Saturday, February 24
Fayetteville, Ark.
1:00 p.m. ET
Florida Gators
at
SEC Indoor Championships
Five Gators Crowned SEC Champions; Team Earns Seven Additional Medals
Sunday, February 25, 2024 | Track and Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – On the second of two days at the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Florida Gators totaled five SEC Individual Championships and seven additional medals, bringing their total to 14 for the weekend.
From a team perspective, the Gators finished second on both the Men's and Women's side as they totaled 106 and 80 points, respectively. This marks the second year in a row that both Gator programs have finished runner-up at SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Flomena Asekol, Parvej Khan, Grace Stark, Wanya McCoy and Parker Valby were the five Gators to claim gold medals in Saturday's competition.
With Khan's victory the Gators men's team extended their streak of having at least one individual champion at every SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship since 2002.
Sean Dixon-Bodie, Alida van Daalen, Robert Gregory and Jevaughn Powell make up the quartet that earned silver medals while Sam Austin and the men's 4x400m relay captured bronze.
Outlined below are more details about the Gators that tallied SEC Champion finishes.
GOLD MEDAL HEADLINES
Asekol Begins Finals Day with Gold
After finishing as the top qualifier on Friday, Asekol walked away from the women's mile with another first place finish, this time of much greater significance. Her finish of 4:38.35 crowned her the first Gator to be an SEC Individual Champion in the women's mile since Corey McGee in 2013.
Freshman Sensation Khan Runs Signature Race Plan to Capture Gold
Following in the footsteps of Asekol, Parvej Khan was also able to secure a SEC Individual Championship in the mile. The freshman navigated his way through the field as the laps progressed eventually ending with a time of 4:00.18. Possibly the most impressive aspect of Khan's medal performance was his 200m splits. Khan ran subsequently faster 200m splits throughout the race, excluding one lap, eventually culminating in a final 200m time of 26.30. This marks the first time a Gator has been an SEC Champion in the men's mile since Dumisani Hlaselo in 2011.
After Year Hiatus, Stark Returns as SEC Champion
Grace Stark, who was the 60m hurdles SEC Champion in 2022, is back on top in the SEC. After not competing in 2023, Stark made a statement in this year's competition as she recorded a season best time of 7.90 in the 60m hurdle finals.
McCoy Tallies Three Medals, One of Each Variety
Wanya McCoy had an outstanding day on Saturday, earning three medals: one gold, one silver and one bronze. McCoy's gold medal finish came in the men's 200m where the sophomore set a new personal best, obtained the collegiate lead and bettered his already standing Bahamian national record with a time of 20.29. This mark ties McCoy with Jacory Patterson for No. 3 on UF's All-Time Top 10 List, a mark that Patterson achieved when he was crowned the 2023 SEC Champion in the 200m.
He added a silver medal in the men's 60m and a bronze medal in the men's 4x400m relay.
Valby Breaks Several Records En Route to SEC Championship
Looking for her second gold medal of the weekend, Parker Valby broke three records on her way to claiming the SEC Individual Championship in the women's 3000m. Valby's time of 8:42.29 now stands as the Florida school record, the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship meet record and the Randal Tyson Track Center facility record. She is the first Gator to claim a women's 3000m individual championship since 2014.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
RESULTS
From a team perspective, the Gators finished second on both the Men's and Women's side as they totaled 106 and 80 points, respectively. This marks the second year in a row that both Gator programs have finished runner-up at SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Flomena Asekol, Parvej Khan, Grace Stark, Wanya McCoy and Parker Valby were the five Gators to claim gold medals in Saturday's competition.
With Khan's victory the Gators men's team extended their streak of having at least one individual champion at every SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship since 2002.
Sean Dixon-Bodie, Alida van Daalen, Robert Gregory and Jevaughn Powell make up the quartet that earned silver medals while Sam Austin and the men's 4x400m relay captured bronze.
Outlined below are more details about the Gators that tallied SEC Champion finishes.
GOLD MEDAL HEADLINES
Asekol Begins Finals Day with Gold
After finishing as the top qualifier on Friday, Asekol walked away from the women's mile with another first place finish, this time of much greater significance. Her finish of 4:38.35 crowned her the first Gator to be an SEC Individual Champion in the women's mile since Corey McGee in 2013.
𝐅𝐋𝐎 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐄𝐂 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) February 24, 2024
Flomena Asekol runs 4:38.35 in the Women's Mile to claim 🥇!#GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/M1hqfAlvlf
Freshman Sensation Khan Runs Signature Race Plan to Capture Gold
Following in the footsteps of Asekol, Parvej Khan was also able to secure a SEC Individual Championship in the mile. The freshman navigated his way through the field as the laps progressed eventually ending with a time of 4:00.18. Possibly the most impressive aspect of Khan's medal performance was his 200m splits. Khan ran subsequently faster 200m splits throughout the race, excluding one lap, eventually culminating in a final 200m time of 26.30. This marks the first time a Gator has been an SEC Champion in the men's mile since Dumisani Hlaselo in 2011.
PARVEJ, WE HAVE NO WORDS
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) February 24, 2024
The FRESHMAN runs a final 200m time of 26.30 to overtake the leader and claim the SEC INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP!#GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/sZeEzkNFtM
After Year Hiatus, Stark Returns as SEC Champion
Grace Stark, who was the 60m hurdles SEC Champion in 2022, is back on top in the SEC. After not competing in 2023, Stark made a statement in this year's competition as she recorded a season best time of 7.90 in the 60m hurdle finals.
