Gators Set to Host 2021 Tom Jones Invitational

Friday, April 16

Gainesville, Fla.

Florida Gators

Tom Jones Memorial

Senior Clayton Brown, who ranks fourth nationally in the high and triple jump, will headline both events throughout the weekend.

Gators Set to Host 2021 Tom Jones Invitational

Thursday, April 15, 2021 | Track and Field

By: Rick Hurtado

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida track and field is back in action this weekend as the Gators begin competition in this year's Tom Jones Invitational, which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Percy Beard Track inside James G. Pressly Stadium.

During the two-day meet, several Florida seniors will be recognized as part of this year's Senior Day celebration. The group of honorees will include athletes whose Senior Day recognition was not possible after the 2020 season was canceled due to concerns regarding COVID-19.

On the track, the Gators will feature several performers who rank high on this year's Division I leaderboard, including NCAA hammer throw leader Thomas Mardal.

Mardal, who has led an astonishing 2021 campaign both indoors and outdoors, will return to the throwing circle looking to build on his record-setting performance from two weeks ago. The senior opened his outdoor season with a new school record during this year's Pepsi Florida Relays, posting a mark of 75.77 meters (248 feet, 7 inches) in the hammer throw.

Friday, freshman Claire Bryant and senior Clayton Brown will headline the jump events early in the day.

Bryant, who ranks fourth on this year's NCAA Division I Outdoor Qualifying list and third in school history, will represent the Gators in the long jump during the first day of competition. She will be joined by Alissa Braxton, Sterling Lester and Nadia Williams, who will be making her Gators debut.

The freshman will also make an appearance in the high jump during day two, where she'll look to improve her mark of 1.75 meters (5 feet, 8.75 inches) that ranks tied for eighth in school history.

Meanwhile Brown, who posted the fourth-best marks in both the high jump and triple jump in Division I this year, will get things going with the vertical jump Friday before triple jumping on Saturday, where he will be joined by Malcolm Clemons and Jonathan Miller. Additionally, he will make an appearance in the 100 meters.

Natricia Hooper will wrap things up for the jumpers on Saturday with the women's triple jump. The redshirt junior ranks fourth in the NCAA with a mark of 13.63 meters (44 feet, 8.75 inches) that she posted during Florida's season opener at FSU.

Sophomore Joseph Fahnbulleh will join Brown in the 100 meters on Saturday in addition to appearing in the 200 meters on Friday. The sprinter ranks second in the nation on the two events and is the second-fastest 200 meters sprinter in the world this year.

Newcomer Ryan Willie, who ranks fifth nationally in the 400 meters, will join Fahnbulleh for the 200 meters race.

On the distance side, redshirt sophomore Gabrielle Wilkinson, who ranks seventh nationally, will be joined by fellow sophomore Imogen Barrett in the 800 meters. Barrett will also compete in the 1,500 meters, in which she ranks eight among Division I competitors.

The Gators will also see performances by sixth-ranked redshirt senior Denzel Villaman in the men's 400-meter hurdles, 10th-ranked redshirt senior Connor Bandel in the shot put and redshirt junior Taylor Manson in the 200 meters, who ranks 10th in 400 meters.

A complete list of Gators participating in this weekend's home meet, along with the full schedule of events and entries, is below.

TOM JONES INVITATIONAL MEET INFORMATION

Live Results / Start Lists (Half Mile Timing)

Venue: Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium

Coverage: Florida fans can follow the Gators on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for coverage and updates, and stay tuned to FloridaGators.com for a full recap of the meet.

Attendance and Capacity: James G. Pressly Stadium will operate at limited capacity, and the meet will be open to the general public each day until capacity is reached.

COVID-19 Measures: Coaches, support staff, participants and attendees will adhere to health and safety protocols established under the guidance of UF Health and the SEC Medical Taskforce, which includes physical distancing and face coverings.

Parking: Spectator parking is complimentary and will be made available at the UF Law School (GREEN LOTS ONLY Friday [Orange Lots open AFTER 3:30 p.m.]; all lots Saturday) and fraternity row.

