DyeStat.com – News – Florida Wins Sixth Men’s Title In 11 Years, Capped By Collegiate Record 4×400 Relay

Gators Rise Up To Beat Arkansas, 57-53, In Meet That Goes Down To Wire

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

University of Florida photo/Mallory Peak

AUSTIN — Once again, Florida and it’s 4×400 relay had the final word at the NCAA D1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships. 

The Gators, under coach Mike Holloway, won their sixth men’s outdoor championship in the past 11 years. 

Florida went into the final event, the 4×400 relay, trailing Arkansas by five points in the team race but expected to win. And the Gators did, breaking their own collegiate record with a time of 2:57.74 — the kind of time that is usually only found in global finals. 

The lineup of Emmanuel Bamidele, Jacory Patterson, Jevaughn Powell and Ryan Willie held off a big effort from Arizona State but won the race by .04 seconds. 

INTERVIEWS

“There’s no greater feeling than doing it with your guys,” Willie said. “Heart, sweat and tears every day in practice. To come out here and show our talents, it’s a great feeling.”

Arkansas could have tied or won by placing fourth or better, but the Razorbacks finished eighth and it wasn’t enough. 

“Arkansas was incredible indoors, they were the best team, but I felt like we could have done better,” Holloway said. “I challenged them to be our best out here and put our best foot forward and I told them, guys if we get 57 to 60 we’ve got a chance. We got 57 and it worked out.”

Florida graduated 2022 star Joe Fahnbulleh, the 100-200 champion, but many of the important pieces of last year’s team stepped up and shined in Austin. 

Bamidele and Willie went 1-2 in the 400 meters final, clocking 44.24 and 44.25, respectively. It was the first time teammates placed first and second in the one-lap race since USC did it in the 440 yards in 1942. The Gators also picked up two extra points from Powell’s seventh-place finish. 

Friday’s finals began with a fortunate turn for Florida when 4×100 relay winner Texas Tech was disqualified for an exchange zone violation. That bumped the Gators from third to second, and an extra two points. 

Those points were valuable because Arkansas took 10 points out of the triple jump with freshman sensation Jaydon Hibbert flying to 57-7.50 (17.56m) and winning by two feet. 

Arkansas was close to adding 10 more in the discus, but Arizona State’s Turner Washington unleashed a powerful sixth-attempt throw that overtook the Razorbacks’ Roje Stona for the win.

Phillip Lemonious gave Arkansas a boost on the track when he pulled out a…