Florida Gators
SEC Championships - Day 4
Both Gator Track Teams Second at SEC Championships
Monday, May 14, 2001 | Track and Field
The University of Florida track teams retook their spots among the top three of the SEC this weekend. Last year, the men's team finished fifth overall while the women's team finished fourth. This year, both Gator teams finished second. This is the first second 'place finish for both teams since 1999.
Tennessee took the men's team championship with Florida second and Arkansas third. This marks the first time since 1986, the Arkansas men's team did not finish first in its outdoor conference championship. The Razorbacks had won every Southwestern Conference championship from 1986-1991 and then every Southeastern Conference title since 1992 until this year. Tennessee was the last SEC team not from Arkansas to win an SEC outdoor championship, in 1991. The Vols were coached that year by current Gator head coach Doug Brown. Arkansas won its second straight crown on the women's side.
"I am very proud of this Gator track team. They came here and did what they had to do," Florida head coach Doug Brown said. "For us to come here and finish second like this and beat Arkansas was amazing. Hats off to Tennessee. It came in here and took care of business."
Megan Westfall cleared 12-10.75 in the pole vault and won her first career SEC Championship. Her height was tied with Jennifer Culp of Arkansas but was awarded the win on the basis of fewer misses. Westfall's height sets a new Weems Baskin Track record as well as an SEC Championships record. In all, Florida scored 16 points in the pole vault after having Ana Salzano clear 12-5.5 for fifth place and Laura Hawkins finish in sixth with a height of 11-11.75.
"Coming in, I was just hoping to be on the awards stand because I was third on the (SEC performance) list," Westfall said after her win. "I had a personal record by three-quarters of an inch. It was an exciting event because the wind was swirling."
Rickey Harris won the SEC 400m hurdles championships with a time of 49.65, which puts him back into second in the national ranks. Teammate Mike King was third for the Gators with six points in second plce in an improved provisional time of 50.75.
Florida had all five of its scorers place in the 800m Final. Nona Allen had a time of 2:06.47 to take her first career SEC Championship. Teammate Melissa DeLeon was second with a provisional qualifying mark of 2:06.84. Kristina Bratton, Erin Merten and Kamille Bratton, the SEC indoor champion were the other scorers. In all, Florida scored 26 points in the 800m.
"This was an incredible comeback to finish how we did after the meet we had," women's head coach Tom Jones said. "We did not have a good meet. We were banged up after the Penn Relays. People all over contributed to the cause. My staff has been great. J.J. (Clark) and Larry (Judge) got everyone prepared so well. We had scorers from throwers, jumpers, distance runners and sprinters."
Matt Vincent had a stirring high jump event with Arkansas' Kenny Evans. Vincent cleared the automatic standard for the NCAA Championships, 7-4.5. Vincent's clearance is a new personal best and is second all-time at Florida. The two had to decide the championship in a jump-off with Evans taking the title with the bar set at 7-4.5.
Yolanda Thompson finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 43-3. She not only earns eight points for the team, but provisionally qualifies for the NCAA Championships and solidifies her standing as the second best triple jumper in Florida history. Kimberli Barrett also scores some good points in a field event for the Gators. She was second in the shot put with a mark of 48-4.
Moise Joseph nearly beat out Davis Kimani, a three-time national champion from Alabama for the win in the 1,500m. Joseph finished in 3:50.08 for the second place finish. Courtney Chambers was fifth with a time of 3:52.19 and picked up another four key points for the Gators. In the women's 1,500m championship, Erin Merten put in a kick over the last lap to move from fifth to second with a time of 4:22.49. With that time she provisionally qualifies for the NCAA Championships.
Stephen Jones ran another automatic qualifying mark in the 110m hurdles to finish second to the national leader, Ron Bramlett from Alabama. Jones' time of 13.65 is an improvement from 13.68 earlier this year. Just an hour after he finished second in the 1,500m, Joseph was back on the track finishing second in the 800m with an automatic qualifying time of 1:46.58 ranking him third in Florida history.
Geno White finished third in the 400m with an automatic NCAA qualifying time of 45.29. Defending NCAA Champion Avard Moncur of Auburn was the winner with a time of 44.78, the fastest time in the country this season. In the women's 400m, Faith Rein finished fourth in the women's 400m with an improved provisional qualifying time of 52.90.
White, banished to lane number one, was the third overall finisher with a time of 20.81 in the 200m. Aaron Armstrong was seventh in the race after struggling out of the blocks.
In the 100m dash, Ebony Shotwell finished third with a time of 11.49. Niki Benjamin was sixth with a time of 11.57. Armstrong was fourth with a time of 10.30 in the men's race.
The women's 4x100m team came into this weekend's competition tied for the nation's fastest time with LSU. South Carolina beat both the Tigers and the Gators in the final of the SEC. Florida was third with a time of 44.10 while South Carolina won the race in 43.68
Erik Newby came through with a mark of 51-5.75 In his final attempt in the triple jump. Newby moved from fifth to fourth with his final jump. LSU's Walter Davis, who won the long jump yesterday, was the winner with a jump over 55 feet.
Sabine Verbeek competed in her first collegiate javelin competition this weekend. She advanced to the finals and had a mark of 122-10 for ninth place, one place from scoring. One of the events that was scheduled for Saturday, but was completed on Sunday was the women's discus. Katie Townsend was sixth overall with a personal best of 158-1. Kimberli Barrett advanced to the final flight, but finished ninth and did not score for the team.
The Gators will compete at the Georgia Tech/Reebok Invitational in their last chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The national championships will be held at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore from may 30-June 2.
Final Team Standings:
Men:
1. Tennessee, 153; 2. FLORIDA, 107.5; 3. Arkansas, 104; 4. Alabama, 91.5; 5. Georgia, 78; 6. LSU, 77.5; 7. Auburn, 71; 8. South Carolina, 68; 9. Kentucky, 28; 10.Mississippi State, 19.5; 11. Mississippi, 18
Women:
1. Arkansas, 182; 2. FLORIDA, 112; 3. South Carolina 109; 4. LSU, 103; 5. Auburn, 67; 6. Alabama, 63.5; 7. Georgia, 55; 8. Mississippi, 39; 9. Tennessee, 31; 10. Kentucky, 29; 11. Vanderbilt, 15; 12. Mississippi State, 12.5
End of Report
