Jeremy Postin’s opening hammer throw today at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships could be the start of something special.
After winning the 2011 SEC Indoor Championships in late February, the No. 2 Gators men’s track and field team has a chance to sweep both conference meets, something it hasn’t done since 1987.
With one toss in Athens, Ga., Postin hopes to set the tone for the Gators, grabbing an early lead in his lone event over the next four days of competition.
“It’s really important, because we’re going to lead off the meet against three other good hammer throwers with [No. 3] LSU and [No. 14] Georgia teams, who we’re going to be competing with the entire time,” Postin said.
The sophomore currently holds the third-longest throw in the SEC this season, just behind the Tigers’ Michael Lauro and the Bulldogs’ Justin Welch.
At the indoor meet earlier this year, Postin said he was disappointed with how Florida’s poor throws put the team in an early hole, forcing the runners to make up the difference later on.
“I think all of our runners are going to do the best they can, but if we start them off with a deficit they’re going to be thinking a little differently,” he said.
“So if we can help them out and win throws, they’re going to go out there with a lot more confidence and perform better.”
Unlike Postin, sprinter Terrell Wilks is slated for a workmanlike load over the last three days with six sprints and relays to run.
If he falters in an early event, the one-time SEC Champion will likely get a chance to redeem himself later in the meet, but Wilks is still hoping the throwers can grab the early momentum.
“One person can spark another, and then that sparks the whole team,” Wilks said.
“A quick start on Friday is very, very important…[the throwers] are going to set the tone for the weekend. If we have a negative tone, we have to work around it, but with a positive tone, it makes it a lot easier to finish the weekend.”
UF coach Mike Holloway thinks his throwers are primed for a big weekend as Postin (hammer throw), freshman David Triassi (hammer) and sophomore Stipe Zunic (javelin) have all won in the last three weeks.
“That’s always in our plans to be at our best at this time of the year,” Holloway said.
“Coach [Steve] Lemke and the rest of my staff, we’re all on the same page as far as that’s concerned. Steve does a wonderful job of getting them ready when it counts.”
UF’s unranked women’s team will also be in Athens going for its third title in three years after winning the 2010 SEC Indoor Championships and 2009 SEC Outdoor Championships.
