Malcolm Clemons finishes fourth in the men’s long jump in his first trip to an NCAA Championship
AUSTIN, Texas -The Florida Gators men’s team wasted no time scoring their first points of the competition. Long jumper Malcolm Clemons was the first Gator to finish on the podium at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Clemons earned fourth in his first trip to an NCAA Championship. His mark of 8.07m/26’5.75″ was the seventh best mark in school history and the sixth best mark in the country this year.
Day one consisted of six semifinals. Ryan Willie, Jacory Patterson, Pjai Austin, and Robert Gregory started the day advancing the 4×100 team to the finals after winning their heat (38.22). Their time was the third fastest 4×100 semifinal time in NCAA Outdoor history.
In the 100m, Pjai Austin raced to a collegiate leading and school record time of 9.89, securing a spot in the finals. Austin’s time was the fourth fastest in collegiate history and third fastest in the world this year.
The 400m trio of Emmanuel Bamidele, Ryan Willie, and Jevaughn Powell, all advanced to the 400m finals. Bamidele earned second (44.67) with the fifteenth fastest time in the world this year, Willie (44.97) secured sixth, and Powell (45.02) finished seventh.
Robert Gregory continued his incredible outdoor season in the 200m. After earning gold at the SEC Outdoor Championships, Gregory ran the third fastest time in school history and the ninth fastest time in the world this year (19.95) to advance to the finals in the 200m.
In the final men’s race of the day, Jevaughn Powell, Emmanuel Bamidele, Jacory Patterson, and Ryan Willie advanced to the finals in the 4×400 with a time of 2:58.62, finishing first in the semifinals. Their time was a facility and NCAA Outdoor Championship meet record.
On day one the Gators men’s team advanced seven entries to the finals on Friday in five events.
Day two of the competition is comprised of the women’s shot put and long jump finals and the women’s running event semifinals. Tomorrow the Gators begin the day with the semifinals of the women’s 4×100 at 8:32 p.m. ET. The women’s long jump final is at 10:00 p.m. ET and the shot put final is at 10:30 p.m. ET.
NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET
Wednesday’s Finals Recap
Long Jump
Men- Redshirt Sophomore Malcolm Clemons finished fourth (8.07m/26’5.75″) in his first NCAA Championship competition. His mark was a new personal best, the seventh best in school history, and sixth best in the country this year.
Wednesday’s Semifinals Recap
100m
Men- Pjai Austin ran a school record and collegiate leading time of 9.89 in the 100m, finishing first in the semifinals and automatically advancing to the finals. Austin’s time was the fourth fastest time in collegiate history and the third fastest time in the world this year. Robert Gregory also ran a personal best in the 100m (10.04), finishing tenth in the semifinals.
200m
Men- Robert Gregory ran the third fastest time in school history and ninth fastest time in the world this year (19.95), automatically advancing to the finals after winning his heat in the 200m. Jacory Patterson finished fifteenth (20.44).
400m
Men- Emmanuel Bamidele, Ryan Willie, and Jevaughn Powell, all advanced to the 400m finals. Bamidele (44.67) ran a personal best, the sixth fastest time in the country this year, and the fifteenth fastest time in the world this year. He automatically advanced to the finals after finishing top 2 in his heat and second overall in the semifinals. Willie’s time of 44.97 won his heat and automatically advanced him to the finals. Powell ran a season best (45.02), finishing seventh and advancing to the finals.
400m Hurdles
Men- Collin Sieffert finished twelfth in the 400m hurdles (50.53), running a new personal best.
4×100
Men- The 4×100 team of Ryan Willie, Jacory Patterson, Pjai Austin, and Robert Gregory ran the third fastest time in the history of NCAA Outdoor semifinals (38.22). They finished first in their heat and third overall to automatically advance to the finals on Friday.
4×400
Men- Jevaughn Powell, Emmanuel Bamidele, Jacory Patterson, and Ryan Willie ran a new facility and NCAA Outdoor Championship meet record (2:58.62). They finished first overall automatically advancing to the finals.
HOLLOWAY’S WORDS
On the first day of the competition…
“Incredible first day. We qualified very well and set ourselves up to have a great day on Friday. Great job by Malcolm Clemons with a new personal best of 8.07m to finish fourth and score a big 5 points for the Gators. Also, very proud of Pjai Austin with his new School Record in the 100m of 9.89. With that said, we have to get back to the hotel, get rested and remain focused and prepared to come out on Friday and compete at a very high level”
NCAA Outdoor Championship Results (All events are finals unless otherwise noted)
Event
Place, Gators (Time/Distance), Notes
Long Jump (M)
4. Malcolm Clemons (8.07m/26’5.75″) Personal Best, 7th Best Mark in School History, 6th Best Mark in the Country this Year
100m (M) Semis
1. Pjai Austin (9.89) Personal Best, School Record, Fastest Time in the Country this Year, 4th Fastest Time in Collegiate History, 3rd Fastest Time in the World, Automatically Advanced to the Finals
10. Robert Gregory (10.04) Personal Best
200m (M) Semis
4. Robert Gregory (19.95) Personal Best, 3rd Fastest in School History, 9th Fastest in the World this Year, Automatically Advanced to the Finals
15. Jacory Patterson (20.44)
400m (M) Semis
2. Emmanuel Bamidele (44.67) Personal Best, 15th Fastest Time in the World this Year, 6th Fastest Time in the Country this Year, Automatically Advanced to the Finals
6. Ryan Willie (44.97) Automatically Advanced to the Finals
7. Jevaughn Powell (45.02) Season Best, Advanced to the Finals
400m Hurdles (M) Semis
12. Collin Sieffert (50.53) Personal Best
4×100 (M) Semis
3. Ryan Willie, Jacory Patterson, Pjai Austin, Robert Gregory (38.22) Automatically Advanced to the Finals
4×400 (M) Semis
1. Jevaughn Powell, Emmanuel Bamidele, Jacory Patterson, Ryan Willie (2:58.62) Facility Record, Meet Record, Automatically Advanced to the Finals
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