance medley relay team of Rolando Ortiz, Geno White, Ali Abiola and Chris Duncan qualified for the national meet with a time of 9:41.46, finishing second. Aaron Armstrong ran 21.05 in the 200m race to improve his provisional status. Not to be out done by the running events, Brian DaCunha hit the provisional qualifying mark in the pole vault by clearing 17-2.75
Courtney Chambers won the 3,000m with a lifetime best time of 8:24.12. Joe Squittieri was second in the collegiate division of the high jump with a personal best height of 6-10.75.
Chris Duncan was invited to compete in invitational division of the mile run. He seized the opportunity by running near to his personal best and provisionally qualifying for the NCAA championships. Duncan finished in 4:04.54, a half second off his personal best.
The women's team posted eight qualifiers throughout the meet. Niki Benjamin finished third in the finals of the women's 60m dash with a time of 7.41. She ran a personal best 7.37 in the preliminaries to improve her provisional status. She also ran a 23.83 200m to finish seventh overall and provisionally qualify for her second event. The women's team's distance medley relay team of Kamille Bratton, Faith Rein, Nona Allen and Erin Merten finished first in the field in a provisional qualifying time of 11:24.33. That time ranks them ninth all-time at Florida.
Faith Rein, the anchor leg runner of the already-qualified 4x400m relay team finished seventh in the 400m today and provisionally qualified for the NCAA championships with a time of 54.44. Coming off a big weekend at the Gator Invitational (Feb. 3), Yolanda Thompson won today's triple jump with a provisional mark of 42-8. She jumped over 43 feet at the Gator Invitational last week. Amber Robinson provisionally qualified yet again in the 200m with an eighth-place time of 23.96. Candice Scott provisionally qualified in the shot put and the weight throw with marks that do not exceed her current season bests. She finished fifth in the weight throw and third in the shot.
The 4x400m relay team ran the third best time in the nation and no ranks tied for eighth all-time at Florida. The team of Banjamin, Amber Robinson, Nona Allen and Feith Rein posted a time of 3:35.92.
The Gators are off next weekend and return to action at the SEC Championships in Lexington, Ky., on Feb. 24 and 25. Florida will then close out its home schedule with the Nike Fast Times Last Chance Meet on Feb. 28. It will then return to Fayetteville for the NCAA Championships on March 9-10.
Florida Qualifiers
Automatic: none
Provisional: M: Stephen Jones-60m hurdles (7.82); Aaron Armstrong-200m (21.05); Rickey Harris-400m (46.53); Brian DaCunha-pole vault (17-2.75); Chris Duncan-mile (4:04.54); Distance Medley Relay (9:41.46). W: Nikki Benjamin-60m (7.37), 200m (23.83); Faith Rein-400m (54.44); Yolanda Thompson-triple jump (42-8); Amber Robinson-200m (23.96); Candice Scott-shot put (15.26m/50-0.75), weight throw (18.67m/61-3); 4x400 Relay (3:35.92); Distance Medley Relay (11:24.33)
End of Report
