Florida Gators
Tyson Invitational
T&F Athletes Win, Qualifiy for NCAAs at Tyson Inv.
Saturday, February 15, 2003 | Track and Field
The University of Florida men's and women's track and field teams put on a good showing at the Tyson Invitational Friday as a total of six UF athletes automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships. In addition, the Gators also recorded eight provisional qualifying marks.
Erin Gilreath won her second weight throw event of the season, throwing 20.59m/67-6.75 to automatically qualify and win the title. Jukina Dickerson followed with an automatic qualifying mark of 19.99m/65-7.00, and LaQuanda Cotten rounded out the top three with her automatic qualifying and personal best mark of 19.88m/65-2.75. Merilyn Brown (18.73m/61-5.50) and Dore DeBartolo (18.56m/60-10.75) also finished in the top eight and provisionally qualified. In the 400m dash, Novlene Williams finished third in an automatic qualifying time of 52.98, edging teammate Faith Rein, who finished fourth in 53.02 – also an automatic qualifying time.
Karen Freberg won her second straight shot put title with her automatic and personal best mark of 16.44m/53-11.25. DeBartolo also provisionally qualified in the shot put with her third-place mark of 15.55m/51-00.25 – her second qualifying mark of the day.
Amanda Schommer and Jodi Heyens both recorded new personal records in the 800m unseeded run with times of 2:14.95 and 2:15.38, respectively. Also recording a new PR was Amy Carr with a mark of 3.56m/11-8.00 in the pole vault.
Jeff Rubenstein recorded his second qualifying mark of the season, finishing third in the shot put with his mark of 17.85m/58-6.75. Also provisionally qualifying was Rickey Harris, who ran a time of 46.61 in the 400m dash to finish second, just .11 seconds off the winning time. Paul Brown's seventh-place time of 7.92 in the 60m hurdles preliminaries was also a provisional qualifying mark, while Joe Squittieri cleared 2.16m/7-01.00 to give him his second provisional mark in the high jump this season.
Antonio Emperator's third-place mark of 19.15m/62-10.00 in the men's weight throw set a new personal record, while Mike Loyd's time of 21.73 in the 200m dash was also a personal best.
The Tyson Invitational continues through Saturday.
UF WINS: 2
Women (2): Erin Gilreath – weight throw, 20.59m/67-6.75; Karen Freberg – shot put, 16.44m/53-11.25
UF AUTO QUALIFIERS: 6
Women (6): Erin Gilreath – weight throw, 20.59m/67-6.75; Jukina Dickerson – weight throw, 19.99m/65-7.00; LaQuanda Cotten – weight throw, 19.88m/65-2.75; Novlene Williams – 400m dash, 52.98; Faith Rein – 400m dash, 53.02; Karen Freberg – shot put, 16.44m/53-11.25
UF PROVISIONAL QUALIFIERS: 8
Men (4): Jeff Rubenstein – shot put, 17.85m/58-6.75; Rickey Harris – 400m dash, 46.61; Paul Brown – 60m hurdles, 7.92p; Joe Squittieri – high jump, 2.16m/7-01.00
Women (4): Andrea Bliss – 60m hurdles, 8.28p; Kim Barrett – weight throw, 19.71m/64-8.00; Merilyn Brown – weight throw, 18.73m/61-5.50; Dore DeBartolo – weight throw, 18.56m/60-10.75, shot put, 15.55m/51-00.25
