Florida Gators
Virginia Tech Elite
Stipe Zunic Shatters UF Indoor Shot Put Record, Croatian National Record on Final Day of Doc Hale VT Elite
Saturday, February 7, 2015 | Track and Field
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Three of Stipe Zunic's attempts in the shot put Saturday bested the University of Florida school record, and his fifth attempt was his best to take over the top spot in the Gators' record almanac with a 20.61m/67-7.5 toss to highlight the second day of competition for the Orange and Blue at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet at Rector Field House.
Zunic's shot put mark was a personal best, the second-best in the NCAA and fifth-best in the world so far in 2015. The Zadar, Croatia, native also set a new Croatian National Record with his performance Saturday. In the women's shot put, freshman Lloydricia Cameron notched a runner-up finish with her second PR in as many days, using a 15.74m/51-7.75 toss on her sixth and final attempt for her second-place standing. Cameron's mark ranks fourth among freshmen in the NCAA following this weekend's competition.
On the track Saturday, sophomore Becky Greene -- the 2014 SEC Indoor Freshman of the Year -- ran her first 3K of the season, where she finished 10th in 10:10:24.
Florida has just one more weekend of competition Feb. 13-14 before prepping for SEC Indoors, slated for Feb. 27-28 at Nutter Field House in Lexington, Ky. NCAA Indoors will take place March 13-14 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
LISTENING TO LEMKE
Gators' associate head coach (throws) Steve Lemke:
“It was a great day for us -- obviously Stipe (Zunic) with a school record in the shot put to start us off. We knew that was coming, but it's always nice to see it come to fruition; it was also a Croatian National Record which he was very happy about. Stipe walked away from the Rod McCravy meet a little disappointed. He's worked really hard the last two weeks and it paid off; he is so consistent. Same for Lloydricia -- her PR at the Rod McCravy was a one-foot PR from high school, and today was two feet better than that. She's among the top freshmen in the country in the shot put and we have told her we just want to see progress. The best is yet to come from her outdoors in the discus. Overall, a phenomenal day for the Gators.”
| SATURDAY GATOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | |
| Field Events | |
| Men's Shot Put | 1. Stipe Zunic, 20.61m/67-7.5 -- PR, school record, No. 2 in nation, No. 5 in world, Croatian National Record |
| Women's Shot Put | 2. Lloydricia Cameron, 15.74m/51-7.75 -- PR, No. 4 among freshman in NCAA |
| Running Events | |
| Women's 3K | 10. Becky Greene, 10:10.24 |
IN THE POLLS
Women: No. 1
Men: No. 2
UP NEXT
Following the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet this weekend, the Gators will split for the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville and the Iowa State Classic in Ames Feb. 13-14 before final preparations begin for the 2015 SEC Indoor Championships in Lexington Feb. 27-28.
