Paul Hof-Mahoney - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida freshman field athlete Alida Van Daalen winds up a discus throw at the Florida Relays Friday March 31, 2023.

Ryan Friedenberg

Sports

Van Daalen claims discus title as Florida women notch third runner-up finish in four years

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | June 14

Van Daalen’s victory was the highlight of a strong two days of competition for Florida’s women inside Hayward Field. The indoor and outdoor SEC champions finished second in the team race with 43 points, matching their placement from 2023 and 2024. This meet represented a 13-place and 25-point improvement from last season for the Gators.

Florida sophomore Vance Nilsson wins the men’s 400-meter hurdles title at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 12, 2026.

Courtesy of UAA Communications, MJ Holloway

Sports

Nilsson’s breakthrough 400-meter hurdles triumph leads Florida men at NCAA Championships

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | June 13

Finishing in 48.06, Nilsson became the ninth-fastest performer in collegiate history and now sits second on the UF all-time list. After not even racing at the East Regional last season, the Nilsson that Florida fans expected when he came to Gainesville – the one that won the World Junior (under 20) title and set the high school 300-meter hurdles record in 2024 – had fully arrived.

Florida junior Layla Haynes displays her medal at the 2026 SEC Outdoor Championships.

Courtesy of UAA Communications, Dylan Cannella

Sports

Earning a trident of Barbadian records: Inside Layla Haynes’ breakout 2026 season

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | June 8

When Haynes lines up inside Hayward Field at the University of Oregon for her semifinal on June 11, she’ll have the confidence of the two best races of her life in her back pocket. She said the nerves go away the instant she steps on the track. When the gun fires, all that Haynes can do is race with the aggression she’s proven she can and welcome the inevitable.

Florida thrower Imani Washington competes in the women’s weight throw during the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Bayden Armstrong

Sports

Van Daalen dominates discus field as Florida women qualify 16 entries at NCAA East Regional

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | May 30

Across two days of competition in Lexington, the Florida women’s track and field team earned 16 bids to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, set to be held inside Hayward Field at the University of Oregon from June 10-13. The Gators will send 17 women’s entries in total, as sophomore Pauline Bikembo had already qualified in the heptathlon.

Florida sprinter Jayden Horten-Mims competes in the men’s 300 meter dash during the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Bayden Armstrong

Sports

Braun’s historic 400-meter leads 11 Gator men’s qualifiers at NCAA East Regional

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | May 29

There were plenty of nice moments for the Florida men’s track and field team in Lexington, as the University of Kentucky played host to the NCAA East Regional. Across two days of competition, the Gators secured 11 bids – 10 individual and one relay – to the NCAA Championships, hosted in Eugene, Oregon, from June 10-13.

Oussama Allaoui yells as he crosses the finish line of the 800 meters during the Pepsi Florida Relays, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Ryan Friedenberg

Sports

Masikane’s long jump gold highlights best SEC Outdoor finish for Florida men since 2019

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | May 17

Despite being projected to finish eighth based on season performance lists entering the championships, head coach Mike Holloway’s group blew past that standing by five places and 28 points. Across 21 events from May 14-16, UF put up 78 points, good for a third-place team finish.

Quincy Penn runs the 400 meters during the Pepsi Florida Relays, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Ryan Friedenberg

Sports

A trio of individual titles lead Florida’s women to first SEC triple crown since 1996-97

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | May 17

By nearly every conceivable metric, the Gators stepped up to the plate and delivered their best within the confines of Hutsell-Rosen Track from May 14-16. Florida sent athletes to Auburn in 16 events, and it scored in 13.

Florida distance runner Claire Stegall runs in the women’s 1000 during the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Bayden Armstrong

Sports

Six important questions for Florida track and field at the SEC Championships

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | May 14

The Florida track and field team is geared up to compete in the 2026 SEC Outdoor Championships from May 14-16 at Hutsell-Rosen Track in Auburn, Alabama.

Will and Samantha Palmer pose with their son Liam during the Gators' National Championship meet Friday, June 9, 2023 at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

UAA Communications photo by Gabriella Whisler

Sports

‘A testament to the athletes that have believed’: How Will Palmer has helped revamp Florida distance running

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | May 12

Palmer sits just over a month away from concluding his fourth track season at the helm of the Gators’ distance squad, having fueled an overhaul of the program’s storied all-time lists that was completed over the weekend at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Florida's Joseph Fahnbulleh competes during the Pepsi Florida Relays on Friday, April 2, 2021 at Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Chloe Hyde

Courtesy of the UAA

Sports

Looking back on the most significant Gator showings at Florida Relays in the 2020s

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | Apr. 2

While the Gators don’t typically open the outdoor season at their first home meet – they travelled to Tallahassee for the FSU Relays on Mar. 26-27 – this weekend has historically served an important role in setting the tone of Florida’s outdoor season. With high school and professional races also featured in the schedule, the meet offers a unique opportunity to see Gators past, present and future share the newly-renovated Percy Beard Track.