Florida Gators

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Florida Gators Track & Field team found plenty of success on the first of two days at the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The teams totaled five medal finishes and will send 13 athletes to compete in Saturday's finals.
 
FINALS HEADLINES
Bryant Collects SEC Individual Championship in Long Jump
After finishing second at SEC Indoor Championships in a year ago, Claire Bryant claimed her first SEC Individual Championship of her collegiate career on Friday. Competing in the women's long jump, Bryant leaped a season best mark of 6.72m/22'0.75" which topped the second-place finisher by 0.28m. The Gators have now taken home the SEC Indoor Women's Long Jump individual title in three straight seasons: Claire Bryant, 2024; Jasmine Moore, 2023; Jasmine Moore, 2022.
 
Women's DMR Takes Home Gold
It's one thing to be an SEC Champion, it's another to do so while also running a meet record. That is what the Women's DMR team of Elise Thorner, Laila Owens, Flomena Asekol and Parker Valby were able to accomplish on Friday as their time of 10:53.29 stands as the SEC Indoor Championship record. This mark surpassed the previous meet record, held by Ole Miss, by 3.1 seconds. Additionally, this time now stands as No. 2 on UF's All-Time Top 10 List, only behind the school record DMR set earlier this year at the Razorback Invitational. 2024 is the first time in ten years that a Women's DMR team has been crowned SEC Champions.
 
Clemons and Foster Both Land on the Podium
For the fourth consecutive meet, Malcolm Clemons has set a new PR in the men's long jump. This time it led to a silver medal finish at the SEC Indoor Championships. His mark of 8.22m/26'11.75" improves his already standing No. 2 spot on UF's All-Time Top 10 List and inches him closer to 2015 Bowerman winner Marquis Dendy's mark of 8.28m.
 
Foster joined his teammate on the podium with a season best jump of 8.00m/26'3", earning him a bronze medal.
 
Mazza-Downie Claims Bronze in Women's 5000m
Competing in her second meet of the of the 2024 season, Amelia Mazza-Downie secured a third place finish in the women's 5000m behind a season best time of 16:00.49. The Melbourne, Australia native is the first Gator to medal in the women's 5000m at SEC Indoor Championships since Florence Ngetich was the SEC Champion in 2012.
 
Weight Throw Competitors Tally Two Personal Records
Both Will Gross IV and Imani Washington recorded the best throws of their college career during Friday's events. Gross IV, on his first throw of the series, tossed a 20.25m/66'5.25" surpassing his previous personal best of 20.17m. This distance awarded Gross with a ninth-place finish.
 
Washington's personal best exceeded her previous mark by 0.53m as her third throw resulted in a distance of 18.43m/60'5.75". She was able to capture a tenth-place finish in her first SEC Indoor Championship.
 
PRELIMS HEADLINES
Thorner Tallies Three Personal Records and a Season Best in Day 1 Heptathlon Events
Oliver Thorner ended the first day of the men's heptathlon in fifth place behind personal records set in the 60m, long jump and shot put and a season best in the high jump. Thorner accumulated 833, 840, 699 and 758 points in the four events, resulting in a Day 1 total of 3130. He will continue action on Saturday with the 60m hurdles, pole vault and conclude with the 1000m.
 
All Four Mile Runners Qualify for Finals
Flomena Asekol, Lucinda Rourke and Elise Thorner all advanced to the finals of the women's mile after finishing second, seventh and eighth in the preliminary round, respectively. Rourke's time of 4:43.16 was a personal record, passing the time she set at the 2024 Tyson Invitaitonal.
 
Parvej Khan joined the group as he claimed the top qualifying spot in the men's mile behind a time of 4:01.05.
 
McCoy and Gregory Advance in Both 60m and 200m
The duo of Wanya McCoy and Robert Gregory will make four finals appearances on Saturday after they both qualified in the 60m and 200m.
 
McCoy took home the top qualifying time in both events as he recorded a 6.58, a personal record, in the 60m and a 20.42, yet another personal best, in the 200m. His time in the 60m places him No. 6 on UF's All-Time Top 10 list.
 
