On her senior night, the Bahamian long jumper headlined the day with the world’s top outdoor long jump mark of the season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla – Florida Gators Track and Field competed in day one of the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational on Friday, ending the day with strong marks in multiple field events.
Among those marks was a 6.82m leap from Anthaya Charlton, which took the world and collegiate lead among outdoor marks for the 2025 season. Charlton, who held the indoor long jump world lead for much of the 2025 indoor season with her 6.98m jump, found her way once again to the top of the globe’s performance list, and earned the No. 3 spot in program history in the process.
She now trails only NCAA Champions Jasmine Moore and Yanis David in program history, and surpassed reigning indoor Long Jump world champion Claire Bryant on the Gator leaderboard with today’s showing.
Highlights
Throws
The Gators saw personal bests in both the men’s and women’s Javelin throw competitions. Leikel Cabrera Gay, who has already impressed with the current NCAA No. 4 mark, again improved his personal best with today’s 77.84m [255′ 4″] performance. The improvement marks his third new personal best in three meets with the Gators. He retains the No. 5 spot in program history, and the No. 4 mark in NCAA.
In the women’s Javelin, Evelyn Vanzwieten took a big step forward with a personal best of 48.23m [158′ 3″], improving on her previous top mark by nearly ten feet. Her career performance landed her ninth on the program’s all-time performance list.
In the women’s Shot put Invite, Gracelyn Leiseth improved on her season best, delivering a 17.42m [57′ 2″] mark.
Jumps
To complement Charlton’s outdoor long jump debut, fellow 2024 outdoor USTFCCCA All-American Malcolm Clemons made an outdoor season debut of his own. He delivered a 7.30m mark in his return to competition.
Sprints/Hurdles
Jarrell Jimenez improved his personal best in the 400m Hurdles, winning his heat with a 52.36 time.
Mid-distance/Distance
The Gators swarmed the 1500m heats on Friday, racing 15 athletes across both the men’s and women’s fields. Four athletes – Ashley Fitzgerald, Evan Fleming, Breanna Stuart and Liina Winborn – posted personal bests in the event.
Looking Ahead
The Tom Jones Memorial Invitational will resume tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
The meet is free to attend, and will be broadcasted on SEC Network +
Tom Jones Memorial Invitational Results – Florida Gators Entrants
Friday, April 18
Event
Participant – time or mark//place in heat (Overall)
Notes
M 200m
Ryan McCloskey – 21.66//1st (29th)
Markevus Jackson – 21.77//2nd (33rd)
Trenton Howard – 21.80//3rd (35th)
Nathaniel Smith – 22.03//2nd (38th)
W Long Jump Invite
Anthaya Charlton – 6.82m [22’4.5″]//1st
PB, UF All-time No. 3, ’25 NCAA No. 1
M Long Jump Invite
Malcolm Clemons – 7.30m [23’11”]//7th
M Javelin
Leikel Cabrera Gay – 77.84m [255′ 4″]//2nd
Aidan Broussard – 58.93m [193′ 4″]//10th
PB, NCAA No. 4
W Long Jump
Alyssa Banales – 6.19m [20′ 3.75″]//5th
Kendall Brown – 5.69m [18′ 8″]//22nd
W Javelin
Evelyn Vanzweiten – 48.23m [158′ 3″]//7th
Elaina Perkins – 45.35m [148′ 9″]//10th
PB, UF All-time No. 10
W 400m Hurdles Invite
Shakynah Tresvant – 1:00.70//7th (25th)
M 400m Hurdles Invite
Jarrell Jimenez – 52.36//1st (25th)
PB
M 3000m Steeple
Alec Miller – 10.01.26//4th
W 1500m
Ashley Fitzgerald – 4:30.42//9th (9th)
Liina Winborn – 4:30.97//10th (10th)
Breanna Stuart – 4:34.70//2nd (13th)
Ava Wyant – 4:36.08//6th (18th)
Kate Drummond – 4:37.13//7th (19th)
Annie Loehle – 4:50.35//11th (23rd)
Allison Drummond – 5:06.21//12th (24th)
PB
PB
PB
W Shot Put Invite
Gracelyn Leiseth – 17.42m [57′ 2″]//5th
SB
M 1500m
Joe Wester – 3:43.45//4th (4th)
Riley Novack – 3:51.44//2nd (11th)
Alejandro Pena – 3:52.20//5th (15th)
Emerson Miller – 3:53.71//6th (16th)
Michael Fiore II – 3:55.95//8th (20th)
Evan Fleming – 3:57.90//12th (22nd)
Aiden Villasuso – 4:00.13//12th (24th)
Orlando Cicilioni – 4:02.42//16th (28th)
PB
