T&F To Open 2008 Season At Big Ten/SEC Challenge
Friday, January 18, 2008 | Track and Field
The University of Florida track & field team, ranked fourth on the men's side and 13th in the women's, will open the 2008 indoor season on Saturday at the Big Ten/SEC Challenge in Bloomington, Ind.
The running events will commence at 11 a.m. with the prelims of the women's 60m hurdles. The women's weight throw, the men's and women's long jump and the men's and women's pole vault will kick off the field action at the same time.
The Gator men return a half dozen All-Americans, five of whom earned the distinction a year ago. Senior Bernard Middleton (Jacksonville, Fla.), a four-time All-American, is back to lead a blend of experience and youth in the running events, while indoor junior Wes Stockbarger (Port Charlotte, Fla.), a three-time All-America honoree, is once again set to anchor the field events for UF.
Seven returning All-Americans, including all four members of the 2007 4x100m relay squad that earned the accolade, highlight the Florida women's roster. Senior sprinters Abigail David (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago), Lakecia Ealey (Albany, Ga.), Zan Joseph (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and Natalie Knight (Snellville, Ga.) will look to build on last year's success in the 4x100m, and sophomore Mariam Kevkhishvili (Tbilisi, Georgia) has her sights set on a second-straight All-America honor in the shot put.
The Big Ten/SEC Challenge marks the first time since 2004 that athletes representing the Florida men's squad will open the season on the road. The UF women will be opening their second-straight campaign on the road, having lifted the lid on the 2007 season at the Clemson Opener.
Big Ten/SEC Challenge Schedule of Events
Field events:
11 a.m. Weight Throw (W)
Long Jump (W/M) – Triple jump to follow
Pole Vault (W/M)
1:10 p.m. Shot Put (M)
High Jump (W)
2:10 p.m. High Jump (M)
Shot Put (W)
2:20 p.m. Weight Throw (M)
Running events:
11 a.m. 60m Hurdles Prelims (W)
11:10 a.m. 60m Hurdles Prelims (M)
11:20 a.m. 60m Prelims (W)
11:30 a.m. 60m Prelims (M)
11:45 a.m. Mile (W)
Noon Mile (M)
12:15 p.m. 60m Hurdles Finals (W)
12:20 p.m. 60m Hurdles Finals (M)
12:30 p.m. 60m Finals (W)
12:35 p.m. 60m Finals (M)
12:45 p.m. 400m (W)
12:55 p.m. 400m (M)
1:10 p.m. 800m (W)
1:20 p.m. 800m (M)
1:30 p.m. 600m (W)
1:40 p.m. 600m (M)
1:50 p.m. 200m (W)
2:05 p.m. 200m (M)
2:20 p.m. DMR (W)
2:35 p.m. DMR (M)
2:50 p.m. 3,000m (W)
3:05 p.m. 3,000m (M)
3:20 p.m. 4x400m Relay (W)
3:30 p.m. 4x400m Relay (M)
- UF -
