UF T&F: Alida van Daalen Resets Discus Throw School Record for Second Consecutive Week

Three Gators conclude competition at day one of the Triton Invitational.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three members of the Gators Track & Field program took part in day one of the Triton Invitational at the University of California at San Diego. Akari Isaac, Gracelyn Leiseth and Alida van Daalen all participated in the Women’s Discus Throw ELITE.

Van Daalen stole the show as, for the second consecutive week, she reset her school record in the discus throw. After breaking the 60.00m mark at the Pepsi Florida Relays with a best throw of 61.84m/202’10”, van Daalen has now reached the 62m mark as her best throw on Friday landed at 62.23m/204’2”. Additionally, the sophomore from the Netherlands recorded three throws over 61m in the contest. Van Daalen’s strong start to the 2024 outdoor season places her at No. 1 in the NCAA in 2024 in the discus throw.

Her teammates Akari Isaac and Gracelyn Leiseth, after both recording personal records a week ago, remained consistent as they both recorded marks within three meters of the personal bests. Leiseth recorded an eleventh-place finish behind a throw of 51.29m/168’3” and Isaac finished just one spot behind her teammate, twelfth, with a mark of 49.75m/163’2”. This marks the third consecutive meet that the duo of Leiseth and Isaac have finished in back-to-back places (FSU Relays, Pepsi Relays & Triton Invitational).

RESULTS
Friday, April 5 – Field

Events

Place. Athlete – Time | Notes

Discus ELITE (W)

2. Alida van Daalen – 62.23m/204’2” | School Record, NCAA No. 1, Top Collegian
11. Gracelyn Leiseth – 51.29m/168’3”
12. Akari Isaac – 49.75m/163’2”

Saturday, April 6 – Field

Events

Athletes

Hammer Throw (M)

Will Gross IV

Shot Put ELITE (M)

Logan Montgomery