Diggs, Fahnbulleh Lead Gators’ Strong Performances in Arkansas

Saturday, February 13

Fayetteville, Ark.

Florida Gators

Tyson Invitational

Diggs, Fahnbulleh Lead Gators’ Strong Performances in Arkansas

Saturday, February 13, 2021 | Track and Field

By: Rick Hurtado

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Gators posted five NCAA top-10 performances, including two world top-10 times, to close the last day of competition in this year's Tyson Invitational Saturday inside the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Freshman Talitha Diggs got things going for the Gators after crossing in 22.94 seconds in the 200 meters. A new personal best for Diggs, her time is the fifth-fastest in the NCAA, the eight-fastest in the world and the second-fastest in school history.

⏱️2⃣2⃣.9⃣4⃣⏱️
➡️No. 2 in #UF history 🐊
➡️No. 5 in NCAA
➡️No. 8 in the 🌎#GoGators | #UFTF2021 | @DiggsTalitha

Tune in⤵️
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📊https://t.co/iKG5J0ZfgB pic.twitter.com/D5wmsHWpwr
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) February 13, 2021

Shortly after Diggs' historic performance, fellow 200-meter sprinter Joseph Fahnbulleh added to Florida's record book on the men's side. The sophomore posted the No. 4-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list after finishing in 20.42 seconds, the second-fastest time in the NCAA and in the world.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle Wilkinson improved her personal record in the 800 meters. The redshirt sophomore crossed in 2:05.57, recording the seventh-fastest time in the NCAA this year.

As the Gators continued to post top-notch performance throughout the afternoon, jumper Natricia Hooper leapt for 13.31 meters (43 feet, 8 inches) in the triple jump, landing on the No. 8 spot of this year's NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list.

Back on the track, the Gators women's 4x400-meter relay squad—headlined by Taylor Manson, Talitha Diggs, Sterling Lester and Doneisha Anderson—logged the last NCAA top-10 performance of the afternoon. The quartet posted a time of 3:34.02, which ranks ninth nationally.

On the distance front, the Gators added to what seemed a campaign to rewrite Florida's record books.

Redshirt sophomore Trevor Foley made his first track and field appearance this year Saturday to post a time of 14:03.50 in the 5,000 meters. Having set a new personal record, Foley moved up UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list with the fifth-fastest time in program history.

On the women's side Imogen Barrett, who made her season debut Friday with Florida's seventh-ranked DMR team, returned to the track Saturday to post UF's sixth-fastest time in the mile. The junior crossed in 4:39.44, entering UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list and setting a new personal record.

Other notable performances included new personal-best times by Semira Killebrew (23.62) and Tyler Davis (20.89) in the 200 meters, and Jacob Miley in the 800 meters (1:50.47). A complete list of results for the Gators is below.

The Gators will be back in action on Feb. 25 as they return to Fayetteville for this year's SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships. The championship meet will take place over the course of three days, from Feb. 25-27.

TYSON INVITATIONAL MEET INFORMATION

Results (Flash Results)
Results (PDF)
Day 1 Recap
Venue: Randal Tyson Track Center