Robert Gregory advanced to Saturday's finals courtesy of a personal best time (6.65) in the 60m and fourth place finish in the 200m.
 
Stark Qualifies for the 60m and 60m Hurdles
A fifth place finish in the 60m and a top qualifying spot in the 60m hurdles means Grace Stark will be competing in both finals on Saturday.
 
Powell Finishes First and Hayles Runs Season Best to Qualify for Finals in Men's 400m
Behind a personal best by Jevaughn Powell and a season best by Reheem Hayles, both Gators will compete in the field of eight finalists for the men's 400m title.
 
Austin and Pantojas Advance to Saturday
Running nearly in tandem, Sam Austin and Miguel Pantojas finished first and second in Heat 2 of the men's 800m, automatically qualifying them for the finals.
 
Brockman Headed to Finals
Not only does Joshua Brockman's time of 7.75 place him in the finals of the men's 60m hurdles but also places him in sole possession of No. 7 on UF's All-Time Top 10 List.
 
TEAM STANDINGS

WOMEN			MEN
Ranking	Team	Points	Ranking	Team	Points
1	Arkansas	37	1	Arkansas	44
2	Florida	30	T2	Florida	23
3	Texas A&M	27	T2	Ole Miss	23
4	Kentucky	26.5	4	Kentucky	22.5
5	Ole Miss	26.5	5	Alabama	14
6	Alabama	21	T6	Georgia	12
7	Tennessee	17	T6	South Carolina	12
8	Auburn	16	T6	Texas A&M	12
9	Vanderbilt	15	9	LSU	11.5
10	LSU	7	10	Auburn	11
11	Georgia	6	11	Tennessee	6
12	Mississippi State	3	12	Missouri	4
13	Missouri	2

 
RESULTS

Friday, February 23 – Track
Events	Place. Athlete – Time | Notes
Mile Prelims (W)	2. Flomena Asekol – 4:41.54 | Qualified for Finals 7. Lucinda Rourke – 4:43.16 | PR, Qualified for Finals 8. Elise Thorner – 4:43.67 | Qualified for Finals
Mile Prelims (M)	1. Parvej Khan – 4:01.05 | Qualified for Finals
60m Prelims (W)	5. Grace Stark – 7.23 | Qualified for Finals 15. Anthaya Charlton – 7.32
60m Prelims (M)	1. Wanya McCoy – 6.58 | PR, Qualified for Finals 5. Robert Gregory – 6.65 | PR, Qualified for Finals
400m Prelims (W)	14. Laila Owens – 52.81 | PR
400m Prelims (M)	1. Jevaughn Powell – 45.35 | PR, Qualified for Finals 7. Reheem Hayles – 46.25 | Qualified for Finals 22. Ashton Schwartzman – 47.05 23. Rios Prude Jr. – 47.09 | PR 27. Malique Smith-Band – 47.45 33. Jacob Miley – 48.08
800m Prelims (W)	13. Jess Edwards – 2:08.45 14. Laila Haynes – 2:09.24
800m Prelims (M)	3. Sam Austin – 1:48.78 | Qualified for Finals 5. Miguel Pantojas – 1:49.66 | Qualified for Finals 12. Adrian Bichara – 1:52.24 18. Edward Kepran – 1:55.93 20. Ryan Maseman – 2:01.34
60m H Prelims (W)	1. Grace Stark – 7.98 | Qualified for Finals 9. Jayla Hollis – 8.24
60m H Prelims (M)	3. Joshua Brockman – 7.75 | PR, Qualified for Finals 15. Joey Stravato – 8.03
5000m Finals (W)	3. Amelia Mazza-Downie – 16:00.49 | SEC Bronze Medalist 6. Allison Wilson – 16:06.63 16. Liina Winborn – 16:51.87
200m Prelims (W)	15. Ramiah Elliott – 23.37 22. Jayla Hollis – 23.81 27. Kayla Davis – 24.05
5000m Finals (M)	15. Ethan Geiger – 14.17.85 | PR
200m Prelims (M)	1. Wanya McCoy – 20.42 | PR, Qualified for Finals 4. Robert Gregory – 20.65 | Qualified for Finals
DMR (W)	1. Florida – 10:53.29 | SEC Champions, Meet Record Elise Thorner – 3:24.20 Laila Owens – 52.12 Flomena Asekol – 2:05.54 Parker Valby – 4:31.45
DMR (M)	5. Florida – 9:46.84 Gavin Nelson – 3:02.57 Rios Prude Jr. – 47.32 Ryan Maseman – 1:52.27 Joe Wester – 4:04.70

