Marquis Dendy continued his historic season on Day 1 of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Dendy completed the conference and national sweep of the long jump, winning the event with an 8.43-meter leap and earned 10 team-points for the Gators.
The victory made it back-to-back long jump outdoor national titles for the senior competing in his final collegiate meet.
With the help of Stipe Zunic, the No. 1 Florida men’s track and field team earned 16 of 20 team-points and clinched spots in seven final events.
Stipe Zunic finished his final collegiate shot put in third place, topping out at 20.30 meters to earn six points for the Gators
Florida earned two spots in relay finals on Wednesday.
The Gators started the day by winning their heat in the men’s 4x100. After starting his leg behind the top spot, senior Dedric Dukes anchored a team that included Antwan Wright, Arman Hall and Eric Futch to a 38.91-second mark.
Dukes followed the same script in the 200-meter dash, coming from behind in the last 100 meters of the race to finish first in his heat at 20.03 seconds to earn a spot in the final.
In the 4x400 relay, UF won its heat with a 3:04.11-minute finish, clinching a final-race birth.
Five individual Gators earned the chance to race for the championship in their respective events, including Najee Glass.
Along with Dukes, Glass finished first in his heat in the 400-meter sprint with a 45.49-second performance.
Today will be the first day of competition for the No. 6 Florida women.
The Gators will hold eight spots in seven individual events, two of which are in the 200-meter sprint, led by NCAA leader Kyra Jefferson.
Coach Mike Holloway’s squad will also feature a relay team in both the 4x1 and 4x4 events.
Follow Kyle Brutman on Twitter @KBrut13.
Najee Glass races in the 4x400-meter dash to close out the 2015 Florida Relays on April 4 at the Percy Beard Track.
