Back in action with a record-breaking debut, Marquis Dendy jumped to success.
The junior returned to the UF track and field team to leave all doubts behind as he leapt to a nation-leading 7.87m/25-10 mark on his first long jump of the Razorback Invitational on Friday.
Dendy’s record jump was good for a first place finish in the men’s long jump.
“I thought we had a very successful night tonight,” coach Mike Holloway said. “It was really good to see Marquis (Dendy) open it back up after his surgery in the fall – he had the farthest jump in the country so far this season.”
The No. 4 women’s team also showed up in dramatic fashion with Kyra Jefferson shattering a six-year-old school record in the 200-meter with a time of 23.06 for first place.
Holloway said he was very pleased with Jefferson’s school record.
To also add to Florida’s successful day one in Fayetteville, Ark., junior Brittany Harrell finished first in the pentathlon field in the long jump (5.80m/19-00.5), third in the 800-meter (2:18.57), third in the hurdles (8.69), fifth in the high jump (1.70m/5-07) and sixth in the shot put (10.76m/35-3.75), for a total score of 4,042.
The performance was the second-best in the multis in school history behind her own personal best of 4,118, set in 2012.
“Proud of Brittany Harrell and her performance – she had one of the top scores ever for the Gators today and she’ll only get better as we go,” Holloway said.
UF will return to the Randal Tyson Track Center for the final day of events in Fayetteville to compete for more triumph.
“We’re really excited to get back out there tomorrow for some very good competition with the great teams that are here,” Holloway said.
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @LagunaLawrence
