Seniors Have Field Day on First Night of NCAA Championships
Thursday, June 11, 2015 | Track and Field
By Will Pantages
UAA Communications
EUGENE, Ore. – Marquis Dendy, Stipe Zunic.
Two names that have been synonymous with success since they became Gators four and five years ago. Day 1 of the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships was no different.
Despite the stakes being raised and all eyes on them, the pair of seniors got Florida off to a good start in the team race (UF is 2nd with 16 points), as they each earned All-American honors and furthered the legacy they will leave behind following the NCAA Championships.
“That was a lot of fun,” explained Zunic. “Watching Marquis compete just motivates me to go even further because we are in this together for Florida. We agreed to get 20 points and each win our event, but I guess 16 will have to do.”
That championship he spoke of was Dendy's sixth NCAA title and his second straight NCAA outdoor long jump title. A championship effort he will look to duplicate on Friday evening when he competes in the triple jump.
Tonight he leaped an all-conditions PR 8.43 meters (27'8”).
If that was his opening act, he left the crowd, his teammates and coaches on edge as they await his finale on Friday.
“Winning the long jump title means a lot,” said Dendy. “To be the back-to-back champ means so much to me and I'm excited to compete again on Friday.”
Zunic, a Zadar, Croatia, native, earned his fifth-career All-America accolade as he placed third in the shot put with a mark of 20.30 meters (66'7.25”). Although Dendy will compete again on Friday, Wednesday evening marked the end of an era for Zunic.
A career the redshirt senior was unsure of when he arrived in Gainesville five years ago.
“When I first got to Florida I wasn't sure if I could handle the move,” said Zunic. “I barely spoke English, there was a lot of social pressure and I had to meet new people as I left all my friends and family behind in Croatia.
But I did it all with the desire to succeed.”
Zunic finishes his collegiate career a five-time All-American, four-time SEC Champion and school record-holder in the shot put both indoors and outdoors for the Gators. In addition, Stipe won the NCAA indoor shot put title a few months ago in Fayetteville, Ark.
Seems like a successful resume.
That long list of accolades leaves something out. Zunic came to Florida as a javelin thrower and leaves as a world-class shot putter.
“Stipe had a heck of a career,” Associate Head Coach Steve Lemke said. “He had two All-American finishes in the shot put and the javelin and he's an indoor national champion. At the big meets, he always seemed to show up.”
Zunic came to Florida a much leaner and different thrower. Following a shoulder injury, he, along with the help of Head Coach Mike Holloway, Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt DeLancey and Lemke, turned him into a national champion.
“I believe there is always a shot put thrower inside every javelin thrower,” Zunic explained. “With my injury, I was just obedient to the process. I was lucky to work with such great coaches and be a part of all of this. Everything seemed to work out the way it should be.”
Lemke echoed Zunic's comments about the process.
“It's been an interesting journey these last five years,” Lemke remarked. “Each year kept getting better and better, but from day one he was a team player.”
Not to be outdone, Coach Holloway will remember Zunic because he always brought his best when it counted the most. That respect earned from Holloway and Lemke did not come quickly. It happened over time as they developed relationships with each other that will last a lifetime.
Zunic leaves behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten, but his constant work ethic on a daily basis has led him to this point in his life and career.
“Today was really emotional,” Zunic reflected. “I came off a really good indoor season, but this spring was a really busy three months and I just tried to get better every day, whether that was in the classroom, weight room or in the field.”
He succeeded yet again.
