Florida Closes the Razorback Invitational with an Electric Performances in the Men’s 4x400 Relay

Florida Closes the Razorback Invitational with an Electric Performances in the Men’s 4×400 Relay

The Gators won the women’s long jump and men’s 4×400 for the second time this season

FAYETTEVILLE, AR. – The Florida Gators Track and Field teams are now two meets into their season after competing Friday and Saturday at the Razorback Invitational. Through the two meets, Florida athletes have amassed 27 new personal bests and three facility records in a variety of events.

For the meet, the Gators earned three event titles. The titles came in the women’s long jump (Jasmine Moore), men’s 60m (Pjai Austin), and the men’s 4×400. Florida has won the women’s long jump and the men’s 4×400 titles at both meets they have taken part in this season. The men’s 4×400 performance today was the fastest time in the world so far this season. Both of the women’s relays this weekend, the distance medley relay and 4×400, were school record times.

Next up, the Gators will take part in both the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas and the David Henry Valentine Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts on February 10th and 11th.

Saturday’s Finals Recap

60m Hurdles

Women- In the women’s 60m Hurdles finals, Jayla Hollis (8.19) ended on the podium, finishing third. Imani Carothers (8.29) finished sixth.

60m

Women- Kynnedy Flannel took third place for the second time in two days, this time in the women’s 60m. Flannel (7.31) finished just 0.03 seconds behind the first-place finisher.

Men- Pjai Austin continues his fantastic start to the 2023 season. Austin took first in the men’s 60m (6.58) while also setting a new personal best in the event.

Mile

Women- In the first race of the day for the Gators, Jordan Shapiro ran a new personal best time in the mile (4:52.41). Later in the day Vasileia Spyrou ran a personal best of her own (4:45.29), shedding almost 10 seconds off her previous best time.

Men- After fighting for position all race, a late push by both Caden Monk and Joe Wester moved them into the top four in their heat and up the overall standings. Monk’s time of 4:07.09 was a new personal best in the mile. Wester (4:07.53) made his event debut.

400m

Women- Talitha Diggs continued her strong start to the season, facing off against a strong field that included the 2022 Women’s Bowerman winner. Diggs outing earned her a fourth-place finish (51.34). Ramiah Elliott made her event debut, running a 54.93 in the 400m.

Men- Five Gators took part in the men’s 400m with Ryan Willie (46.47) leading the way, finishing fourth of 45 runners. Emmanuel Bamidele (47.06) and Jevaughn Powell (47.13) were the next Gators to cross the finish line. Powell effort in the 400m was a new indoor personal best in the event.

Triple Jump

Men- Both Michael Holloway II and Sean Dixon-Bodie performed well in the first three rounds of the triple jump competition, advancing to the finals. Dixon-Bodie (16.01m/ 52’6.5”) followed up his performance in the long jump yesterday with a third-place finish in the triple jump. Michael Holloway II’s mark of 15.10m (49’6.5”) is a new indoor triple jump personal best.

800m

Women- The women’s mid-distance pair of Imogen Barrett (2:03.94) and Gabrielle Wilkinson (2:06.09) finished third and fifth respectively in the 800m.

Men- Florida had five runners taking part in four different heats of the 800m. In all four of those heats a Gator crossed the line first: Sam Austin (1:48.55, fourth), Ryan Maseman (1:50.53, ninth), Deshay Fernandes (1:51.58, fourteenth) and Hugh Brittenham (1:51.98, fifthteenth). Maseman made his indoor 800m debut, while also breaking his outdoor 800m personal best. Hugh Brittenham also set a new personal best.

4×400

Women- Laila Owens, Jayla Hollis, Vanessa Watson, and Talitha Diggs teamed up to take second in the women’s 4×400. Their time of 3:27.58 was the top time in school history in the event.

Men- Florida’s relay team of Jevaughn Powell, Jacob Miley, Sam Austin, and Miles Green finished tenth with a time of 3:09.03. The Gators other men’s relay team of Jacory Patterson, Emmanuel Bamidele, Robert Gregory, and Ryan Willie started off strong before entering the last leg of the relay in last place. Willie closed the gap and made a final push in the last 50m, to edge out USC by 0.01 seconds for the event title. The first place relay team’s time of 3:04.11 is the fastest time in the world so far this year.

Saturday’s Qualifying Recap

60m Hurdles

Women- Imani Carothers (8.23) and Jayla Hollis (8.29) both qualified for the 60m hurdles final after moving forward as both advance to the women’s 60m Hurdles final after finishing fourth and seventh respectively in the prelims.

Men- Kurt Powdar faced off against a tough hurdles field, including the reigning men’s Bowerman winner. Powdar (7.97) finished the day ninth in the 60m hurdles prelims.

60m

Women- Kynnedy Flannel’s time of 7.37 in the women’s 60m earned her a victory in her heat and automatically qualified her for the finals. Jasmine Montgomery finished nineteenth in qualifying with a time of 7.52.

Men- Pjai Austin was the lone men’s 60m runner to advance to the finals. In the first heat of qualifying, Tyler Davis ran a 6.77, which was enough for the eight fastest time in prelims but did not qualify him for the finals. Pjai Austin (6.68) automatically qualified for the finals when he crossed the line first in the fifth heat. He had the third fastest time in the prelims. In his Gator Debut, Kevar Williams ran a 6.91 in the 60m.

Saturday, January 28 (Q denotes qualifying, All others are finals)

Event

Place, Gators (Time/Distance), Notes

60m Hurdles (M) Q

9. Kurt Powdar (7.97)

60m Hurdles (W) Q

4. Imani Carothers (8.23), Qualified for the finals

7. Jayla Hollis (8.29), Qualified for the finals

60m Hurdles (W)

3. Jayla Hollis (8.19)

6. Imani Carothers (8.29)

60m (M) Q