Saturday, February 13 ( denotes preliminary; all other events are finals)*
Event	Place, Gators – Time / Mark \| Notes
200m (W)	3. Talitha Diggs – 22.94 \| No. 5-ranked time on the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list; No.2-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time top 10 list; eighth-fastest time in the world; new personal record
	10. Taylor Manson – 23.50 \| Season best
	13. Semira Killebrew – 23.62 \| Personal-best time
	35. Lauryn Ghee – 25.14
200m (M)	2. Joseph Fahnbulleh – 20.42 \| No. 2-ranked time on the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list; No.4-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time top 10 list; second-fastest time in the world; new personal record
	5. Tyler Davis – 20.89 \| New personal record
	5. Ryan Willie – 20.94 \| First collegiate 200-meter appearance
	10. Dedrick Vanover – 21.21 \| Season best
	17. Cameron Mahorn – 21.60 \| Season best
800m (W)	2. Gabrielle Wilkinson – 2:05.57 \| No. 7-ranked time on the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list; new personal record
	10. Abbie Harrelson – 2:10.61
800m (M)	8. Jacob Miley – 1:50.47 \| New personal record
	13. Deshay Fernandes – 1:52.17 \| New personal record
Mile (W)	8. Imogen Barrett – 4:39.44 \| No. 6-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list; new personal record
Mile (M)	13. Marshall Dillon – 4:10.95
	17. Hugh Brittenham – 4:21.83
5,000m (M)	8. Trevor Foley – 14:03.50 \| Fifth-fastest time in UF history; season debut new personal record
4x400 (W)	Taylor Manson – Talitha Diggs – Sterling Lester – Doneisha Anderson – 3:34.02 \| No. 9-ranked time in the NCAA
4x400 (M)	Ryan Willie – Ian Davis – Denzel Villaman – Jacob Miley – 3:07.28
TJ (W)	3. Natricia Hooper – 13.31 meters (43 feet, 8 inches) \| Tied for No. 8-ranked mark in the NCAA; season best
	6. Kala Penn – 12.98 meters (42 feet, 7 inches)
TJ (M)	6. Jonathan Miller – 15.55m (51 feet, 0.25 inches) \| Season best
	Malcolm Clemons – DNS
SP (W)	5. Thea Jensen – 15.09 meters (49 feet, 6.25 inches)
SP (M)	3. Connor Bandel – 19.03 meters (62 feet, 3.75 inches) \| Season best

Friday, February 12 ( denotes preliminary; all other events are finals)*
Event	Place, Gators – Time / Mark \| Notes
60m (W)	5. Semira Killebrew – 7.33
60m (W)*	6. Semira Killebrew – 7.31 \|Advanced to finals (time); matched season best
	14. Alexis Brown – 7.56 \| First collegiate 60-meters appearance
60m (M)	7. Joseph Fahnbulleh – 6.73 \| Matched personal best
	Raymond Ekevwo – DNS
60m (M)*	1. Raymond Ekevwo – 6.57 \| Advance to finals (automatic); tied for second-fastest time on NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list; seventh-fastest time in the world; season debut
	6. Joseph Fahnbulleh – 6.73 \| Advance to finals (automatic); matched personal best
	9. Dedrick Vanover – 6.76
	14. Tyler Davis – 6.79
	20. Cameron Mahorn – 6.96
400m (W)	7. Taylor Manson – 52.74
	11. Sterling Lester – 55.13
400m (M)	4. Ryan Willie – 46.41 \| New personal record
	8. Ian Davis – 47.77
	9. Chantz Sawyers – 47.97 \| Season debut
	14. Denzel Villaman – 48.35
	17. Cole Johnson – 48.94
3,000m (M)	8. Caden Monk – 8:24.10 \| Personal best; season debut
60mH (W)	1. Grace Stark – 7.96\| NCAA Leader; No. 8-ranked time in the world; season best
60mH (W)*	2. Grace Stark – 8.10 \| Advanced to finals (automatic)
60mH (M)*	14. Joey Stravato – 8.32
DMR	5. Gabrielle Wilkinson – Talitha Diggs – Abbie Harrelson – Imogen Barrett – 11:09.82 \| Seventh-fastest time in the NCAA; No.7-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list; season debut for DMR team; Barrett's season debut
LJ (W)	4. Claire Bryant – 6.23 meters (20 feet, 5.25 inches)
	5. Alexis Brown – 6.06 meters (19 feet, 10.75 inches)
	7. Kala Penn – 6.01 meters (19 feet, 8.75 inches)
LJ (M)	5. Malcolm Clemons – 7.69 meters (25 feet, 2.75 inches)
	7. PJ Austin – 7.49 meters (24 feet, 7 inches)
	16. Michael Holloway II – 6.43 meters (21 feet, 1.25 inches)
WT (M)	2. Thomas Mardal – 22.19 meters (72 feet, 9.75 inches)

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