Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 2024 Outdoor Track & Field postseason is upon us. The University of Florida begins said postseason as the host of the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The conference championships will span the dates of May 9 to May 11 and will be held at Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium. This marks the first time the Gators have hosted the event since 2009.
 
THIS MEET, LAST YEAR
The men's and women's programs recorded sixth and second place finishes at the 2023 SEC Outdoor Championships in Baton Rouge, La.
 
At the meet, the Gators earned 15 medals. Four medals were obtained on Day 2 of competition and eleven were tallied on Day 3. The program totaled seven gold medals, two silver and six bronze.
 
2023 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Individual Champions
M 200m: Robert Gregory – 20.12
M 400m: Ryan Willie – 44.27
M 4x400m: Jevaughn Powell, Emmanuel Bamidele, Jacory Patterson, Ryan Willie – 2:57.76
W 5000m: Parker Valby – 15:25.03
W Long Jump: Jasmine Moore – 6.88m/22'7"
W Triple Jump: Jasmine Moore – 14.14m/46'4.75"
W Shot Put: Alida van Daalen – 18.07m/59'3.5"
 
SEC OUTDOORS SINCE 2009
The University of Florida has not hosted the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships since 2009. Despite not hosting the event for 15 years, as the host site has cycled through the rest of the conference, the Gators have found an abundance of success at the meet from both a team and individual perspective.
 
Both the Men's and Women's programs have totaled an equal amount of SEC Championships and top three finishes over the past 15 seasons.
 
The men boast three SEC Outdoor Championships which occurred in 2010, 2015 and 2018 and have accumulated 44 individual titles over that span. The women have also secured three SEC Outdoor Championships in 2009, 2018 and 2022 and 45 individual championships in that timeframe.
 
Each program has totaled eight top-three finishes since the last time Florida hosted the conference championships.
 
2024 SEC INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Gators appearance at the SEC Indoor Championships was headlined by second-place team finishes by both programs, seven SEC Individual Championships and ten additional medal finishes.
 
2024 SEC Individual Titles
Wanya McCoy (M 200m)
Parvej Khan (M Mile)
Grace Stark (W 60m H)
Flomena Asekol (W Mile)
Parker Valby (W 3000m)
Claire Bryant (W Long Jump)
Elise Thorner, Laila Owens, Flomena Asekol, Parker Valby (W DMR)
 
Other Medal Finishes
Sam Austin (M 800m – Bronze)
Malcolm Clemons (M Long Jump – Silver)
Sean Dixon-Bodie (M Triple Jump – Silver)
Caleb Foster (M Long Jump – Bronze)
Robert Gregory (M 200m – Silver)
Reheem Hayles (M 4x400m – Bronze)
Jevaughn Powell (M 400m/M 4x400m – Silver/Bronze)
Amelia Mazza-Downie (W 5000m)
Alida van Daalen (W Shot Put)
 
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
On the men's side, Florida had nine individuals who earned All-American status during the 2023 Outdoor Track & Field season, while totaling 18 honors. The Gators returned four of those athletes in 2024 including Robert Gregory (sprints), Jevaughn Powell (sprints), Malcolm Clemons (jumps) and Sean Dixon-Bodie (jumps)
 
Fourteen individual Florida women were named All-Americans during the 2023 Outdoor Track & Field season, accumulating 24 honors. Seven of those athletes returned for the 2024 season including Claire Bryant (jumps), Kayla Davis (sprints), Jayla Hollis (hurdles/sprints), Grace Stark (hurdles/sprints), Parker Valby (distance), Alida van Daalen (throws) and Vanessa Watson (hurdles/sprints).
 
TRANSFERS ON A TEAR
Florida welcomed a total of 17 transfers to the program (ten men, seven women), many of which have made a significant impact on Florida's success in 2024.
 
