The Gators split their squad across Boston, Seattle and Fayetteville where the Orange and Blue recorded 13 new personal records, 13 new top-10 program records and one new facility record on Saturday. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Tyson Invitational

Sprints

The 200m dash saw multiple top-10 finishers for the Gators, with Justin Braun and Jaden Horton-Mims each making their 200m debut and finishing ninth and tenth overall, respectively. Gabrielle Matthews and Quincy Penn posted personal bests on the women’s side, clocking a 23.24 and 23.36 to put them at sixth and tenth in the competition, alongside Tyra Cox’s ninth place 23.29 finish. 

Distance 

Miguel Pantojas and Gavin Nelson each made their marks into the top-10 program records in the men’s 800m. Pantojas’ 1:46.49 nabbed him a new personal best and a spot at No. 4 all-time, as Nelson’s 1:47.53 personal record etched him in at No. 8. 

Layla Haynes’ improved her 800m time to 2:03.82 after setting a previous personal record at the Razorback Invitational just two weeks prior. The Barbados native sits steady at No. 4 in the program, while simultaneously holding the national 800m record for her respective country. 

Throws 

In the ring, Jarno van Daalen climbed his way to No. 6 on the program’s all time shot put list after currently residing at No. 8. The Rotterdam, Netherlands native heaved a 19.33m / 63’5.0″ to earn fourth place overall and conclude as the top freshman amongst the competition. 

Relays

The men’s 4x400m A team consisting of McCoy, Braun, Spikes and Horton-Mims took first place across the competition, putting up a No. 3 program record at 3:02.15, led by Braun’s 44.99 split in the second leg. 

The women’s 4x400m relay team took hold of the second heat of the day with a 3:28.27 for the program’s No. 2 all-time mark. The squad consisting of Penn, Cox, Campbell and Sutton nabbed a second place overall finish. 

Husky Classic

On the west coast, Kelvin Cheruiyot outlasted Louisville’s Elsingi Kipruto in the men’s 5000m, crossing the finish line in Seattle with a 13:15.57. The freshman phenom took hold of the Dempsey Indoor Center record at the Husky Classic, and shattered his own No. 1 program record by nearly 15 seconds. 

David Hemery Valentine Invitational

Claire Stegall delivered a standout performance in Boston, clocking a 4:25.91 to move to t-10 in NCAA history as one of the fastest women’s milers ever. The freshman now holds the No. 1 mark in program history and has officially recorded the fastest mile ever run by an SEC woman.

Each woman who competed at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational now ranks among the program’s all-time top-10 across various events.

NEXT UP

The Gators will begin their post season slate, traveling to College Station, Tex. for the SEC Indoor Championships set for Feb. 26-28.

 

^ indicates new top ten mark on school record
(PB) indicates new personal best

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