Florida Gators
Alex Wilson Invitational
Parrish and Izewski Close Indoor Season at Alex Wilson Invitational
Saturday, March 2, 2013 | Track and Field
Gators Mark Parrish (Tampa, Fla.) and Josh Izewski (Doylestown, Pa.) closed the 2013 indoor season with solid performances in the men's 5,000 meters Friday at the Alex Wilson Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame.
Parrish turned in a top-five finish with his time of 14:03.07, just shy of his season's best in the event. Izewski claimed an eighth-place finish with his time of 14:15.05.
“Tonight held solid efforts for both Mark and Josh,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I'm excited to see how they perform outdoors after a very successful indoor season.”
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.
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.
Senior Lanie Whittaker (Miami, Fla.) will get things started for the Gators on Saturday 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.
ALEX WILSON INVITATIONAL :: MARCH 1-2, 2013 :: SOUTH BEND, IN
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
Men's 5,000 Meters
5. Mark Parrish, 14:03.07
8. Josh Izewski, 14:15.05
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 IN TOP 16 INDIVIDUALLY/TOP 12 RELAYS HEADING INTO LAST CHANCE WEEKEND
| 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 |
