Florida Gators
Sun Angel Classic
UF Track Teams Hit Qualifying Marks at Arizona St.
Sunday, April 14, 2002 | Track and Field
The University of Florida track and field teams traveled to Arizona State University for the 23rd Annual Sun Angel Classic. The Gators came back with 11 NCAA qualifying marks and three winning marks.
The women's team was led once again by the middle distance runners. Kristina Bratton moved to fourth all-time on the school-s Top 10 list with her automatic qualifying mark of 2:04.02 in the 800m. Melissa DeLeon was second behind Bratton with a time of 2:05.08 which is an improved NCAA provisional time and moves her to fourth all-time at UF.
Candice Scott was an automatic qualifier in the shot put, she is now automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in two events. Scott was second in the shot put with her mark of 53-10.5. She was an All-American indoors this season. Also finishing in the top five for the Gators was LaQuanda Cotton and Scarlett Ekeroma. Cotton was fourth with a provisional mark of 51-3.75 and Ekeroma was fifth with a provisional mark of 49-5.
Also in the throws, freshman Rachel Longfors was a provisional qualifier with her third-place discus throw of 174-2. Cotton was fifth in the discus with an improved provisional mark of 169-3.
Faith Rein moved to fourth all-time at UF with her personal best of 52.43 in the 400m. The time was second in the meet and a provisional qualifier. She missed the automatic mark by only three hundredths of a second.
The men's team was led by Rickey Harris' win in the 400m. Harris moved to third on the Gators' all-time list with his automatic qualifying mark of 45.09. Harris had a provisional mark of 46.00 last week at the Gatorade Classic in Knoxville.
An NCAA qualifier in the 200m indoors this season, Kyle Farmer is now a qualifier outdoors. Farmer had a time of 20.85, good enough for third and a provisional qualifier. Josh Walker was third in the high hurdles with a time of 14.05. Paul Brown set a seasonal best with a mark of 14.19 and was fifth. Close behind Brown, Dan Butler ran a personal best of 14.26 to finish sixth.
Chris Duncan was a provisional qualifier for the Gators in the 1,500m. Duncan finished fourth in 3:44.71 to move up UF's all-time list to number six. Moise Joseph was second in the 800m with a time of 1:49.42. Ali Abiola was third at 1:50.16.
In his return to the track after spring football workouts, Taylor Jacobs was fifth in the 100m dash with a time of 10.43. He also ran on the 4x100m relay team that set a seasonal best of 40.31.
The Gators will travel to the Auburn Bank Invitational next weekend. UF originally had a home meet scheduled for April 20. But it was cancelled.
UF Wins (3)
Men (1): Rickey Harris-400m (45.09)
Women (2): Kristina Bratton-800m (2:04.02); Krystle Moss-High Jump (1.75m/5-8.75)
UF Qualifiers (11):
Men (3)
Automatic: Rickey Harris-400m (45.09)
Provisional: Kyle Farmer-200m (20.85); Chris Duncan-1,500m (3:44.71)
Women (8)
Automatic: Kristina Bratton-800m (2:04.02); Candice Scott-Shot Put (16.42m/53-10.5)
Provisional: Faith Rein-400m (52.43); Melissa DeLeon-800m (2:05.08); LaQuanda Cotton-Shot Put (15.64m/51-3.75); Discus (51.59m/169-3); Scarlett Ekeroma-Shot Put (15.06m/49-5); Rachel Longfors-Discus (53.09m/174-2)
End of Report
