CLEMSON, SC. – The Florida Gators Track and Field teams began their 2023 indoor season Friday at the Clemson Invitational. The Gators started the season in style, running 10 personal best times and breaking two facility records.
Gabrielle Wilkinson,
Adrian Bichara,
Vanessa Watson,
Talitha Diggs, and
Claire Bryant all captured individual titles on the first day of the season. Both Diggs and Wilkinson set facility records with their performances while Diggs's showing was also the fastest indoor 60m in the world this year
Tomorrow the Gators begin day 2 of the Clemson Invite at 10:30 a.m. ET with the
Claire Bryant in the high jump. The track events start at 12 p.m. ET with the women's 300m featuring
Talitha Diggs,
Ramiah Elliott, and
Laila Owens.
Friday's Finals Recap
1000m
Women-
Gabrielle Wilkinson led off the day in the 1000m, finishing with the Gators first title of the season, crossing the line with a time of 2:44.39. This was a new facility record and Wilkinson bested the second-place runner by nearly four seconds.
Men- Four Gators ran in the second heat, with
Caden Monk and
Joe Wester pushing each other down the stretch, resulting in a second-place finish in the 1000m for Monk and a third-place finish for Wester.
Long Jump
Women-
Claire Bryant was the fifth Gator to win their event on day 1. Her third jump of 6.59m clinched the title.
Men-
Jalen Chance closed out the first day of the Clemson Invite for the Gators with a seventh-place finish.
600m
Women-
Vanessa Watson won the Gators second title of the day, running a 1:30.52 and leading from wire to wire.
Jess Edwards finished fourth, just 0.21 seconds behind the second-place finisher.
Men- In their Gator debut,
Adrian Bichara and
Ryan Maseman both finished on the podium. Bichara took first in the event, marking the Gators third title of the day. Maseman placed third while
Deshay Fernandes finished seventh.
60mH
Women- Former Gator
Anna Hall crossed the line first with
Jayla Hollis and
Imani Carothers finishing second and fourth respectively. Hollis and Carothers bested their qualifying times which were both top-10 times in school history.
Men-
Kurt Powdar's time of 7.85 and
Osaji Skyers's time of 7.91 gave them fourth and fifth place finishes in the men's final.
60m
Women-
Talitha Diggs improved upon her already impressive 60m qualifying time. She ran the fastest time in the world this year during prelims and improved upon it in the finals, running a 7.14. This is the second fastest time in school history and a Clemson facility record. Her title marked the Gators fourth of the day.
Kynnedy Flannel crossed the line eighth with a time of 7.50.
Men-
Pjai Austin finished third with a PR of 6.59, tying him for fifth fastest time in school history.
Jacory Patterson crossed the line sixth, running the 60m in 6.72 seconds.
Friday's Qualifying Recap
60mH Qualifying
Women-
Imani Carothers and
Jayla Hollis both ran top-10 times in school history in the prelims to secure their place in the finals.
Men- Both
Kurt Powdar and
Osaji Skyers ran a 7.90, finishing top 3 in qualifiers and automatically qualifying for the finals. Skyers time was a new PR, besting his previous by nearly 0.2 seconds.
60m Qualifying
Women- Both
Talitha Diggs and
Kynnedy Flannel automatically qualified for the women's final. Diggs ran the fourth fastest time in school history and the fastest time in the world this year, until she improved upon the mark in her final performance today.
Men-
Jacory Patterson and
Pjai Austin ran strong, qualifying for the finals.
| Friday, January 13 (Q denotes qualifying, All others are finals) |
| Event |
Place, Gators (Time/Distance), Notes |
| 1000m (W) |
1. Gabrielle Wilkinson (2:44.39), Facility Record, PR
8. Emily Culley (2:57.75), PR |
| 1000m (M) |
2. Caden Monk (2:23.67), PR
3. Joe Wester (2:24.22)
7. Hugh Brittenham (2:26.46), PR
10. Michael Fiore (2:28.21) |
| 60m Hurdles (W) Q |
3. Imani Carothers (8.33) Automatic Finals Qualifier
5. Jayla Hollis (8.36) Finals Qualifier |
| 60m Hurdles (M) Q |
2. Osaji Skyers (7.90) Automatic Finals Qualifier, PR
3. Kurt Powdar (7.90), Automatic Finals Qualifier |
| 60m (W) Q |
1. Talitha Diggs (7.19) Automatic Finals Qualifier, PR
5. Kynnedy Flannel (7.37) Automatic Finals Qualifier
13. Jasmine Montgomery (7.44)
21. Tymiah Montgomery (7.77) |
| 60m (M) Q |
2. Pjai Austin (6.66) Automatic Finals Qualifier
8. Jacory Patterson (6.71) Finals Qualifier
11. Tyler Davis (6.75) |
| 600m (W) |
1. Vanessa Watson (1:30.52)
4. Jess Edwards (1:31.08) |
| 600m (M) |
1. Adrian Bichara (1:18.73), PR
3. Ryan Maseman (1:18.97), PR
7. Deshay Fernandes (1:19.89) |
| 60m Hurdles (W) |
2. Jayla Hollis (8.19) 5th fastest time in school history
4. Imani Carothers (8.25) Tied for the 7th fastest time in school history |
| 60m Hurdles (M) |
4. Kurt Powdar (7.85)
5. Osaji Skyers (7.91) |
| 60m (W) |
1. Talitha Diggs (7.14), Facility Record, PR, 2nd fastest time in school history, Fastest time in the world this year
8. Kynnedy Flannel (7.50) |
| 60m (M) |
3. Pjai Austin (6.59) PR, Tied for the 5th fastest time in school history
6. Jacory Patterson (6.72) |
| Long Jump (W) |
1. Claire Bryant (6.59m, 21-07.50) |
| Long Jump (M) |
7. Jalen Chance (7.30m, 23-11.50) |
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