The first day of the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., had some ups and downs for the Gators.
Florida’s women have eight points after Wednesday and are tied for seventh in the standings. The men have not had any events scored yet.
“Overall, we had a solid day, but we did have some things that could have gone much better,” coach Mike Holloway said. ’”
Freshman Marija Vucenovic earned eight points, finishing second in the women’s javelin throw with a distance of 54.76 meters.
Senior Ugonna Ndu won her heat in the 400m hurdles. With a time of 57.05 seconds, Ndu automatically advances to Friday’s finals. Ndu is also competing in the women’s 100m hurdles tomorrow.
Half of the men’s 4x400m relay squad advanced in their individual events. Arman Hall and Hugh Graham, Jr. advanced in the men’s 400 meters. Hall’s time of 45.50 seconds is a personal collegiate best.
Florida’s only relay squad – the men’s 4x100 meters – also came through for Florida, winning its heat with a time of 38.77 seconds.
Of the 13 athletes competing in individual events, only four advanced.
Florida will not have any competitors in the men’s 800m, 3,000m steeplechase, women’s long jump, 400m, 100m, and 10,000m.
Of those who did not qualify, the most surprising were the competitors in the women’s 400m: Lanie Whittaker and Ebony Eutsey.
Eutsey had the 18th-fastest time in the country. Three of the eight qualifiers in the event were ranked lower than Eutsey.
The Gators have nine athletes and two relay squads competing in preliminary events today. For the women, Agata Strausa and Cory McGee are set to compete in the 1,500m – an event in which McGee is second fastest in the country this season. For the men, junior Eddie Lovett is competing in the men’s 110m hurdles. Lovett, the reigning NCAA Indoor Champion, is looking for his first NCAA Outdoor Championship.
