Damien Daniels, Bridgette Owens Garner SEC Athlete of the Week Honors
Tuesday, January 13, 2015 | Track and Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A collegiate and world-leading performance in the 60-meter hurdles from senior Bridgette Owens and an impressive career debut for freshman Damien Daniels in the 60-meter dash earned the No. 1 Florida track and field program two of the first SEC Athlete of the Week honors in 2015.
Daniels garnered SEC Men's Freshman of the Week accolades, while Owens was tabbed the SEC Women's Runner of the Week, announced by the league office just three days following the Gators' 2015 debut at the UAB Blazer Invitational.
Owens won the 60-meter hurdles in her senior debut (8.11), but it was her 8.10 prelims mark that shattered an 11-year-old school record in the event, was a new meet record and solidified her as the top seed heading into finals Saturday.
Daniels clocked a 6.81 performance in his first 60-meter dash as a Gator in prelims at the Blazer Invite, advancing him to Saturday finals where he was the top freshman finisher in 6.86.
The Gators will next be in action Jan. 23-24 at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational in Lexington, Ky.
DAMIEN DANIELS HIGHLIGHTS
· Holds the second-fastest 60m mark for a freshman in the SEC and ninth overall so far this season
· In his Gator debut, was one of just two freshman who qualified for finals in the 60-meter dash at the UAB Blazer Invitational, establishing a PR in prelims (6.81)
· Was the top-finishing freshman in finals, where he placed fourth (6.86) in the field
BRIDGETTE OWENS HIGHLIGHTS
· Won the 60mH (8.11) in her season-opener at the UAB Blazer Invitational
· Her prelims mark in the event (8.10) shattered the school record in the indoor hurdles
· Broke an 11-year Florida record in the event (Andrea Bliss, 8.17, 2-28-04)
· Is the top athlete in the world in the event so far this season in the 60mH, and thus the top collegian and SEC athlete in the race through the weekend's meets
IN THE POLLS
Women: No. 1
Men: No. 1
2014 SEC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Jan. 13: Damien Daniels, SEC Men's Freshman of the Week
Jan. 13: Bridgette Owens, SEC Women's Runner of the Week
UP NEXT
The No. 1 Gators will have a two-week training period before swinging back into action Jan. 23-24 at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational in Lexington, where UF will additionally duel with both Kentucky and Miami at Nutter Field House.
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