The Gators added sprinters Reheem Hayles (North Carolina A&T), Wanya McCoy (Clemson) and Jenoah McKiver (Iowa). Hayles immediately jumped into the Gators 4x400m relay, earning four spots on UF's All-Time Top 10 list (three indoor, one outdoor). McCoy has stepped into a large role with the Gators competing in the 60m, 200m and 4x400m relay. The sprinter took home gold in the 200m and silver in the 60m at the SEC Indoor Championships. The final piece of the puzzle came from McKiver who helped the Gators place second or better in four 4x400m relays including taking home silver at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
 
Florida also added throwers Kai Chang (University of West Indies), Will Gross IV (Akron) and Abraham Sargent (Oral Roberts). Chang holds the school record in the Men's Discus Throw (63.06m/206'11") while also notching seven top-five finishes as a Gator. Gross IV has recorded five straight top-five finishes in the Hammer Throw including a win at the FSU Relays where he set the No. 7 mark on UF's All-Time Top 10 list. Sargent has been a force to be reckoned with this outdoor season, winning the Javelin Throw at the FSU Relays and placing second in the event at Pepsi Florida Relays. He holds the No. 5 mark (73.36m/240'8") in program history in the event.
 
The Gators also added multiple distance runners to the roster via the transfer portal. Flomena Asekol (Alabama) has been a significant factor to the Gators success in 2024. The Kenyan national took home first in both the mile and the DMR at the SEC Indoor Championships. Asekol's mile time of 4:26.47 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational earned her the top spot in Florida history for the Women's Indoor Mile. Elise Thorner (New Mexico) notably won gold at the SEC Indoor Championships in the DMR and holds the school record in the 3000m Steeplechase with a time of 9:28.49.
 
Anthaya Charlton (Kentucky) has added versatile talent and SEC experience to the team and has jumped her way onto the UF Long Jump All-Time Top 10 list landing at No. 6 on the indoor list and No. 7 on the outdoor list.
 
BREAKING INTO FLORIDA'S TOP 10
Over the course of the 2023-2024 Track & Field season, the Gators have added 44 new marks to the University of Florida, Indoor and Outdoor, All-Time Top 10 lists, ten of which stand as school records. A breakdown of the 2024 all-time marks for both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons can be found below.
 
2024 Men's Outdoor:
800m | No. 4 – Parvej Khan – 1:46.12 (Pepsi Florida Relays)
1500m | No. 2 – Parvej Khan – 3:38.76 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
4x400m | No. 9 – Hayles, McCoy, Powell, McKiver – 3:01.20 (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
Shot Put | No. 9 – Kai Chang – 18.64m/61'2" (Pepsi Florida Relays)
Hammer Throw | No. 6 – Will Gross IV – 66.61m/218'6" (FSU Relays)
Discus Throw | No. 1 – Kai Chang – 63.06m/206'11" (Oklahoma Throw Series)
Javelin Throw | No. 5 – Abraham Sargent – 73.76m/240'8" (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
 
2024 Women's Outdoor
100m H | No. 1 – Grace Stark – 12.56 (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
800m | No. 6 – Flomena Asekol – 2:02.83 (Pepsi Florida Relays)
1500m | No. 4 – Flomena Asekol – 4:11.55 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
1500m | No. 8 – Elise Thorner – 4:14.55 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
3000m S | No. 1 – Elise Thorner – 9:28.49 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
3000m S | No. 10 – Rylee Pustilnik – 10:36.27 (East Coast Relays)
10000m | No. 1 – Parker Valby – 30:50.43 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
10000m | No. 5 – Allison Wilson – 33:34.95 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
4x100m | No. 10 – Davis, Stark, Hollis, Charlton – 43.60 (LSU Invitational)
Long Jump | No. 7 – Anthaya Charlton – 6.60m/21'8" (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
Shot Put | No. 8 – Gracelyn Leiseth – 17.16m/56'3.75" (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
Discus Throw | No. 1 – Alida van Daalen – 66.31m/217'6" (Oklahoma Throw Series)
Heptathlon | No. 9 – Melanie Welsing – 5014 (Hurricane Alumni Invitational)
 
