Florida Gators
NCAA Indoor Champhionships
Scott Resets Collegiate Record, Ponteen Wins 400m, T&F Takes Second At NCAA Indoors
Sunday, March 13, 2005 | Women's Track and Field
Senior All-American Candice Scott (Port of Spain, Trinidad) and sophomore All-American Tiandra Pontenn (St. Kitts) led the fourth-ranked University of Florida women's track and field team to a second place finish Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Scott reset her collegiate record in the weight throw for the fourth time this season with a toss of 24.17m/79-03.75 to claim the weight throw crown while Ponteen reset her school record in the 400m blazing to a time of 50.91 to win top honors in the 400-meter dash.
It marks the first time in Florida history that the Gators claimed two NCAA indoor titles and Florida became the first school in NCAA history to finish in the runner-up position three years in a row.
"I'm very pleased," Florida head coach Tom Jones said. "Obviously, you would like to win, but we have always over-achieved at this meet and this year was no different. I was just elated for Tiandra and Candice. Candice is probably the most phenomenal athlete I have ever coached at Florida."
Scott becomes the first athlete in NCAA history to claim three weight throw titles. Her honor today gives Scott 10 All-American honors which moves her into a tie for fifth all-time in Florida history in that category with the outdoor season to come.
"That's the way you want to go out," Scott said. "I had increased my weight lifting so I was strong coming into the meet. On that first throw, I just let it all hang out."
Ponteen narrowly edged Hazelann Regis of LSU by .01 to win her first individual national championship and fourth All-American honor of her career. She later added a fifth honor in the 4x400m relay. Her victory pushed Florida to the top of the standings for the second time on the day. Tennessee overtook the Gators as the Lady Vols claimed an impressive 17 points in the 60m dash, which proved to be the difference.
"I knew it was going to be a tough race," Ponteen said. "I am an aggressive runner and so is Hazelann, I was just able to edge her in the end. I wanted to win for my mom, coach Jones, and for my family."
The Gators tallied 11 points in the first scored event of the day, the weight throw, and moved in to first place for the first time on the day. Aside from Scott's ten point effort, junior All-American Rachel Longfors (Erhard, Minn.) claimed her first All-American honor in the weight throw. Longfors had been ninth entering the finals but saved her best throw of the day for last with a toss of 20.93m/68-08.
Florida also pulled in four points in the 4x400m by placing fifth and clocking the third fastest time in school history with a time of 3:33.20. An impressive feet considering that the team consisted of three true freshmen in Zanquandria Joseph (Boynton Beach, Fla.), Nadine Palmer (Manchester, Jamaica), and Natalie Knight (Snellville, Ga.). Ponteen anchored the team.
Florida's outdoor track and field season begins March 18th in Tallahassee, Fla, at the FSU relays.
Women's Top-Five Team Standings
Tennessee 46
Florida 36
Miami 32
Nebraska 29
South Carolina 28
NCAA Champions
Candice Scott – Weight Throw
Tiandra Ponteen – 400m
All-Americans
Candice Scott – Shot Put, Weight Throw
Liz Wanless – Shot Put
Rachel Longfors – Weight Throw
Tiandra Ponteen – 400m, 4x400m relay
Natalie Knight – 4x400m relay
Zanquandria Joseph – 4x400m relay
Nadine Palmer – 4x400m relay