Weather Information: In the event of inclement weather, updates and schedule changes will be provided via the program's official Twitter handle (@GatorsTF). As a reminder, umbrellas and tents are not allowed in James G. Presley Stadium.

Participating schools: Arkansas, Central Florida, Coastal Carolina, Florida State, Georgia, Jacksonville, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (FL), Mississippi, North Carolina State, North Florida, South Florida, Virginia Commonwealth.

*Friday, April 16 (unless denoted otherwise, events are finals)*
Time	Gators – Event
2 p.m.	Edward Shelikoff – Men's Discus
3 p.m.	Clayton Brown – Men's High Jump
4:30 p.m.	Connor Bandel – Men's Shot Put
5 p.m.	Alissa Braxton, Claire Bryant, Sterling Lester, Nadia Williams – Women's Long Jump
5:30 p.m.	Jacob Stanko – Men's Javelin
6 p.m.	Imogen Barrett, Emily Culley, Jordan Shapiro – Women's 1,500 meters
6:25 p.m.	Marshall Dillon, Caden Monk, Angel Vicioso, Trevor Foley, Nick Deal – Men's 1,500 meters
6:50 p.m.	Talitha Diggs, Lauryn Ghee, Brandee' Johnson, Sterling Lester, Taylor Manson – Women's 200 meters
7 p.m.	Arianne Duarte-Morais, Marissa Rung – Women's Javelin
	PJ Austin, Jalen Chance, Caleb Foster, Michael Holloway II – Men's Long Jump
7:20 p.m.	Joseph Fahnbulleh, Cameron Mahorn, Dedrick Vanover, Ryan Willie – Men's 200 meters
7:45 p.m.	Denzel Villaman – Men's 400-meter Hurdles
8 p.m.	Emily Jones – Women's Steeplechase
8:25 p.m.	Reed Legg, Jesse Millson – Men's Steeplechase
8:45 p.m.	Jessica Pascoe, Sophia Piniella, Vasileia Spyrou, Parker Valby, Cheyenne Young, Maria Fernandez, Stephy Ormsby – Women's 5,000 meters
9:10 p.m.	Nick Deal, Trevor Foley, Cavan Wilson – Men's 5,000 meters
9:30 p.m.	Gianna Forte – Women's 10,000 meters

*Saturday, April 17 (unless denoted otherwise, events are finals)*
Time	Gators – Event
12 p.m.	Brandee' Johnson, Sterling Lester, Grace Stark – Women's 100-meter Hurdles (prelims)
	Thomas Mardal – Men's Hammer Throw
12:20 p.m.	Joey Stravato – Men's 110-meter Hurdles (prelims)
1 p.m.	Natricia Hooper, Kala Penn – Women's Triple Jump
1:20 p.m.	Imogen Barrett, Abbie Harrelson, Jordan Shapiro, Gabrielle Wilkinson – Women's 800 meters
1:40 p.m.	Marshall Dillon, Deshay Fernandes, Reed Legg, Caden Monk, Angel Vicioso, Dalton Brown, Chase Ruskin – Men's 800 meters
2 p.m.	Brandee' Johnson, Sterling Lester, Grace Stark – Women's 100-meter Hurdles (final)
	Claire Bryant – Women's High Jump
	Clayton Brown, Malcolm Clemons, Jonathan Miller – Men's Triple Jump
	Thea Jensen, Sterling Lester – Women's Shot Put
2:10 p.m.	Joey Stravato – Men's 110-meter Hurdles (final)
2:20 p.m.	Doneisha Anderson – Women's 400 meters
2:40 p.m.	Jacob Miley, Cameron Miller, Chantz Sawyers – Men's 400 meters
3 p.m.	Alexis Brown – Women's 100 meters
3:15 p.m.	Clayton Brown, Joseph Fahnbulleh, Jadon Maddux, Cameron Mahorn, Dedrick Vanover – Men's 100 meters
3:35 p.m.	Maria Fernandez, Sophia Piniella, Emily Young – Women's 3,000 meters
4:05 p.m.	Florida 'A,' Florida 'B' – Women's 4x400 Relays
4:25 p.m.	Florida 'A,' Florida 'B' – Men's 4x400 Relays

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