2024 Men's Indoor:
60m | No. 6 – Wanya McCoy – 6.58 (SEC Championships)
60m H | No. 7 – Joshua Brockman – 7.75 (SEC Championships)
200m | No. 3 – Wanya McCoy – 20.29 (SEC Championships)
400m | No. 8 – Jevaughn Powell – 45.35 (SEC Championships)
800m | No. 10 – Miguel Pantojas – 1:48.04 (Tyson Invitational)
Mile | No. 1 – Parvej Khan – 3:55.41 (Terrier DMR Challenge)
4x400m | No. 4 – Powell, Gregory, McKiver, Hayles – 3:02.53 (NCAA Championships)
4x400m | No. 6 – Hayles, Schwartzman, McKiver, Powell – 3:02.78 (Tyson Invitational)
Long Jump | No. 2 – Malcolm Clemons – 8.22m/26'11.75" (SEC Championships)
Weight Throw | No. 7 – Will Gross IV – 20.25m/66'5.25" (SEC Championships)
Shot Put | No. 5 – Kai Chang – 19.36m/63'6.25" (SEC Championships)
 
2024 Women's Indoor:
200m | No. 4 – Jasmine Montgomery – 23.00 (Razorback Invitational)
Mile | No. 1 – Flomena Asekol – 4:26.47 (David Hemery Valentine Invitational)
Mile | No. 5 – Elise Thorner – 4:35.72 (David Hemery Valentine Invitational)
3000m | No. 1 – Parker Valby – 8:41.50 (NCAA Championships)
3000m | No. 2 – Flomena Asekol – 8:52.57 (Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener)
5000m | No. 1 – Parker Valby – 14:52.79 (NCAA Championships)
5000m | No. 3 – Allison Wilson – 15:58.14 (Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener)
5000m | No. 5 – Amelia Mazza-Downie – 16:00.49 (SEC Championships)
DMR | No. 1 – Thorner, Owens, Edwards, Asekol – 10:52.06 (Razorback Invitational)
DMR | No. 2 – Thorner, Owens, Asekol, Valby – 10:53.29 (SEC Championships)
Long Jump | No. 6 – Anthaya Charlton – 6.39m/20'11.75" (McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational)
High Jump | No. 4 – Claire Bryant – 1.84m/6'0.5" (McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational)
 
SEC TEAMS IN THE RANKS
The Southeastern Conference, historically, has been one of, if not the most, competitive conference when it comes to Track & Field and 2024 is no different. The SEC boasts the most teams of any conference on the Men's (11) and Women's (9) USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Coaches' Poll.
 
The table below shows the current standing of SEC teams as of May 8, 2024.
 

USTFCCCA National Ranking – Men			USTFCCCA National Ranking – Women
1	Florida		1	LSU
2	Texas A&M		2	Arkansas
3	LSU		4	Texas A&M
4	Alabama		6	South Carolina
5	Arkansas		7	Florida
10	Auburn		8	Georgia
12	Kentucky		10	Tennessee
14	Tennessee		12	Ole Miss
15	Mississippi State		15	Alabama
20	South Carolina
22	Georgia

 
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the 2024 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships are now on sale and can be purchased by clicking here. Single-day tickets are $15 and all-session passes for all three days are $40. All tickets are general admission and will also be available at the Ticket Office at James G. Pressly Stadium.
 
