For Jeff Demps, just winning a race isn’t enough. He needs to make a national impression as well.
During the final day of the 85th Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relay on Saturday, that’s exactly what Demps did by running the 100m in 10.01 seconds (+2.9). Not only was that time fast enough to win the title, but it also set the nation’s fastest all-conditions time for the event this season.
“With Jeff, we’re seeing the results of his early training,” coach Mike Holloway said. “I think we’d both say that this wasn’t his most technical race. We’re pleased that he won in such a great field, but we’re looking forward to his growth throughout the season.”
Although the 10.01 is Demps’ fastest time this season, it’s only his third-fastest time. His career-best is currently 9.96, which he ran twice – to win the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships and at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in 2011. All three times have been wind-aided, however.
Despite Demps being the only winner for the Gators on Saturday, they still had six additional top-five finishes in women’s discus, shot put and 4x400m and men’s 110mH, 4x400m and 4x100m.
Thrower Kaitlin Davis had a second place finish in the discus.
“Kaitlin is a very steady athlete,” Holloway said. “She listens well to coach (Steve) Lemke, and she did incredibly well this weekend.”
Florida’s three competing relay teams all had modest outings. The women’s 4x400m improved from Friday’s sixth place standing to finish fourth in the finals, and the men’s 4x400m finished third. They were less than a half of a second out of first place.
“I think all of our performances, including our relays and throws, show we’re training hard,” Holloway said. “We’ve learned a lot being here. I said [Friday] that we came here to be a factor and I think we were.”
With the Texas Relays behind them, Florida will play host this weekend to the Pepsi Florida Relays. The two-day competition at Percy Beard Track will begin on Friday.
“We competed against the better teams and better athletes in the nation and I think we got better,” Holloway said. “Now we’re ready to focus on Florida Relays and the rest of our outdoor season.”
