FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Gators women's track and field team finished second at the 2021 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships with 81 team points, collecting one gold medal and securing top-three finishes in eight additional events. Meanwhile the men finished fifth with one individual crown, one silver and two bronze medals for a total of 57 team points.
Newcomer
Talitha Diggs and senior
Taylor Manson shined during the last day of competition inside the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas as the freshman claimed the SEC title in the 400 meters while Manson was the runner up.
Diggs logged a new personal-best time of 51.14 seconds, making her the second-fastest 400-meter runner in the NCAA this year and third-fastest in UF history. Meanwhile, Manson crossed in 51.82 seconds to land on the No. 3 spot of this year's NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list and record a new personal record.
On the distance front,
Gabrielle Wilkinson finished second in the 800 meters after logging a new personal-best time of 2:02.85. Her time ranks fourth in the nation and second on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list.
Sophomore
Semira Killebrew finished third in the 60 meters with a time of 7.21 seconds, which ranks sixth in the NCAA.
Out on the field, jumper
Natricia Hooper collected a bronze medal following a 13.45-meter (44 feet, 1.50 inches) leap, while thrower
Thea Jensen entered UF's record books with a personal-best shot put mark of 16.56 meters (54 feet, 4 inches) to finish third in the SEC. Her new personal record ranks 10th in UF history.
The 4x400-meter relays squad, formed by Manson, Diggs,
Sterling Lester and
Lauryn Ghee closed things up for the Gators with a time of 3:31.75 and a third-place finish. Florida's 4x400 time ranks fifth in the NCAA and 10th on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list.
Saturday's seven top-3 finishes on the women's side added to the two silver medals earned by the DMR team and
Sterling Lester (Pentathlon) on Thursday for a total of nine medals.
On the men's side, the Gators added a silver medal and two bronze during the last day of competition.
Sophomore
Joseph Fahnbulleh finished second in the 200 meters, after logging a personal-best time of 20.32 seconds. His time ranks second in the world, in the NCAA and in program history.
Meanwhile, Freshman
Ryan Willie improved his 400-meters time, crossing in 45.66 seconds to finish third in the conference and place seventh on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list.
Out on the field, thrower
Connor Bandel finished third in the shot put with a mark of 18.98 meters (62 feet, 3.25 inches).
The men left this year's Indoor SEC championship meet with a total of four medals, including
Thomas Mardal's gold for his weight throw record-breaking performance during the first day of competition.
Mardal was crowned SEC champion Thursday after throwing for 24.16 meters (79 feet, 3.25 feet), breaking UF's and an SEC championship meet 11-year-old record. His new personal best made him the fifth-furthest performer in collegiate history.
Other notable performances included new personal records by triple jumpers
Malcolm Clemons and
Jonathan Miller. The duo finished fourth and fifth in the conference, respectively, after both logged a mark of 16.08 meters (52 inches, 9.25 inches) to share the No. 9 spot on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list.
On the women's side, runners
Abbie Harrelson (2:07.09) and
Imogen Barrett (4:38.12) logged new personal records in the 800 meters and the mile, respectively.
Additionally, the men's 4x400-meters relays squad logged the seventh-fastest time on this year's NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list after crossing in 3:06.01 to finish sixth in the conference.
A full list of medalist, as well all performances by Gators during the SEC championship meet, is below.
2021 SEC INDOOR MEDALISTS
- Thomas Mardal, Men's Weight Throw – 2021 Indoor SEC Champion
- Talitha Diggs, Women's 400 meters – 2021 Indoors SEC Champion
- Joseph Fahnbulleh, Men's 200 meters – Silver medalist
- Taylor Manson, Women's 400 meters – Silver medalist
- Gabrielle Wilkinson, Women's 800 meters – Silver medalist
- Gabrielle Wilkinson, Lauryn Ghee; Abbie Harrelson; Imogen Barrett, Women's DMR – Silver medalists
- Sterling Lester, Women's Pentathlon – Silver medalist
- Ryan Willie, Men's 400 meters – Bronze medalist
- Semira Killebrew, Women's 60 meters –Bronze medalist
- Taylor Manson, Talitha Diggs, Sterling Lester, Lauryn Ghee, Women's 4x400-meter relays – Bronze medalists
- Natricia Hooper, Women's Triple Jump – Bronze medalist
- Thea Jensen, Women's Shot Put – Bronze medalist
- Connor Bandel, Men's Shot Put – Bronze medalist
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mike Holloway
- On the performance by the women
"On the women's side, phenomenal job. You bring 14 girls into this meet and actually 12 of the competed. Of the 12 who put the uniform on and competed, they all scored. For them to be second in this league with 12 girls was phenomenal."
- On the performance by the men
"We fired the bullets that we had. On the men's side, we've got to get a little tougher. I know we had some people down and we were missing some people, but we had some people here that just aren't buying. I'm the head coach and that's my deal. I've got to fix that."
Talitha Diggs
- On winning her first SEC title
"To come out as SEC champion is a blessing. I just trust coach Holloway and his process and I worked really hard throughout this whole season. I knew coming out here I had to execute, remain focused and believe in myself and I knew that I'd come out with the win."
