BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Florida's men were spectacular in every facet, while the Gators' women collected a bronze medal and advanced their lone runner through a preliminary Friday evening at NCAA Indoor Championships.
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All-around sensation
Grant Holloway's bid to become the first man in history to win three individual national titles was not meant to be, nevertheless, the junior had an incredible evening which featured a championship record.
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Holloway posted his top long jump of 7.95 meters (26 feet, 1 inch) on his third attempt, and his mark held up for third place, despite passing his final three attempts. The Chesapeake, Va., native finished two centimeters behind the national champion. Roughly 10 minutes after his best long jump of the night, Holloway broke the NCAA Indoors record in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking 7.44 seconds and giving him all of the four fastest times in collegiate history. About 50 minutes later, Holloway recorded the fastest qualifying time and tied the sixth-fastest time in the world in the 60 meters, crossing in 6.53 seconds.
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Also in the men's 60 prelim, sophomore
Hakim Sani Brown and senior
Ryan Clark set personal records to qualify for Saturday's final. Sani Brown's time of 6.54 ranks third in school history, tied the Japanese record, and was the second-fastest prelim time. Clark qualified for his first NCAA final with a time of 6.60 seconds, which broke a tie for seventh on the school's All-Time Top 10 list.
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The Gators are just the second team since 1994 (TCU in 2001) with three NCAA Indoors 60 finalists.
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Senior
Yanis David placed third in the long jump, her highest finish in the event at any NCAA Championship meet. Her top mark of 6.43 meters (21 feet, 1.25 inches) was three centimeters behind the national champion.
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Quarter-milers
Sharrika Barnett and
Benjamin Lobo Vedel both advanced to their respective finals. With Lobo Vedel's qualification, it marks the 15th time in the last 16 years the Gators qualified a men's 400 meters finalist. Barnett made the final for a second consecutive year, as she placed fourth in 2018.
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Team champions will be crowned Saturday, and Florida's men are tremendously positioned for a run at a second consecutive national title. UF's women remain in contention for a second straight top-four finish as well.
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NCAA Indoor Championships Broadcast Information (all times Eastern)
- Live Results (FlashResults)
- Saturday Stream – 5 p.m. (ESPN3)
- Television Replays: Sunday, March 10 – 7 p.m. (ESPN); Monday, March 11 – 9 pm. (ESPNU)
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NCAA Indoor Championships Meet Information (all times Eastern)
- Meet Notes (PDF)
- Venue: Birmingham CrossPlex (Birmingham, Ala.)
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| Friday, March 8 (* - denotes preliminary; all other events are finals) |
| Event |
Place (Score), Gators – Time / Mark | Notes |
| 60m (M)* |
1. Grant Holloway – 6.53 | Advanced to final (automatic) |
|
2. Hakim Sani Brown – 6.54 | No. 3-ranked time on UF's All-Time Top 10; topped personal record by 0.06 seconds; tied Japanese record; advanced to final (automatic) |
|
8. Ryan Clark – 6.61 | Broke tie for No. 7-ranked time on UF's All-Time Top 10; advanced to final (time) |
| 200m (M)* |
10. Clark – 20.84 |
| 400m (M)* |
3. Benjamin Lobo Vedel – 46.39 | Advanced to final (time) |
| 400m (W)* |
8. Sharrika Barnett – 53.10 | Advanced to final (time) |
| 5,000m (W) |
Jessica Pascoe – DNF |
| 60mH (M)* |
1. Holloway – 7.44 | Meet record; tied own third-fastest time in collegiate history; advanced to final (automatic) |
|
13. Cory Poole – 7.85 |
| LJ (M) |
3 (6). Holloway – 7.95 meters (26 feet, 1 inch) | Passed final three jumps |
| LJ (W) |
3 (6). Yanis David – 6.43 meters (21 feet, 1.25 inches) | Highest long jump finish at an NCAA Championship |
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