 

Friday, February 23 – Field
Events	Place. Athlete – Mark | Notes
Weight Throw Finals (W)	10. Imani Washington – 18.43m/60'5.75" | PR
Long Jump Finals (W)	1. Claire Bryant – 6.72m/22'0.75" | SEC Champion 8. Anthaya Charlton – 6.12m/20'1"
Long Jump Finals (M)	2. Malcolm Clemons – 8.22m/26'11.75" | SEC Silver Medalist, PR 3. Caleb Foster – 8.00m/26'3" | SEC Bronze Medalist 4. Sean Dixon-Bodie – 7.69m/25'2.75"
Weight Throw Finals (M)	9. Will Gross IV – 20.25m/66'5.25" | PR

 

Friday, February 23 – Men's Heptathlon
Events	Place. Athlete – Mark/Time | Notes
60m (Heptathlon)	5. Oliver Thorner – 7.14 | PR, 833 Points
Long Jump (Heptathlon)	3. Oliver Thorner – 7.11m/23'4" | PR, 840 Points
Shot Put (Heptathlon)	4. Oliver Thorner – 13.52m/44'4.25" | PR, 699 Points
High Jump (Heptathlon)	4. Oliver Thorner – 1.95m/6'4.75" | SB, 758 Points
Day 1 Total	5. Oliver Thorner – 3130 Points

 

Saturday, February 24 – Track
Events / Time (ET)	Athletes Competing
Mile Final (W) / 5:05 p.m.	-
Mile Final (M) / 5:15 p.m.	-
60m Final (W) / 5:25 p.m.	-
60m Final (M) / 5:32 p.m.	-
400m Final (W) / 5:47 p.m.	-
400m Final (M) / 5:57 p.m.	-
800m Final (W) / 6:07 p.m.	-
800m Final (M) / 6:15 p.m.	-
60m H Final (W) / 6:22 p.m.	-
60m H Final (M) / 6:30 p.m.	-
200m Final (W) / 6:37 p.m.	-
200m Final (M) / 6:47 p.m.	-
3000m Final (W) / 6:55 p.m.	Flomena Asekol Amelia Mazza-Downie Rylee Pustilnik Lucinda Rourke Elise Thorner Parker Valby Allison Wilson
3000m Final (M) / 7:20 p.m.	Ethan Geiger Gavin Nelson
4x400m Relay (W) / 7:45 p.m.	Kayla Davis, Ramiah Elliott, Jayla Hollis, Laila Owens
4x400m Relay (M) / 8:00 p.m.	Reheem Hayles, Wanya McCoy, Jenoah McKiver, Jevaughn Powell, Ashton Schwartzman, Malique Smith-Band

 

Saturday, February 24 – Field
Events / Time (ET)	Athletes Competing
High Jump (W) / 3:15 p.m.	Claire Bryant
Shot Put (W) / 4:00 p.m.	Gracelyn Leiseth Alida van Daalen
Triple Jump (M) / 5:15 p.m.	Sean Dixon-Bodie Michael Holloway II
Shot Put (M) / 6:00 p.m.	Kai Chang

 

Saturday, February 24 – Heptathlon
Events / Time (ET)	Athletes Competing
60m H (Heptathlon ) / 1:00 p.m.	Oliver Thorner
Pole Vault (Heptathlon) / 1:45 p.m.	Oliver Thorner
1000m (Heptathlon) / 5:40 p.m.	Oliver Thorner