GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After winning the discus event at the Florida-hosted 2016 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, the UF Track & Field social media account posted a graphic heralding the victory of sophomore Lloydricia Cameron. The post trumpeted Cameron's first-place toss of 57.11 meters and congratulated her for the second-longest throw in program history.
Cameron saw the post and went to UF associate head coach
Steve Lemke.
As it turned out, her mark of 57.11 — and its place in the team history books — was incorrect. Meet officials had inadvertently credited Cameron with a mark that on a throw she foot-fouled. The correct (and legal) measurement was a 55.14-meter heave, also good enough to win the event, but the third-longest throw in program history; not second.
Three months later, Cameron was named one of three student-athletes honored with the Southeastern Sportsmanship Award, given annually to those who set standards of sportsmanship and exhibit that spirit through their actions. At the time, Cameron was the third Gator to be so recognized in the award's nine years.
In time, Cameron would win a pair of league titles in the shot put (one win indoors, one outdoors), but now comes her greatest individual achievement when she heads to the 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo after qualifying for the shot put as a member of the Jamaican National Team.
Cameron grew up in Miami, but she's long dreamed of representing her parents' homeland, having done so for the first time in 2019 -- a year after leaving Florida -- when she finished seventh in the shot at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Now, it's off to Japan, where -- bank on it -- she'll represent Jamaica (and the Gators) with class — and integrity.
Lloydricia Cameron beams from the podium as she poses with her fourth-place shot put trophy at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
AT A GLANCE
Lloydricia Cameron
SPORT: Women's track and field (shot put)
HOW SHE QUALIFIED: Finished second in the shot competition at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association Ministry of Sports/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships, good enough for a spot on the national team in Tokyo.
TOKYO SCHEDULE: July 30 — women's shot put qualifying, 8-10 p.m. EST. Aug. 1 — Women's shot put final, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
UF CAREER: Won the SEC Outdoors title in the shot in 2017 and the indoors crown in 2018. Her collegiate-best throw was 57 feet, 11.25 inches and best finish in the NCAA Championships was fourth in '18. Cameron left Florida ranked in the UF all-time Top 10 in indoor/outdoor shot and discus.
NEED TO KNOW: During her career at Miami Northwestern High, Cameron placed third or higher in 69 of the 74 of her shot put competitions and three times was the Class 3A state title in the shot, plus another two in the discus.
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I am 100 percent Jamaican. I came out of my mother's womb. I have always visited here. All my family are Jamaicans. I don't have any U.S. blood in my body and I am the first generation in my family to be born there. I just love the culture here." — Cameron to
The Jamaican Observer.
Previously: "Gators In Olympic Games" Series
June 26:
Cory McGee
June 27:
Michelle Moultrie
June 28:
Natalie Hinds
June 29:
Adriana Leon
June 30:
Enzo Martinez-Scarpe
July 1:
Kieran Smith
July 2:
Genevieve LaCaze Gregson
July 3:
Will Claye
July 4:
Mark Kolozsvary
July 5:
Marife Torres
July 6:
Aubree Munro
July 7:
Leanne Wong
July 8:
Hakim Sani Brown
July 9:
Deanne Rose
July 10:
Yanis David
July 11:
Marquis Dendy
