Florida Gators

CLEMSON, S.C. – University of Florida track and field opened its 2018 campaign Saturday afternoon at Clemson University's Orange & Purple Classic, and a number of Gators turned in standout performances.
 
Freshman quarter-miler Benjamin Lobo Vedel tied teammate Grant Holloway for the fourth-fastest 300 meters time in collegiate history, finishing his first career race in 32.80 seconds. Lobo Vedel, a native of Denmark, set a national record (previously 33.07 outdoors), in addition to tying Holloway's school and facility records. Holloway ran 32.80 at this same meet last season.
 
Speaking of Holloway, the sophomore won the 60-meter hurdles with the second-fastest time in the nation (7.69). The Virginian is the reigning SEC and NCAA 60 hurdles champion.
 
Florida's other big winners Saturday were throwers Lloydricia Cameron and AJ McFarland. Cameron won the shot put with the fourth-best throw of her career (17.32 meters / 56 feet, 10 inches), while McFarland won the weight throw with the second-best throw of his career (21.24 meters).
 
Also in the weight throw, freshman Thomas Mardal posted the No. 5-ranked mark on UF's All-Time Indoor Top 10 (20.49 meters), garnering runner-up honors.
 
The Gators posted a 2-3 finish in the high jump, courtesy of sophomore Clayton Brown (2.15 meters / 7 feet, 0.5 inches) and redshirt junior Jhonny Victor (2.10 meters / 6 feet, 10.75 inches). The latter missed his indoor personal record by one centimeter.
 
In a deep women's long jump competition, senior Darrielle McQueen (6.36 meters / 20 feet, 10.5 inches) and junior Yanis David (6.31 meters / 20 feet, 8.5 inches) turned in solid performances to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.
 
Florida returns to action next Friday and Saturday at the Commodore Invitational, where its distance corps will begin their season.

 
HEARING OUT (COACH) HOLLOWAY
Head coach Mike Holloway on his overall assessment of the meet…
"Thought we did a great job across the board. Obviously we were a little rusty in spots, but we were only been back in town for three days before we left for the meet, and we weren't really able to get outside and do much. It was a meet where I got a chance to see where we are so we can build from this point going forward.
 
"We had a lot of really good things and we were flat in some areas. With the bad weather across the country it was hard for some people to train while they were at home. I'm not worried about that. I wanted to see effort, I wanted to see focus. We pretty much saw that across the board today."
 
Coach Holloway on whether the Gators shook off the rust by meet's end…
"Absolutely. Michael Timpson Jr. ran a little faster than he did last year at this meet. Grant (Holloway) was close to where he was in the hurdles last year. Both of them did well. Benjamin (Lobo Vedel) equaling Grant's No. 4 all-time performance in the 300. Thought the weight throwers did a great job. Lloydricia Cameron performed well in the shot put. Thought Darrielle (McQueen) and Yanis (David) both did a great job. Very impressed with Nikki Stephens—those were probably personal records in all three events for her. It wasn't what she wanted, but still a personal best for Amanda (Froeynes) in the hurdles.
 
"What we saw here was what we expected. Again, the biggest thing for me was to get a base line for where we are. Now we all have an idea of what's going on. It's January 6."
 
Coach Holloway on additional standout performances…
"Again, I was really excited about the weight throwers. Thought they did a phenomenal job today. And you look at what Michael Timpson Jr. was able to do, that was close to his PR in the 60 and close to his PR in the 200. We want to get better, but it's good to see him go out there and have those kind of performances. Michael had a phenomenal fall, and what we saw today was a reflection of that. Very impressive run for Taylor Manson out of Lane 2 in the 300 as well."

 
ORANGE & PURPLE CLASSIC MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)

• Results (Adkins Trak Timing)
• Venue: Clemson University Indoor Complex
• Competing Teams: Bethune-Cookman; Campbell; Charleston Southern; Clemson; FIU; Florida State; Georgia; Georgia Tech; J.C. Smith; North Carolina A&T; Tennessee Tech

 

Saturday, January 6 (unless denoted by * all events are finals)
Time	Place, Gator – Time / Mark | Notes
60m (M)	4. Michael Timpson Jr. – 6.69 | Ties second-fastest time of career
	6. Ryan Clark – 6.75
60m (M)*	2. Timpson Jr. – 6.70 | Advanced to final (time)
	4. Clark – 6.73 | Advanced to final (time)
60m (W)*	13. Bria Mack – 7.69 | Collegiate debut
200m (M)	2. Timpson Jr. – 21.46
	14. Damien Daniels – 23.19
200m (W)	7. Mack – 25.00
300m (M)	1. Benjamin Lobo Vedel – 32.80 | Ties fourth-fastest time in collegiate history; ties Grant Holloway's facility and school records; Danish record
	2. Kunle Fasasi – 33.22
	3. Grant Holloway – 33.35
	10. Chantz Sawyers – 34.11
	Clark – DNF
300m (W)	3. Taylor Manson – 37.92 | Collegiate debut
	4. Sharrika Barnett – 38.10
	8. Brandee' Johnson – 38.89
	9. Nikki Stephens – 39.23 | Collegiate debut
	13. Lauryn Ghee – 39.70 | Collegiate debut
	22. Amanda Froeynes – 41.31 | Collegiate debut
400m (M)	6. Cory Poole – 48.21 | Collegiate debut
	7. Jabari Hill – 48.36 | Second-fastest indoor time of career
	10. Cole Johnson – 48.97 | University of Florida debut
	13. Dawson Guillory – 50.76 | Collegiate debut
400m (W)	5. Taylor Sharpe – 55.02
60mH (M)	1. Grant Holloway – 7.69
	4. Poole – 7.88
60mH (M)*	1. Holloway – 7.79 | Advanced to final (time)
	2. Poole – 7.86 | Advanced to final (time)
60mH (W)	8. Stephens – 8.57
60mH (W)*	8. Stephens – 8.57 | Advanced to final (time)
	9. Johnson – 8.57
	10. Timetria Mitchell – 8.59
	17. Froeynes – 9.00
HJ (M)	2. Clayton Brown – 2.15 meters (7-0.5)
	3. Jhonny Victor – 2.10 meters (6-10.75) | One centimeter off indoor personal record
HJ (W)	t-6. Stephens – 1.65 meters (5-5)
	t-6. Froeynes – 1.65 meters (5-5)
PV (M)	1. Harry Glasser – 4.70 meters (15-5)
	2. Mike Harris – 4.70 meters (15-5)
LJ (M)	4. KeAndre Bates – 7.46 meters (24-5.75)
	9. Enzo Hodebar – 7.04 meters (23-1.25) | Collegiate debut
LJ (W)	4. Darrielle McQueen – 6.36 meters (20-10.5)
	5. Yanis David – 6.31 meters (20-8.5)
SP (W)	1. Lloydricia Cameron – 17.32 meters (56-10)
WT (M)	1. AJ McFarland – 21.24 meters | Second-best throw of career
	2. Thomas Mardal – 20.49 meters | No. 5-ranked mark on UF All-Time Indoor Top 10; collegiate debut
	3. Anders Eriksson – 19.24 meters
WT (W)	2. Jontavia Dykes – 17.44 meters
	Amara Wiggan – FOUL

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