Florida’s men’s and women’s track and field teams gathered in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday for the Razorback Invitational, the site for the upcoming Southeastern Conference and NCAA Indoor Championships at the University of Arkansas.
The No. 3 Gator men’s team was one of six ranked squads at the meet, along with No. 1 Arkansas and No. 6 LSU.
The No. 7 Florida women’s team was also one of several ranked teams at the meet, including No. 5 Arkansas and No. 6 LSU.
Florida had strong showings at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener, notching 17 top-three finishes and six event victories, as well as the Gator Invitational on Thursday, tallying 11 event victories.
Friday in Fayetteville, however, proved to be part of Florida’s toughest test to date.
Through seven scored events, Florida’s men are tied for fifth (with Texas) in a field of 10 schools. With 27.5 points, the Gators are 15.5 points behind current leader Arkansas.
True freshman distance runner Phil Duncan placed second in the 5000m, earning the Gators eight points and making him the leading point-getter on Friday for the Gator men.
Of note from the preliminaries, Eddie Lovett continues to shine. A day-best time of 7.69 seconds in the 60m hurdles was a clear sign the junior’s momentum has carried through to Fayetteville.
Freshman Moriel Pitt also moved on into the weekend in the 60m hurdles.
“I’m incredibly pleased with Eddie and Moriel and their performances today, as well as our women’s hurdlers,” coach Mike Holloway said. “We’ve been on our women’s hurdlers this week, and I think they lived up to their potential today.”
Through eight events, Florida’s women are in third with 43 points. The Gators trail leader Georgia by 20 points heading into Saturday.
Freshman sprinter Kyra Jefferson won the women’s 200m, making her Florida’s top point-getter of the day with 10 points.
“I’m very, very pleased with Kyra’s run today,” Holloway said. “We certainly saw a performance like this coming. She was patient and set up the race well.”
Also of note, the Gator women’s distance medley team grabbed first place in their event, nabbing another 10 points.
Heading into Saturday, the Gators are full-steam ahead. Jayla Bostic is set to make her meet debut, hoping to improve upon her recent personal best in the weight throw, while Lovett continues to pull away from the pack in the 60m hurdles.
“The key for tomorrow is to get some rest tonight and have great focus tomorrow,” Holloway said. “We’re here with great teams and great competitors, and we need to stick our nose in there and see what we can do.”
Throwers coach Steve Lemke (left) and coach Mike Holloway walk across the field at Percy Beard Track at Pressly Stadium during the 2012 Florida Relays. Seventeen Gators qualified Sunday for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which are set to begin June 5.
