FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Thrower
Thomas Mardal set the tone and got the Gators off to a strong start at NCAA indoors as he was crowned weight throw national champion Thursday evening inside the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
As Mardal stepped into the circle for his first attempt, officials and meet marshals warned photographers at the end of the throwing sector about the Gator, who two weeks ago beamed the 35-pound weight far enough to bounce and hit the wall inside the Arkansas track facility.
The Gopplen, Norway native opened up with a 24.46-meter bomb (80 feet, 3.75 inches) to take the lead and remain on top to win his first NCAA crown. Mardal broke his own school record, which he set two weeks ago at SEC indoors, and became the third-best performer in collegiate history.
Mardal followed that up with a mark of 24.41 meters (80 feet, 1 inch) in his second throw, becoming the first person in NCAA Indoor Championships history, and the second in collegiate history, to have at least two throws of 80 feet or further in the same meet.
On the women's side, junior
Sterling Lester opened up for the Gators, logging 4,213 points in the pentathlon to finish fifth in the nation. Lester topped her personal record by 118 points and moved to the No. 2 spot on UF's Indoor All-Time Top 10 list.
The multis athlete set new personal records in the high jump (1.69 meters / 5 feet, 6.50 inches) and in the 800 meters (2:12.13), in addition to logging the ninth-fastest time in school history in the 60-meter hurdles (8.44).
The action continues Friday from Fayetteville with a live broadcast beginning at 2:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
For complete details regarding Thursday's results, coverage of the meet, and Gators competing Friday and Saturday, see below.
2021 NCAA INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
- Live Results / Start Lists (Flash Results)
- Complete Men's Entries List
- Complete Women's Entries List
- Meet Schedule
- Meet Notes
- Venue: Randal Tyson Track Center
- Coverage: This week's championship meet will be streamed on ESPN3. Additionally, fans can stay up to date by following the Gators' social media platforms.
- COVID-19 Protocol: Due to safety concerns, the 2021 NCAA 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.
| Thursday, March 11 (All events are finals) |
| Event |
Place (Points), Gators – Time/Mark | Notes |
| WT (M) |
1. (10) Thomas Mardal – 24.46 meters (80 feet, 3.75 inches) | National Champion, UF record, third-best performer in collegiate history, personal record |
| Pent (W) |
5. (4) Sterling Lester – 4,213 points | No.2-most point in school history, new personal record |
|
|
|
Pentathlon Event-by-Event Scores |
| 60mH |
6. Sterling Lester – 8.44 [1,030 points] | Season best, tied for No. 9-fastest time in UF history |
| HJ |
12. Sterling Lester – 1.69 meters (5 feet, 6.50 inches) [842 points] | New personal record |
| SP |
8. Sterling Lester – 11.89 meters (39 feet, 0.25 inches) [654 points] | Season best |
| LJ |
14. Sterling Lester – 5.68 meters (18 feet, 7.75 inches) [753points] |
| 800m |
2. Sterling Lester – 2:12.13 [1,030 points] | New personal record |
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