GRACE STARK STRIKES GOLD 🥇
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) February 24, 2024
Stark finishes the Women's 60m Hurdles with a season best time of 7.90 to claim the 2nd 60m H individual title of her career!#GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/clBa3NweXl
McCoy Tallies Three Medals, One of Each Variety
Wanya McCoy had an outstanding day on Saturday, earning three medals: one gold, one silver and one bronze. McCoy's gold medal finish came in the men's 200m where the sophomore set a new personal best, obtained the collegiate lead and bettered his already standing Bahamian national record with a time of 20.29. This mark ties McCoy with Jacory Patterson for No. 3 on UF's All-Time Top 10 List, a mark that Patterson achieved when he was crowned the 2023 SEC Champion in the 200m.
Make that ✌️ medals for WANYA 🥇
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) February 25, 2024
McCoy takes home the SEC Individual Championship in the Men's 200m with a personal best and collegiate lead time of 20.29!#GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/x7iG6n6TnJ
He added a silver medal in the men's 60m and a bronze medal in the men's 4x400m relay.
Valby Breaks Several Records En Route to SEC Championship
Looking for her second gold medal of the weekend, Parker Valby broke three records on her way to claiming the SEC Individual Championship in the women's 3000m. Valby's time of 8:42.29 now stands as the Florida school record, the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship meet record and the Randal Tyson Track Center facility record. She is the first Gator to claim a women's 3000m individual championship since 2014.
Meet Record, School Record, Facility Record... BROKEN
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) February 25, 2024
Parker Valby is crowned the Women's 3000m SEC CHAMPION with a time of 8:42.29! 🥇#GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/GRnHqPRbYj
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
| WOMEN | MEN | ||||
| Ranking | Team | Points | Ranking | Team | Points |
| 1 | Arkansas | 131 | 1 | Arkansas | 163 |
| 2 | Florida | 80 | 2 | Florida | 106 |
| 3 | LSU | 68.5 | 3 | Texas A&M | 71 |
| 4 | Texas A&M | 61 | 4 | South Carolina | 42.5 |
| 5 | Ole Miss | 52.5 | 5 | Ole Miss | 42 |
| 6 | Georgia | 47 | 6 | Kentucky | 41.5 |
| 7 | Auburn | 41 | 7 | Georgia | 38 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 38 | T8 | LSU | 32.5 |
| 9 | Alabama | 35 | T8 | Tennessee | 32.5 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 30.5 | 10 | Auburn | 31 |
RESULTS
| Saturday, February 24 – Track | |
| Events | Athletes Competing |
| Mile Final (W) | 1. Flomena Asekol – 4:38.35 | SEC Champion 4. Elise Thorner – 4:39.61 10. Lucinda Rourke – 4:49.45 |
| Mile Final (M) | 1. Parvej Khan – 4:00.18 | SEC Champion |
| 60m Final (W) | 5. Grace Stark – 7.25 |
| 60m Final (M) | 2. Wanya McCoy – 6.63 7. Robert Gregory – 6.69 |
| 400m Final (M) | 2. Jevaughn Powell – 45.61 | SEC Silver Medalist, No. 10 on UF's All-Time Top 10 List 6. Reheem Hayles – 46.58 |
| 800m Final (M) | 3. Sam Austin – 1:48.00 | SEC Bronze Medalist 6. Miguel Pantojas – 1:49.97 |
| 60m H Final (W) | 1. Grace Stark – 7.90 | SEC Champion |
| 60m H Final (M) | 8. Joshua Brockman – 7.84 |
| 200m Final (M) | 1. Wanya McCoy – 20.29 | SEC Champion, PR, Tied No. 3 on UF's All-Time Top 10 List 2. Robert Gregory – 20.31 |
| 3000m Final (W) | 1. Parker Valby – 8:42.29 | SEC Champion, MR, FR, School Record 11. Allison Wilson – 9:22.78 |
| 3000m Final (M) | 36. Ethan Geiger – 8:26.80 |
| 4x400m Relay (M) | 3. Florida – 3:03.87 | SEC Bronze Medalists Wanya McCoy Reheem Hayles Ashton Schwartzman Jevaughn Powell |
| Saturday, February 24 – Field | |
| Events | Athletes Competing |
| High Jump (W) | 6. Claire Bryant – 1.80m/5'10.75" |
| Shot Put (W) | 2. Alida van Daalen – 18.59m/61'0" | SEC Silver Medalist, SB 19. Gracelyn Leiseth – 13.27m/43'6.5" |
| Triple Jump (M) | 2. Sean Dixon-Bodie – 16.22m/53'2.75" | SEC Silver Medalist 8. Michael Holloway II – 15.33m/50'3.5" |
| Shot Put (M) | 5. Kai Chang – 19.36m/63'6.25" | PR |
| Saturday, February 24 – Heptathlon | |
| Events | Athletes Competing |
| 60m H (Heptathlon) | 7. Oliver Thorner – 8.37 | PR, 891 Points |
| Pole Vault (Heptathlon) | T5. Oliver Thorner – 4.50m/14'9" | SB, 760 Points |
| 1000m (Heptathlon) | 1. Oliver Thorner – 2:31.52 | 970 Points |
| Final Total | 4. Oliver Thorner – 5751 | PR |
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Mid-Distance
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Hurdles
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Jumps
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Throws
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Jumps
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Distance
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Sprints
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Sprints
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Jumps
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Distance
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Throws
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Sprints
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Multis
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Distance
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Throws
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Distance
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