KeAndre Bates, Claudia Francis Pick Up SEC Track and Field Weekly Accolades
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | Track and Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After stellar University of Florida debuts at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational last weekend, Gator freshman men's jumper KeAndre Bates and junior transfer Claudia Francis were honored by the league office Tuesday afternoon, Bates as the SEC Men's Freshman of the Week, and Francis as the SEC Co-Women's Runner of the Week.
Both Bates and Francis locked up event wins Jan. 23-24 at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational, which featured 16 USTFCCCA Top-25 squads, Bates in the long jump to go with a runner-up finish in the triple jump, and Francis in the 800m and as the anchor let of UF's record-breaking 4x400-meter relay in Lexington.
Bates is the top freshman in the country in the triple jump (15.85m/52-0), while Francis' PR in the 800m (2:06.96) ranks fifth in the NCAA. Francis ran the anchor leg of UF's world-leading 4x4 relay (3:29.58) and ran the 800m leg of UF's second-place Distance Medley Relay, which clocked the second-best time in the nation this season and the fifth-fastest mark in Florida history (11:08.19).
The Gators will hit the road again this weekend for another top-notch meet at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville Jan. 30-31.
KeANDRE BATES HIGHLIGHTS
· Took first in the long jump on day one of the McCravy in his Florida debut and struck again on day two to take second in the triple jump to round out his opening weekend
· Both Bates' long and triple jump marks were PRs in his collegiate debut
· Is the top freshman in the country in the triple jump and the third-best first-year athlete in the country (top in the SEC) in the long jump after his performances last weekend
CLAUDIA FRANCIS HIGHLIGHTS
· Dominated the women's 800m in her UF debut after transferring from Oregon, winning the race at the McCravy with a new indoor PR (2:06.96), the second-fastest 800m in the last week of competition
· Anchored UF's record-breaking 4x400 relay (3:29.58) with a 52.7 split. The Florida quartet ran the fastest time in the NCAA, world, and shattered the University of Florida school record in the indoor 4x4 in the process. The relay time was the 12th-fastest all-conditions indoor time and just the 14th sub-3:30 mark in collegiate history
· Ran the 800m leg of the Gators' second-place DMR relay Friday evening in Lexington, which clocked the second-fastest DMR in the NCAA so far this season. UF's 11:08.19 was the fifth-fastest mark in program history
IN THE POLLS
Women: No. 1
Men: No. 2
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
Jan. 27: KeAndre Bates, SEC Men's Freshman of the Week
Jan. 27: Claudia Francis, SEC Co-Women's Runner of the Week
UP NEXT
This weekend, Florida will visit Fayetteville and the Randal Tyson Track Center for the first of three meets this indoor season at the Razorback Invitational Jan. 30-31 before returning for the Tyson Invitational Feb. 13-14 and NCAA Indoors March 13-14.
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