Florida Gators
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UTEP Invitational
UTEP Invitational Successful for Women's Track
Sunday, April 15, 2001 | Track and Field
With the distance runners for the Florida women's track team competing at the Sea Ray Relays in Tennessee, the sprinters and the field event specialists were in El Paso, Texas for the UTEP Invitational. The Gators returned to Gainesville with three event winners and three provisional qualifiers for the NCAA Championships.
Two of Florida's freshman sprinters finished second and third. Niki Benjamin was the second finisher overall in a provisional qualifying time of 11.46. Benjamin has a faster time from a past meet that still stands as her provisional qualifying time. Fellow freshman Ebony Shotwell was the third place overall finisher with a provisional qualifying time of 11.51.
Keyon Soley turned in a provisional qualifying long jump to finish fifth overall. Teammate Yolanda Thompson was fourth with a mark of 20-9.75. Soley's 20-9 jump improves her previous provisional qualifying mark by 1.25 inches. Kimberli Barrett, also a freshman achieved her first NCAA Provisional qualifying status with a shot put win of 49-7.5. Jukina Dickerson was third in the competition with a mark of 43-3.
Dickerson set a meet record in the hammer throw with a mark of 196-1. Dickerson, the school record thrower in the event, is already an automatic qualifier with a throw of 204-1. Faith Rein finished first in the 400m with a seasonal best time of 53.89. Megan Westfall and Laura Hawkins, Florida's two record holding pole vaulters, finished second and third with heights of 12-5.5.
At the Sea Ray Relays over the weekend, Florida had a trio of 800m runners all qualify for the NCAA Championships. Kamille Bratton improved her old qualifying time while her sister Kristina and Nona Allen each posted qualifying times as well.
Both the men's and women's Gator track teams return home next Saturday for the Gator Twi-Light. Action is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
UF Wins (3): Jukina Dickerson-hammer throw (196-1); Kimberli Barrett-shot put (15.12m/49-7.25); Faith Rein-400m (53.89)
UF Qualifiers (3):
Automatic: none
Provisional: Kimberli Barrett-shot put (15.12m/49-7.25); Keyon Soley-long jump (6.32m/20-9); Ebony Shotwell-100m (11.51)
END OF REPORT
