LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Florida Gators concluded competition at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, ultimately claiming five medals on the meet’s final day. The Gator women claimed third place in the team standings while the men finished at No. 12.
Highlights
Sprints/Hurdles
One of the most stunning breakouts of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field season has been the emergence of freshman hurdler Habiba Harris. The native of Santa Cruz, Jamaica joined the Gators on campus in January, and redshirted her first indoor season as she quickly transitioned into the NCAA level and an SEC training regimen.
Making her debut this outdoor season, she set the collegiate lead in the 100m Hurdles at the Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville in just her second collegiate meet. Her wind-aided 12.69 stood as the Nation’s top mark until Friday, when Harris reset her own season best at a wind-legal 12.62. Her preliminary mark set a new No. 2 time in program history and made her the favorite heading into Saturday’s championship race.
The freshman added to her legend on the meet’s final day, running a 12.75 time and claiming the SEC 100m Hurdles crown in her first championship race at the collegiate level. Now, already boasting a gold medal pedigree as a first-year, she looks to be among the favorites for the national title.
Anthaya Charlton, just a day removed from an SEC Long Jump title, claimed bronze in the 100m sprint. She ran an 11.14 to claim third and six more team points for the Gators.
She and Harris combined with Gabrielle Matthews and Quincy Penn to run a 43.46-second 4x100m relay, which was good for sixth place and three more points.
On the men’s side, the Gators’ 4x400m relay squad combined for a 3:03.27 time, good for the SEC Bronze medal. The race featured particularly promising third and anchor legs from Reheem Hayles and Jenoah McKiver.
Throws
The Gators made impressive strides in the Discus throw on Saturday, including season and personal bests by Alida van Daalen and Jacob Lemmon to claim Gold and Bronze respectively.
Alida van Daalen, a 2024 USTFCCCA All-American in the Discus and Olympian for the Netherlands, entered Saturday as the reigning SEC Women’s Discus champion. She easily defended her crown, posting a season-best 65.24m [214′ 0″], a full 26 feet further than the silver-medal mark. She led the field from her first attempt, and her fourth throw held as her best.
Gracelyn Leiseth also scored in…
Highlights
Sprints/Hurdles
One of the most stunning breakouts of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field season has been the emergence of freshman hurdler Habiba Harris. The native of Santa Cruz, Jamaica joined the Gators on campus in January, and redshirted her first indoor season as she quickly transitioned into the NCAA level and an SEC training regimen.
Making her debut this outdoor season, she set the collegiate lead in the 100m Hurdles at the Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville in just her second collegiate meet. Her wind-aided 12.69 stood as the Nation’s top mark until Friday, when Harris reset her own season best at a wind-legal 12.62. Her preliminary mark set a new No. 2 time in program history and made her the favorite heading into Saturday’s championship race.
The freshman added to her legend on the meet’s final day, running a 12.75 time and claiming the SEC 100m Hurdles crown in her first championship race at the collegiate level. Now, already boasting a gold medal pedigree as a first-year, she looks to be among the favorites for the national title.
Anthaya Charlton, just a day removed from an SEC Long Jump title, claimed bronze in the 100m sprint. She ran an 11.14 to claim third and six more team points for the Gators.
She and Harris combined with Gabrielle Matthews and Quincy Penn to run a 43.46-second 4x100m relay, which was good for sixth place and three more points.
On the men’s side, the Gators’ 4x400m relay squad combined for a 3:03.27 time, good for the SEC Bronze medal. The race featured particularly promising third and anchor legs from Reheem Hayles and Jenoah McKiver.
Throws
The Gators made impressive strides in the Discus throw on Saturday, including season and personal bests by Alida van Daalen and Jacob Lemmon to claim Gold and Bronze respectively.
Alida van Daalen, a 2024 USTFCCCA All-American in the Discus and Olympian for the Netherlands, entered Saturday as the reigning SEC Women’s Discus champion. She easily defended her crown, posting a season-best 65.24m [214′ 0″], a full 26 feet further than the silver-medal mark. She led the field from her first attempt, and her fourth throw held as her best.
Gracelyn Leiseth also scored in…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at Florida Gators…