UF TF: Florida Sends Thirteen More Women to the NCAA Outdoor Championship

On the final day of the women’s NCAA East Preliminaries, 13 Gators qualify for the National Championships in 14 events

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The final day of the NCAA East Preliminaries has concluded and the Gator’s women’s team sent 13 athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 14 events. In total, the women’s team advanced 13 athletes to the Championship in 16 different events.

Alida van Daalen was the first Gator of the day to secure her spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The freshman from the Netherlands finished second in the discus (55.57m/182’3″) and will compete in both the discus and shot put at the National Championship.

In the second event of the day, jumper Claire Bryant qualified in her second event of the meet. Bryant finished eighth in the high jump (1.77m/5’9.75″), advancing to the NCAA Championship in two events for the first time in her career.

Jayla Hollis, Grace Stark, Laila Owens, and Kynnedy Flannel competed in the first running event of the day, the women’s 4×100, finishing eleventh (44.27) and qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Shortly after the 4×100, Gabrielle Wilkinson competed in the 1500m, finishing twelfth (4:14.80) and qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 1500m for the first time.

In the 100m hurdles, Grace Stark finished ninth overall (12.92), qualifying for the NCAA Championships. She will compete in Austin in the 100m hurdles and 4×100. Kynnedy Flannel also qualified in two events, running in the 4×100 and advancing in the 200m (11.09) after finishing eighth in qualifying.

Talitha Diggs qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 400m after finishing first overall with a time of 51.07. Diggs has qualified in the 400m for all six National Championships she has been eligible for as a collegiate athlete. Imogen Barrett also advanced to the NCAA Championships, finishing twelfth in the 800m (2:04.97). Barrett has qualified for the Indoor and Outdoor National Championship in both 2022 and 2023.

Vanessa Watson advanced to her second consecutive NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400m hurdles. She finished third overall (56.68) at the East Prelims. Both Talitha Diggs (22.62) and Kynnedy Flannel (22.74) qualified for the NCAA Championships finishing fourth and sixth respectively.

The final field event of the day was the triple jump where Jasmine Moore finished fifth (13.47m/44’2.5″), advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Parker Valby competed in the final individual event of the day, the 5000m, finishing second overall with a time of 15:33.43, qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

In the final women’s race of the day, Ramiah Elliot, Talitha Diggs, Jayla Hollis, and Vanessa Watson qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 4×400 with a time of 3:31.33. They finished first overall.

Next up, the Gators travel to Austin, Texas for the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7-10.

NCAA EAST PRELIMINARIES MEET

Saturday’s Finals Recap

Discus

Women- Freshman Alida van Daalen, qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a throw of 55.57m/182’3″ on her first attempt, finishing second overall. She has now qualified for the Championships in both the shot put and discus. As a Gator, van Daalen has advanced to every NCAA Championships in every event she has competed in. Akari Isaac finished thirty-first (48.08m/157’9″).

Triple Jump

Women- Jasmine Moore finished fifth in the triple jump (13.47m/44’2.5″), advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Moore has advanced to the NCAA Championships in the long and triple jump every year as a Gator.

High Jump

Women- For the second time this meet, Claire Bryant qualified for the NCAA Championships. After qualifying in the long jump on Thursday, Bryant finished in the top-12 in the high jump, advancing to the NCAA Championships. She finished eighth (1.77m/5’9.75″). This is the first time in her career that Bryant has qualified for the Championships in the high jump.

100m

Women- Kynnedy Flannel finished eighth (11.09) in the 100m at the NCAA East Preliminaries, advancing to NCAA Outdoor Championship.

100m Hurdles

Women- Grace Stark returns to the NCAA Championships, qualifying in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.92. She finished ninth overall in the event. Sterling Lester finished twenty-second (13.40) and Jayla Hollis finished twenty-third (13.54).

200m

Women- Both Talitha Diggs (22.62) and Kynnedy Flannel (22.74) qualified for the NCAA Championships. Diggs finished fourth overall and Flannel finished sixth overall in the event.

400m

Women- For the third straight outdoor season, Talitha Diggs advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 400m (51.07). Diggs finished first overall at the NCAA East Preliminaries in the event. She has qualified in the 400m for every NCAA Championship she has been eligible for.

400m Hurdles

Women- Vanessa Watson advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400m hurdles for the second consecutive year. Watson finished third overall (56.68) at the NCAA East Preliminaries in the event. She finished seventh last year in the event at the 2022 Outdoor National Championships.

800m

Women- Imogen Barrett finished twelfth (2:04.97), advancing to her fourth consecutive NCAA Championship in the 800m. Barrett has qualified for both the Indoor and Outdoor National Championship in 2022 and 2023.

1500m

Women- Gabrielle Wilkinson finished twelfth in the 1500m (4:14.80), qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. This is the first time she has advanced to the NCAA Championship in the 1500m. Wilkinson’s time was a season best in the event.

3000m Steeplechase

Women- Kathryn Nohilly finished twentieth in the steeplechase (10:23.10).

5000m

Women- Parker Valby finished second overall in the 5000m (15:33.43), qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

4×100

Women- Jayla Hollis, Grace Stark, Laila Owens, and Kynnedy Flannel qualified for the NCAA Championship with a time of 44.27 in the 4×100. The relay team finished eleventh.

4×400

Women- The relay team of Ramiah Elliot, Talitha Diggs, Jayla Hollis, and Vanessa Watson finished first in the 4×400, advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships (3:31.33).

HOLLOWAY’S WORDS

On the team going to Austin for the NCAA Outdoor Championships…

“We had somebody compete in every event tonight. We got someone to Austin [,Texas] in every event but one. The ladies were just phenomenal. We had a couple people who were not really feeling well but they fought through it. Very proud of Kynnedy Flannel, big breakthrough for her at the right time. Talitha Diggs was Talitha Diggs. Gabby [Wilkinson], Imogen [Barrett], the list goes on and on and on. Jasmine Moore did what she had to do to get through. I think the biggest thing is we are coming out of here very healthy. We just have to keep our focus now, get to Austin, and go to work.”

On what goes into having so many athletes make it to Austin…

“The biggest thing is recruiting. Then we get them in and have to coach them. The biggest thing with this group is they are starting to believe how good they can be. There are some great teams out there and we know no one is going to give us anything so we have to get back to Gainesville, get rested up, and get back to work on Tuesday. We are going to start getting ready to go to Austin to participate in what I think is the best track meet on the planet.”

On Alida van Daalen…

“I think she adds another element to it, an element of excitement. When you look at the score you go wow, we have the shot put coming and the discus coming. She is a legitimately happy person who keeps everyone’s spirits up when she is around. Coach [Eric] Werskey has done a phenomenal job with her.”

On the meet…

“I am just very proud. We competed in every event today and go someone through in every event but one. At the national level we have someone in every event except the steeplechase. It is a phenomenal job by all the ladies this weekend. Then you add the shot put, the discus, the long jump, triple jump, and high jump. It’s going to be a lot of fun in Austin, so I am looking forward to it.”

NCAA East Preliminaries Results

Event

Place, Gators (Time/Distance), Notes

Discus (W)

2. Alida van Daalen (55.57m/182’3″) Qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships

31. Akari Isaac (48.08m/157’9″)

Triple Jump (W)

5. Jasmine Moore (13.47m/44’2.5″) Qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships

High Jump (W)

8. Claire Bryant (1.77m/5’9.75″) Qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships

100m (W)

8. Kynnedy Flannel (11.09) Season Best, Qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships