GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, April 12–13 —Florida Gator coach Mike Holloway did little recruiting to assemble the star-studded field for the two-day Tom Jones Memorial, but couldn’t have dreamed of a more competitive field than the one that turned up.
“There were some teams I did not expect to come, but they called and we accepted them,” said the veteran coach, who wielded a baseball bat all meet long as a joking incentive for his team. “It’s the best field we have ever had.”
The performance of the meet was Jacious Sears’ searing 10.77 to win the Open 100 over Georgia’s Kaila Jackson. Tennessee senior Sears, who prepped at Palm Beach Gardens HS (Florida), used a quick powerful start and accelerated away from the field to win by 0.33 raising audible awe from the crowd. The time was the No. 2 all-time collegiate mark, behind only Sha’Carri Richardson’s 10.75 to win at the 2019 NCAA.
“I never imagined that for my opener. All glory to God,” said a stunned and nearly speechless Sears moments afterwards. Her previous wind-legal best was 10.96 last year.
Sears’ race exceeded even the career best wind-legal opener for World Champs 9th-placer Tamari Davis, who out-dipped Melissa Jefferson with a 10.94 in the Invitational century, as both sprinters were given the same time.
“I ran a great opener, so I am sure it is going to go well,” said the 21-year-old Gainesville native Davis. “My start and my drive phase were pretty good, but once I stood up and got into my transition I kind of started reaching a little bit. I have a week off so I’m going to go back to training and fix that.”
Friday night’s 200m races were greeted with strong crosswinds that led to a mix of windy and wind-legal times.
Ole Miss senior McKenzie Long got things started with a convincing win over NCAA indoor champion and collegiate leader JaMeesia Ford, 22.18–22.41 pushed by a 4.1mps wind.
“The main portion of my race is coming off the turn,” assessed Long. “That’s where I am really dominant and I used that to my advantage. I forgot how bad the 200m hurts towards the end, but I kept swinging my arms and keeping my legs going and that is how I finished.”
Teen Ford additionally churned 50.81 for 5th in a loaded 400 won by Arkansas frosh Kaylyn Brown in 49.95. Brown’s time lifted her to No. 7 all-time collegian and turned back a…
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