Gators Total Twelve Top Ten Finishes and Three All-Time Top Ten Marks on First Day of Tom Jones Memorial Invitational

Robert Gregory and Wanya McCoy, also making their 2024 outdoor debuts, tallied strong starts to their season as they competed in the Men’s 200m Invite. Gregory, who showed incredible closing speed in the final 100m, clocked a time of 20.29 while McCoy ran a steady race to the tune of 20.40. The duo finished in first and second place in their heat as well as fourth and seventh overall, respectively.

Malcolm Clemons recorded a fourth place finish (second place collegian) in the Men’s Long Jump Invite. His mark of 7.72m/25’4″ provides the redshirt junior with a strong starting mark for the 2024 outdoor season.

Alida van Daalen finished third overall in the Women’s Shot Put Invite with her best throw landing at 17.52m/57’5.75″. The sophomore showed strong consistency as she was able to complete four throws of over 17.50m in her series.

 

ALTERING THE RECORD BOOKS

Anthaya Charlton jumped her way into the record books recording a distance of 6.60m/21’8″. Charlton’s jump moves her into the No. 7 spot in the UF All-Time top 10 list passing Yolanda Thompson (2001). Her jump was also good for the No. 2 spot in the NCAA (2024). 

Abraham Sargent reset his Javelin Throw PR in his second meet with the Gators. The graduate student who joined the Gators prior to the 2024 season recorded a 73.36m/240’8″ throw which keeps him at No. 5 on the UF All-Time Top 10 list. Sargent is right behind Stipe Zunic who recorded a throw of 77.89m/237’9″ at the 2012 Texas Relays. 

Gracelyn Leiseth has been on fire as of late. Her personal record performance on Friday night is the third consecutive meet in which the freshman has recorded a personal record in the shot put. Leiseth competed in the Women’s Shot Put Invite, along with her teammate van Daalen, and recorded a fifth place finish. Her mark of 17.16m/56’3.75″ moves her up two…