Seven Gators to Compete for a Last Chance to Qualify for NCAAs
Thursday, February 28, 2013 | Track and Field
Final Event Schedule | Performance List
Seven Gator track & field athletes are looking for a final chance at a top-16 NCAA-qualifying spot and will compete at the Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend, Ind., March 1-2. The meet serves as an NCAA-sanctioned last chance meet as participants look to earn an invitation into the NCAA Indoor Championship (March 8-9) by being one of the best in the nation in their respective event.
The top 16 individuals nationally in each event and top 12 relays will advance to the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, March 8-9, held at Randal Tyson Track Center at the University of Arkansas.
Competing for Florida on Friday evening will be senior Josh Izewski (Doylestown, Pa.) and sophomore Mark Parrish (Tampa, Fla.), who will race in the men's 5,000 meters. Both Gators had banner weekends at the SEC Indoor Championships. Izewski garnered a bronze-medalist finish of 14:06.67 in the men's 5,000 for a new personal best, while also scoring in the men's 3,000 in a new PR of 8:11.27. Parrish finished fifth in both the men's 3,000 (8:03.54 - PR) and 5,000 (14:12.08). Parrish is now fourth all-time at UF in the 3,000 and third in the 5,000, while Izewski is 10th in the 3,000 and fifth in the 5,000.
On Saturday, senior Lanie Whittaker (Miami, Fla.) will get things started for the Gators in the 400. Whittaker is a four-time All-American and was a First Team All-American last year at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400 meters. Gator rookies Najee Glass (Woodbridge, N.J.) and Arman Hall (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) will each look to improve their times in the quartermile as well, as Hall is ranked just outside the cut mark at 18th (46.61). Glass has only raced once in the 400 meters, finishing just outside qualifying for the finals of the event at SEC Indoors last weekend in 47.18.
Sean Obinwa (Tampa, Fla.), the SEC Indoor champion in the men's 800 meters, will look to improve on his season's best of 1:48.40, a time that won him his first individual SEC title last weekend and ranks 11th in the NCAA this year. Agata Strausa (Riga, Latvia) is hoping to improve on her mile, as she currently sits in 21st (4:38.03) heading into the last chance weekend. Strausa is a two-time All-American and was part of the Gators'
Live results will be available on UND.com and a full recap and results will be available both Friday and Saturday on GatorZone.
For all of the latest information on Florida track and field, please log on to www.GatorZone.com/trackfield or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow Florida track and field on Twitter at @GZTrackField or www.twitter.com/GZTrackField. You can also find the Gators on Facebook.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
| TIME | EVENT | ATHLETE | 2013 BEST | NCAA RANK |
| 7:25 p.m. ET | Men's 5,000 Meters | Josh Izewski | 14:06.67 | 49th |
| Men's 5,000 Meters | Mark Parrish | 14:02.46 | 38th |
SATURDAY, MARCH 2
| TIME | EVENT | ATHLETE | 2013 BEST | NCAA RANK |
| 12:20 p.m. ET | Women's 400 Meters | Lanie Whittaker | 53.26 | 21st |
| 12:35 p.m. ET | Men's 400 Meters | Najee Glass | 47.18 | 54th |
| Men's 400 Meters | Arman Hall | 46.61 | 18th | |
| 1:25 p.m. ET | Alex Wilson 800 Meters | Sean Obinwa | 1:48.40 | 11th |
| 2:30 p.m. ET | Women's Mile | Agata Strausa | 4:38.03 | 21st |
GATORS CURRENTLY IN TOP 16 INDIVIDUALLY/TOP 12 RELAYS
| EVENT | ATHLETE | 2013 BEST | NCAA RANK |
| 60 Meters – Men | Hugh Graham, Jr. | 6.64 | 8th |
| 200 Meters – Men | Dedric Dukes | 20.70 | 3rd |
| 200 Meters – Women | Kyra Jefferson | 23.43 | 15th |
| 400 Meters – Men | Hugh Graham, Jr. | 45.67 | 2nd |
| 400 Meters – Women | Ebony Eutsey | 52.48 | 8th |
| 800 Meters – Men | Sean Obinwa | 1:48.40 | 11th |
| Mile – Women | Cory McGee | 4:32.10 | 3rd |
| 60-Meter Hurdles – Men | Eddie Lovett | 7.54 | 1st |
| 4x400-Meter Relay – Men | Florida | 3:04.31 | 2nd |
| 4x400-Meter Relay – Women | Florida | 3:31.68 | 3rd |
| Distance Medley Relay – Women | Florida | 11:13.45 | 12th |
| High Jump – Women | Taylor Burke | 1.86m/6-1.25 | 10th |
| Long Jump – Men | Marquis Dendy | 8.25m/27-1 | 1st |
| Triple Jump – Men | Omar Craddock | 16.49m/54-1.25 | 2nd |
| Triple Jump – Men | Marquis Dendy | 16.25m/53-3.75 | 5th |
| Triple Jump – Women | Ciarra Brewer | 13.35m/43-9.75 | 5th |
| Weight Throw – Men | David Triassi | 21.59m/70-10 | 8th |
| Weight Throw – Men | Jeremy Postin | 21.48m/70-5.75 | 9th |
