FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Gators track and field teams will enter the final day of competition in the 2021 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships with 11 berths in the final round, in addition to already scheduled field events and 4x400-meter relays, after the women secured six spots and the men earned five Friday inside the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
The Gators' evening in Fayetteville was highlighted by freshman sprinter
Talitha Diggs who finished first in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 51.91 seconds. Her time is the eighth fastest in the world, second best in the NCAA and places fifth on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list.
Diggs will be joined in the final round of the 400 meters by senior
Taylor Manson, who crossed in 52.73 seconds.
On the distance side, junior
Imogen Barrett secured a spot in Saturday's finals after logging a personal-record mile time of 4:38.72, while
Gabrielle Wilkinson and
Abbie Harrelson advanced after crossing in 2:06.93 and 2:08.38, respectively.
Sophomore
Semira Killebrew, who won silver at last year's SECs, will look to earn gold after qualifying with at time of 7.25 seconds in the 60 meters.
On the men's side, newcomer
Ryan Willie gave the Gators the first finals berth of the day during the afternoon session. The freshman finished first in the 400 meters semifinals with a new personal-record time of 45.76 seconds, which ranks eighth on UF's All-Time Top 10 list and 11th in the NCAA.
The Gators' 60 meters crew followed Willie's qualifying performance with redshirt junior
Dedrick Vanover and sophomore
Tyler Davis both advancing to the finals. Vanover logged a time of 6.71 seconds, while Davis crossed in 6.78.
Davis later joined fellow sophomore
Joseph Fahnbulleh to clinch spots on Saturday's 200 meters finals. Fahnbulleh, who entered championship week as the No. 2-ranked 200-meters sprinter in the nation and the world, logged a time of 20.49 while Davis clocked a new personal record 20.79 seconds.
Other notable performances included new personal records by
Ian Davis (46.88) and
Denzel Villaman (47.14) in the 400 meters,
Deshay Fernandes in the 800 meters (1:50.60) and Killebrew in the 200 meters (23.57).
In the long jump,
Alexis Brown logged a new PR of 6.14 meters (20 feet, 1.75 inches) and
Claire Bryant finished fifth in the conference with a new personal-best mark of 6.34 meters (20 feet, 9.75 inches). Bryant's new personal best ranks sixth in school history.
On the men's side, junior
PJ Austin, who arrived in Fayetteville ranked 13th on this year's NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list, moved to the No. 7 spot in the country after leaping for a personal best 7.95 meters (26 feet, 1 inch). Austin finished fifth in the conference meet and entered UF's All-Time Top 10 list, landing as the No. 9-ranked long jumper in program history.
A complete list of results from Friday, along with the full schedule of events and entries for Gators participation on Saturday, is below.
Coverage of the final day of competition will begin Saturday at 1:55 p.m. for the men's events and 6:25 p.m. for the women on SEC Network+. See below for compete details.
2021 SEC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
- Live Results / Start Lists (Flash Results)
- Day 1 Recap
- Venue: Randal Tyson Track Center
- Coverage: The final day of the 2021 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships can be seen on SECN+. Additionally, fans can stay up to date by following the Gators' social media platforms.
- COVID-19 Protocol: Due to safety concerns, the 2021 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships will be limited to athletes, coaches, staff and officials only. Additionally, athletes, coaches, staff and officials will adhere to social distancing and masking measures. More information regarding SEC protocol for winter sports can be found here.
| Friday, February 26 (* indicates semifinals, all other events are finals) |
| Event |
Place, Gators – Time/Mark | Notes |
| 60m (W)* |
5. Semira Killebrew – 7.25 | Advanced to finals (time) |
| 60m (M)* |
3. Dedrick Vanover – 6.71 | Advanced to finals (time) |
|
8. Tyler Davis – 6.78 | Advanced to finals (time) |
|
Raymond Ekevwo – DNS |
|
Joseph Fahnbulleh – FS |
| 200m (W)* |
12. Semira Killebrew – 23.57 | New personal record |
| 200m (M)* |
3. Joseph Fahnbulleh – 20.49 | Advanced to finals (time) |
|
6. Tyler Davis – 20.79 | Advanced to finals (time), new personal record |
|
11. Dedrick Vanover – 21.10 |
|
20. Cameron Mahorn – 21.70 |
| 400m (W)* |
1. Talitha Diggs – 51.91 | Advanced to final (time), eighth-fastest time in the world, second-best time in the NCAA, No. 5-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list, new personal record |
|
7. Taylor Manson – 52.73 | Advanced to finals (time) |
| 400m (M)* |
1. Ryan Willie – 45.76 | Advanced to finals (automatic) No. 8-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list, 11th-fastest time in the nation, new personal record |
|
10. Ian Davis – 46.88 | New personal record |
|
13. Denzel Villaman – 47.14 |New personal record |
| 800m (W)* |
3. Gabrielle Wilkinson – 2:06.93 | Advanced to finals (automatic) |
|
8. Abbie Harrelson – 2:08.38 | Advanced to finals (time), new indoor personal record |
| 800m (M)* |
12. Deshay Fernandes – 1:50.60 | New personal record |
|
13. Jacob Miley – 1:50.64 |
| Mile (W)* |
3. Imogen Barrett – 4:38.72 | Advanced to finals (automatic), new personal best, No. 6-ranked time in UF history |
| Mile (M)* |
13. Marshall Dillon – 4:11.50 |
| 5,000m (M) |
11. Trevor Foley – 14:25.49 |
| 60mH (W)* |
Grace Stark – DNS |
| 60mH (M)* |
13. Joey Stravato – 8.33 |
| LJ (W) |
5. Claire Bryant – 6.34 meters (20 feet, 9.75 inches) | Tied for the sixth-best mark in UF history, new personal record |
|
7. Alexis Brown – 6.14 meters (20 feet, 1.75 inches) | New personal record |
| LJ (M) |
5. PJ Austin – 7.95 meters (26 feet, 1 inch) | No. 7-ranked mark in the NCAA, ninth-best mark in UF history, personal record. |
|
8. Malcolm Clemons – 7.82 meters (25 feet, 8 inches) |
| Thursday, February 25 (All events are finals) |
| Event |
Place, Gators – Time/Mark | Notes |
| DMR (W) |
2. Gabrielle Wilkinson; Lauryn Ghee; Abbie Harrelson; Imogen Barrett – 11:00.31 | SEC runner-up, eight team points, sixth-best time in the NCAA, No.3-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-time Top 10 list |
| DMR (M) |
10. Marshall Dillon, Denzel Villaman, Deshay Fernandes, Cade Monk – 9:46.42 |
| WT (M) |
1. Thomas Mardal – 24.16 meters (79 feet, 3.75 inches) | SEC Champion, SEC Championship record, UF record, sixth-best mark in collegiate history, personal record, NCAA leader, 10 team points |
| Pent (W) |
2. Sterling Lester – 4,095 points | Silver medalist, eight team points, personal record, third most points in UF history, fifth-most points in the NCAA |
|
|
|
Pentathlon Event-by-Event Scores |
| 60mH |
6. Sterling Lester – 8.57 [1,002 points] | Season best |
| HJ |
8. Sterling Lester – 1.68 meters (5 feet, 6 inches) [830 points] | New personal best |
| SP |
5. Sterling Lester – 11.17 meters (36 feet, 7.72 inches) [606 points] | Season best |
| LJ |
6. Sterling Lester – 5.80 meters (19 feet, 0.50 inches) [789 points] | Season best |
| 800m |
2. Sterling Lester – 2:16.73 [868 points] | Season best |
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