Thomas Mardal
- On winning gold two years in a row
"It obviously means a lot being able to perform when it matters at these big championships. Being able to throw this far at this meet, I wasn't really expecting. It's was bit surprising, but it's very promising for the next couple of weeks before NCAAs."
- On breaking the school record in the weight throw
"It's something that I've had my eyes on for the last couple of years and it's nice to finally have it done and I don't have to really have to think about that too much. Now, I can focus on just improving on my own record now."
Joseph Fahnbulleh
- On what it means to win silver at SECs in the 200 meters
"It means a lot. Coming in and trusting coach, that was the whole big plan from Tuesday. Working on my starts, on my accelerations. It was all just trusting coach... He's a heck of a coach when you listen, and I listened and I ran a 20.32–the second-best time in school history."
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Saturday's fifth-place finish for the men mark the 25th consecutive time the Gators finish among the top five teams in the conference indoors, including SEC titles in 2004, 2011, 2015 and 2019. The finish also marked Florida's 53rd all-time top-five finish, which is the most by any school in the SEC followed by LSU with 47 and Tennessee with 46.
On the women's side, the Gators own an all-time second-most top-two finishes in the conference with 17. UF trails LSU who owns 23 and are followed by Arkansas who have 16.
2021 SEC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP MEET INFORMATION
| Saturday, February 27 (All events are finals) |
| Time |
Gators – Event |
| 60m (W) |
3. Semira Killebrew – 7.21 | Bronze medalist, six team points, No. 6-ranked time in the NCAA |
| 60m (M) |
4. Dedrick Vanover – 6.77 | Five team points |
|
8. Tyler Davis – 6.87 | One team point |
| 200m (M) |
2. Joseph Fahnbulleh – 20.32 | Silver medalist, eight team points, No. 2-ranked time in the world, NCAA and UF history, new personal record |
|
5. Tyler Davis – 20.94 | Four team points |
| 400m (W) |
1. Talitha Diggs – 51.14 | SEC Champion, 10 team points, No. 2-ranked time in the NCAA, third-fastest time in UF history, new personal record |
|
2. Taylor Manson – 51.82 | Silver medalist, eight team points, third-fastest time in the NCAA, sixth-fastest time in UF history |
| 400m (M) |
3. Ryan Willie – 45.66 | Bronze medalist, six team points, No. 7-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list, new personal record |
| 800m (W) |
2. Gabrielle Wilkinson – 2:02.85 | Silver medalist, eight team points, No.4-ranked time on the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying list, second-fastest in UF history, new personal record |
|
6. Abbie Harrelson – 2:07.79 | Three team points, New personal record |
| Mile (W) |
4. Imogen Barrett – 4:38.12 | Five team points, new personal record |
| 4x400m (W) |
3. Taylor Manson, Talitha Diggs, Sterling Lester, Lauryn Ghee – 3:31.75 | Bronze medalists, fifth-fastest time in the NCAA, 10th-ranked time on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list |
| 4x400m (M) |
6. Ryan Willie, Ian Davis, Denzel Villaman, Jacob Miley – 3:06.01 |Three team points, seventh-fastest time in the NCAA |
| TJ (W) |
3. Natricia Hooper – 13.45 meters (44 feet, 1.50 inches) | Bronze medalist, six team points. |
|
8. Kala Penn – 12.86 meters (42 feet, 2.25 inches) | One team point |
| TJ (M) |
4. Malcolm Clemons – 16.08 meters (52 inches, 9.25 inches) | Five team points, tied for the ninth-best mark in UF history, personal best. |
|
5. Jonathan Miller – 16.08 meters (52 inches, 9.25 inches) | Five team points, tied for the ninth-best mark in UF history, personal best. |
| SP (W) |
3. Thea Jensen – 16.56 meters (54 feet, 4 inches) | Bronze medalist, six team points, No.10-ranked performer of UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list, new personal record |
| SP |
3. Connor Bandel – 18.98 meters (62 feet, 3.25 inches) | Bronze medalist, six team points. |
| 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, third-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 |
|
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, four team points, new personal record |
|
7. Alexis Brown – 6.14 meters (20 feet, 1.75 inches) | Two team points, 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, four team points, personal record. |
|
8. Malcolm Clemons – 7.82 meters (25 feet, 8 inches) | One team point |
| 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 |
TEAM RESULTS
| Men's Top 5 Teams |
| Place |
Team - Points |
| 1st |
Arkansas – 116 points |
| 2nd |
LSU – 93 points |
| 3rd |
Alabama – 72 points |
| 4th |
Ole Miss – 70.5 points |
| 5th |
Florida – 57 points |
| Women's Top 5 Teams |
| Place |
Team - Points |
| 1st |
Arkansas – 141 points |
| 2nd |
Florida - 81 points |
| 3rd |
Georgia – 69 points |
| 4th |
LSU – 62 points |
| 5th |
Kentucky 57 points |
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