Gators Achieve Season Bests and Personal Milestones on Day One of Tyson Invitational

Friday, February 14

Fayetteville, AR

Florida Gators

Tyson Invitational

Gators Achieve Season Bests and Personal Milestones on Day One of Tyson Invitational

Friday, February 14, 2025 | Track and Field

Photo Gallery

Freshman Jonathan Leon headlines a group of ten Gators who set new personal bests.

By: Mac Fisher

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Florida Gators Track and Field competed in day one of the Tyson Invitational on Friday, with many athletes putting positive finishing touches on their indoor regular season efforts.

Ten UF athletes posted either a personal or season best in an event, and one addition to the program indoor top-ten performance list was made by Jonathan Leon, who competed in the Valentine Invitational at Boston University.

Highlights
Throws
Imani Washington eclipsed the 20-meter mark in the weight throw for the first time in her career, posting a 20.09m [65' 11"] throw on her final attempt.

The junior from Peachtree Corners, Georgia has steadily and consistently improved her marks over the course of her collegiate career, climbing from 17.90m in her weight throw debut a year ago, to now reaching the 20.00m threshold. If her steady climb continues, she is well-positioned to be within striking distance of the program's top-ten list.

Jumps
Anthaya Charlton, a recent addition to USTFCCCA's the Bowerman watch list, posted the second-best long jump mark among collegians at the Tyson Invitational, landing a 6.56m [21' 6.25"] jump on her first attempt.

Charlton's mark placed fifth in the field, a group featuring Gator Greats and current professionals Claire Bryant and Jasmine Moore, who finished third and first respectively.

Distance
Jonathan Leon was the headliner of the Gators' distance efforts, though he competed in the David Hemery Valentine Invite on the campus of Boston University. The freshman's 14:07.03 time in the 5000m slots in at the No. 9 spot in program history.

Matthew Stratton (8:14.49), Kate Drummond (9:52.32) and Breanna Stuart (9:42.92) each set new personal bests in the 3000m.

Sprints and Hurdles
Freshman Vance Nilsson equaled his personal best in the 60m Hurdles, and advanced to the event semifinal. The promising youngster's 7.87 was the second-best time by a first-year competitor in the Tyson Invitational field.

Joseph Stravato (8.08 60mH), Skyye Lee (8.30 60mH), Rios Prude (47.01 400m) and Ashton Schwartzman (46.92 400m) each recorded improvements to their season bests.

Up Next
The Tyson Invitational will continue Saturday, February 15 at noon EST.

Live Results

Live Stream (SEC Network +)

Tyson Invitational Results – Florida Gators Entrants
Friday, February 14

Event	Participant – Time or Mark//place in heat or flight (overall)	Notes
3000m (M)	Graham Myers - 8:13.14 // 6^th (6th) Matthew Stratton - 8:14.49 // 7^th (8th) Emerson Miller - 8:25.84 // 13^th (19th)	PB
3000m (W)	Kate Drummond – 9:52.32//6^th (6^th)	PB
Weight Throw (M)	Jacob Lemmon – 21.41m [70' 3"]//6^th Johnathan Witte – 21.05m [69' 0.75"]//7^th
Long Jump (W)	India Alix – 5.26m [17' 3.25"]// 31^st Alyssa Banales – 6.21m [20' 4.5"]// 9^th Kendall Brown – 5.76m [18' 9.75"]// 24th
60m Invite Qualifying (M)	Wanya McCoy – 6.65//2^nd (4^th) Jaden Wiley – 6.78//5^th (14^th)	Qualified by finish Qualified by time
60mH (M)	Reagan Lawrence – 8.09//1^st (1^st)
60mH Invite Qualifying (M)	Vance Nilsson – 7.87//5^th (10^th) Joseph Stravato – 8.08//5^th (19^th) Demaris Waters – 7.80//2^nd (5^th)	=PB, Qualified by time SB Qualified by finish
60mH Invite Prelim (W)	Skyye Lee – 8.30 // 4^th (11^th) Thalia Waters – 8.93 // 8^th (23^rd)	PB, qualified by time
400m Invite (M)	Rios Prude – 47.01//1^st (18^th) Ashton Schwartzman – 46. 92// 2^nd (15^th) Nicholas Spikes – 47.07//2^nd (21^st)	SB SB
400m (W)	Laila Owens – 56.48//3^rd (31^st)
Weight Throw (W)	Imani Washington – 20.09m [65' 11"]//8th	PB
60m Invite Semifinal (M)*	Wanya McCoy – 6.63//1^st (3^rd) Jaden Wiley – 6.79//5^th (10^th)	Qualified by finish
60mH Invite Semifinal (M)*	Vance Nilsson – 8.02 // 8^th (15^th) Demaris Waters – 7.81 // 4^th (7^th)	Qualified by time
Long Jump Invite (W)	Anthaya Charlton – 6.56m [21' 6.25"]//5^th	2^nd among collegians
60mH Invite Semifinal (W)*	Skyye Lee – 8.39 // 6^th (13^th)
3000m Invite (W)	Ashley Fitzgerald – 10:06.60 // 19^th (31^st) Breanna Stuart – 9:42.92 // 6^th (14^th)	PB
60m Invite Final (M)*	Wanya McCoy – DNS
60mH Invite Final (M)*	Demaris Waters – 8.00 // 6th