After the then-unranked UF women's track and field team won the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships nearly two weeks ago, its focus shifted from an SEC title to an NCAA title.
The men's and women's track and field teams are traveling to Greensboro, N.C., to participate in the 2009 NCAA East Regional this weekend. According to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the men's track and field team is still ranked first in the nation and the women's team has jumped to number 16 in the polls.
This is the first meet since the SEC Championship where the women shocked LSU and Tennessee and won the SEC title, while the men came in second behind Arkansas.
Field events will begin on Friday at 11 a.m. with the men's javelin. The weekend's meet will wrap up on Saturday evening with the men's 4x400 meter relay.
"We have to have as many scoring opportunities as we can to win NCAA titles," UF head coach Mike Holloway said.
Following the SEC Championships, junior Mariam Kevkhishvili, who set a new SEC record in the shot put, felt she could do better than her winning throw of 59-2.75/18.05m.
"I will be ready for regionals," she said following the meet.
The SEC presented awards this past Monday to junior Calvin Smith, who was named the Men's Runner of the Year. Genevieve LaCaze earned the title of Women's Freshman Runner of the Year while Holloway was named the Women's Coach of the Year.
Smith won the men's 400 meter dash and was part of the winning 4x100 relay team during the SEC Championships. Smith also was the winner of the SEC Outdoor Commissioner's Trophy, the award given to the athlete with the most points.
LaCaze won the women's steeplechase during the SEC Championships. Both athletes will be competing this weekend.
Holloway and his teams have been focused on the next meet all season, and the trip to Greensboro is no different.
"We can't let the SEC victory take away our focus," he said.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships will be in Fayetteville, Ark. from June 10-13.
