NCAA

Clemons Punches his Ticket to NCAA Championship on the First Day of the NCAA East Prelims

Clemons Punches his Ticket to NCAA Championship on the First Day of the NCAA East Prelims


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first day of the NCAA East Preliminaries featured the Florida Gators men’s team beginning their quest for qualification to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas.
 
Malcolm Clemons became the first men’s athlete to secure a spot in Austin, placing first in the men’s long jump competition. Clemons’ first attempt of 7.90m/25’11” put him in first, where he remained for the entire competition, passing on his final two jumps. This will be his second trip to the NCAA Championships as a Gator, previously competiting in the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships.
 
In the first round of running prelims, the Gators had three runners advance to the next round in both the men’s 100m and 400m events. Robert Gregory (10.12), Pjai Austin (10.14), and Jacory Patterson (10.18) finished top three in their heats in the 100m, automatically qualifying for the next round on Friday. In the next event, the 400m, Ryan Willie (45.84). Emmanuel Bamidele (46.02) and Jevaughn Powell (46.21) automatically advanced to the next round as well.
 
The next Gator to qualify for the quarterfinals on Friday was Collin Sieffert in the 400m hurdles.Sieffert ran a personal best (50.76), finishing ninth overall in the event.
 
In the final event of day, both Robert Gregory (20.09) and Jacory Patterson (20.12) ran personal best times in the 200m, advancing to the next round in the event. Gregory’s time was the fastest in the event and the sixth fastest in school history. Patterson finished third overall in the first round of the event. Gregory and Patterson advanced to the Friday finals in two events.
 
Tomorrow the Gators begin day two of the NCAA East Preliminaries at 6 p.m. ET, with the finals of the women’s shot put and long jump. All day two running events are women’s preliminaries for the events on Saturday.
 
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARIES MEET
 
Wednesday’s Finals Recap
Shot Put
Men- Logan Montgomery finished thirty-eighth (17.30m/56’9.25″) in the men’s shot put competition.
 
Long Jump
Men- Malcolm Clemons became the first Gator men’s athlete to qualify for the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Clemons jumped 7.90m/25’11”, earning first in the long jump. Jordan McCants in his first NCAA Outdoor competition as a Gator, finished thirty-fourth (7.22m/23’8.25).
 
Wednesday’s Prelims Recap
100m
Men- The trio of Robert Gregory, Pjai Austin, and Jacory Patterson all automatically advanced to the next round of qualifying by finishing top three in each of…

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