SEC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET INFORMATION

Location / Venue	Gainesville, Florida / Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium
Date/Times	Thursday, May 9: 11:30 a.m. ET Friday, May 10: 11:00 a.m. ET Saturday, May 11: 3:00 p.m. ET
Meet Schedule	2024 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Schedule
Live Results	SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Live Results
Updates & Info	@GatorsTF on X

 
ATHLETE ENTRIES

Thursday, May 9 – Track
Events / Time	Athlete Entries
800m PRELIM (M) / 5:30 p.m.	Sam Austin Michael Fiore Edward Kepran Ryan Maseman Gavin Nelson Miguel Pantojas Chase Ruskin
800m (W) PRELIM / 5:50 p.m.	Jess Edwards
200m (M) PRELIM / 6:10 p.m.	Robert Gregory Wanya McCoy Malique Smith-Band
200m (W) PRELIM / 6:35 p.m.	Kayla Davis Jayla Hollis
400m H (W) PRELIM / 7:20 p.m.	Vanessa Watson
10,000m (M) FINAL / 7:40 p.m.	Ethan Geiger
10,000m (W) FINAL / 8:15 p.m.	Caroline Bauer Allison Wilson Liina Winborn

 

Thursday, May 9 – Field
Events / Time	Athlete Entries
Hammer Throw FINAL (M) / 12:00 p.m.	Will Gross IV
Hammer Throw FINAL (W) / 2:15 p.m.	Imani Washington
Javelin Throw FINAL (M) / 4:45 p.m.	Zach Godbold Abraham Sargent

 

Thursday, May 9 – Combined Events
Events / Time	Athlete Entries
HEP 100m Hurdles / 12:00 p.m.	Melanie Welsing
HEP High Jump / 12:45 p.m.	Melanie Welsing
HEP Shot Put / 2:45 p.m.	Melanie Welsing
HEP 200m / 4:00 p.m.	Melanie Welsing

 

Friday, May 10 – Track
Events	Athlete Entries
110m H PRELIM (M) / 5:00 p.m.	Joshua Brockman Joey Stravato
100m H PRELIM (W) / 5:15 p.m.	Jayla Hollis Grace Stark
1500m PRELIM (M) / 5:40 p.m.	Michael Fiore Parvej Khan Joe Wester
1500m PRELIM (W) / 6:00 p.m.	Flomena Asekol Lucinda Rourke
400m PRELIM (M) / 6:20 p.m.	Reheem Hayles Jenoah McKiver Jevaughn Powell Rios Prude Jr. Ashton Schwartzman
100m PRELIM (M) / 7:10 p.m.	Robert Gregory Wanya McCoy Malique Smith-Band
3000m S FINAL (W) / 8:20 p.m.	Rylee Pustilnik Elise Thorner

 

Friday, May 10 – Field
Events / Time (EST)	Athlete Entries
Shot Put FINAL (M) / 4:15 p.m.	Kai Chang Logan Montgomery
Long Jump FINAL (W) / 6:00 p.m.	Kendall Brown Claire Bryant Anthaya Charlton
Shot Put FINAL (W) / 6:45 p.m.	Gracelyn Leiseth Alida van Daalen
Long Jump FINAL (M) / 7:00 p.m.	Malcolm Clemons Sean Dixon-Bodie Caleb Foster

 

Friday, May 10 – Combined Events
Events / Time (EST)	Athlete Entries
HEP Long Jump / 11:45 p.m.	Melanie Welsing
HEP Javelin Throw / 1:00 p.m.	Melanie Welsing
HEP 800m / 2:30 p.m.	Melanie Welsing

 

Saturday, May 11 – Track
Events / Time (EST)	Athlete Entries
4x100m FINAL (M)	Florida Relay Team
4x100m FINAL (W)	Florida Relay Team
1500m FINAL (M)	-
1500m FINAL (W)	-
110m H FINAL (M)	-
100m H FINAL (W)	-
400m FINAL (M)	-
400m FINAL (W)	-
100m FINAL (M)	-
100m FINAL (W)	-
800m FINAL (M)	-
800m FINAL (W)	-
400m H FINAL (W)	-
200m FINAL (M)	-
200m FINAL (W)	-
5000m FINAL (M)	Ethan Geiger
5000m FINAL (W)	Flomena Asekol Caroline Bauer Lucinda Rourke Elise Thorner Parker Valby Allison Wilson Liina Winborn
4x400m FINAL (M)	Florida Relay Team
4x400m FINAL (W)	Florida Relay Team

 
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