When it came to the heptathlon, senior Gray Horn spent his 2012 indoor season in first place. In both the Texas A&M Challenge and the Southeastern Conference Championship, Horn not only led the field after the first day of competition, but went on to win both meets.
This weekend started off no different as Horn entered day two of the NCAA Indoor Championship in first place.
Horn started Saturday by setting a career record of 7.93 in the 60mH, beating his 2012 record of 8.01.
That would be his last event of the day.
Horn withdrew from the competition after the 60mH due to an injury that happened during pole vault warm-ups.
“When Gray went down this morning, I sent a text message to all the guys who had events today,” coach Mike Holloway said. “I said, ‘look, Gray can’t finish the competition because he hurt himself. But we’re still the best team here. I need you guys to trust and believe in yourselves, trust and believe in who we are and what we do, and we will win this championship.’”
Despite Horn’s unfortunate fate, the men’s track and field team won its third consecutive NCAA Indoor title with a total of 52 points. Sprinter Jeff Demps also won his third straight 60m NCAA title with a time of 6.56.
“It wasn’t my best race, but I came out with a victory,” Demps said. “I don’t think I got out that good but I was able to stay patient and accelerate down the track and come out with a win.”
Sprinter Tony McQuay and jumper Omar Craddock both won their events to add a combined 20 points to the team score. Craddock won Florida’s fourth consecutive triple jump NCAA title with personal and facility record of 16.75m/54-11.50.
“I was in the shadows for a long time and finally to come out and have a PR and do something better than I’ve been doing, it’s a great feeling,” Craddock said. “You have to keep fighting and never give up. So that’s what I did, I just never gave up.”
McQuay also broke some records with his first place performance in the 400m. He set a new collegiate-leading time along with a season-best time after running a 45.77.
“They were focused,” Holloway said. “I saw it in their eyes when they got off the bus today. They were ready to compete and that’s why we’re the national champions.”
