ALL ABOUT THE GATORS AT THE FLORIDA RELAYS

FLORIDA RELAYS***


The University of Florida men's track and field team put on quite a show at the 66th Pepsi Florida Relays. The Gators set two school records and three world leading marks. The Florida women performed well also, especially in the field events. Overall the Florida Relays was not widely overshadowed by the Texas Relays like in years past.

Sophomore star Christian Taylor got things started for the Gators, Taylor winning the men's 400 over teammate Calvin Smith. Taylor clocking in at 45.55 and Calvin Smith in 45.62. Freshman Tony McQuay seemed to have went out to hard and was able only to hold on for 4th with a time of 46.43. Mc Quay however was able to rebound, placing 4th in the men's 200 but setting a personal best with a 20.64 performance. The winner in the men's 200 went to senior Evander Wells of Tennessee.

In the men's hurdle events, David Oliker competiting for Nike took the top time 13.32 while sophomore Booker Nunley claimed the title for the collegiate athletes in a seperate clocking in at 13.72. Teammate Johnny Dutch finished second to Nunley with 13.80, however Dutch was able to claim the crown overall in the men's 400 hurdles with a time of 49.52.

The Distance carnival had some nice performances, Julian Bor of Alabama took home the men's mile in 3:41.11. Matrin Kirui of Mississippi took the title for the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase in 8:51.29.

The Gators were the story in the Relay events on Saturday. The Florida men took the title in the 4x100 (38.93) 4x200 (1:20.38) and 4x400 (3:00.31) . All three of those times are world leading marks. The 4x200 and 4x400 relay are both school records. The 4x100 relays consists of Jeremy Rankin, Jeremy Hall, Terrell Wilks and Jeff Demps. The 4x200 consists of Tony McQuay, Hall, Wilks and Calvin Smith. Smith and McQuay join Christian Taylor and R.J. Anderson to make up the winning 4x400 relay.

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Senior Queen Harrison continued her domination over women's hurdles. Harrison stopped the clock at 12.65 in the women's 100 meter hurdles. Her time ranks top 5 all time for collegiate women. Harrison continued that success to the 400 hurdles winning in 56.06 over Tierra Brown of Miami who finished second in 56.39. Harrison's performance in the 400 hurdles is the nation's top time, but her performance in the 100 hurdles definitely shows where she is strongest.

Francena McCrory proved why she will blow away the women's 400 meter collegiate record. McCrory ran a NCAA leading time of 22.92 in the women's 200 to beat junio Shavon Greaves of Penn State. Greaves was 2nd in the 100 meters as well behind Marecia Pemberton of Florida State a freshman who clocked in at 11.20.

Senior Charlotte Browning of Florida gave a winning performance in the women's 800 clocking in at 2:06.42. The Indoor champion however left her best event, the mile, to the indoor 800 champion Senior Phoebe Wright of Tennesse. Wright went toe to toe with Kristie Krueger of Georgia, Wright eventually winning in 4:18.29 and teammate Brittany Sheffey finished in a close 3rd. Florida junior Julie Northrup set a meet record in the women's 3,000 steeplechase with a record time of 10:29.22.

The Women's relay events were dominated by professional all star teams. However there were plenty of solid performances, South Carolina definitely had the best overall relay performances. The Gamecocks were second in the 4x100 (44.23), third in the 4x200 ( 1:33.55) and fifth in the 4x400 relay (3:35.62). The Tennessee Volunteers were able to hold off host Florida in the women's Distance Medley. The indoor champion had a winning time of 11:07. 48.

Senior Mariam Kevkhishvili led a throwing assault by the Lady Gators. Kevkhishvili shined in her main event the women's shot put with a mark of 58-10.25, teammate Kelly Medeiros was second with 54-7.25. Evelien Dekkers won in the javelin reaching a distance of 163-11. Shara Proctor got in the action by the Lady Gators in the field events leaping to 21-9 in the women's long jump to win the event.

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Plenty of action this weekend, meets at Arizona State, UCLA, the Dual at Ohio State and the Sea Ray Relays. This should be a exciting week for college track and field.