UF TF: Four Gators Win Event Titles at the FSU Relays

Ashley Klingenberg Cavan Wilson, Kathryn Nohilly, and Devon Willis all earned first place in their respective events at the FSU Relays

TALLAHASSEE, FL. – The first meet of the 2023 Florida Gators outdoor campaign is in the books, and the team found success in every event. There were 31 Gators that finished in the top-10 of their respective event, 17 men and 14 women, with nine finishing in podium positions as top-3 finishers.

Ashley Klingenberg earned the women’s 800m title (2:11.69), finishing over three seconds faster than anyone else in the race. Cavan Wilson (3:52.31) and Kathryn Nohilly (4:25.56) swept the men’s and women’s 1500m titles. Wilson ran a new personal best in the event on his way to the title. Devon Willis was the fourth Gator to win their event, placing first in the men’s javelin (58.03m/190’4″) in his first competition as a Gator.

Logan Montgomery (17.86m/58’7.25″) in the men’s shot put, Kurt Powdar in the men’s 110m hurdles (14.18), and Michael Holloway II in the men’s triple jump (15.55m/51’0.25″) earned silver for their performances. Corvell Todd in men’s high jump (2.12m/6’11.5″) and Sterling Lester in the women’s 100m hurdles (13.25) recieved bronze in their events.

Five athletes made their collegiate or Gator debuts at the FSU Relays and all five finished in the top-8 of their event. Kathryn Nohilly made her Gator debut in the 1500m along with Rylee Pustilnik (4:41.21) and Liina Winborn (4:42.70), who made their collegiate debuts, placing sixth and eighth respectively. In the field, Imani Washington finished fifth in both the hammer throw (52.18m/171’2″) and shot put (14.35m/47’1″) and Devin Willis won the men’s javelin title.

Florida ends the FSU Relays with eight new personal bests by seven athletes. In men’s field events, Logan Montogomery and Calvin Bostic had personal bests in the shot put, and long jumpers Jordan McCants and Michael Holloway II recorded personal bests. Michael Holloway II also recorded a new outdoor personal best in the triple jump. On the track, Sterling Lester in the 100m hurdles and Ashley Klingenberg in the 800m ran new personal bests on the women’s side, while Cavan Wilson had a personal best time in the men’s 1500m.

Next up for the Gators is the Pepsi Florida Relays on March 31 and April 1. The Florida Relays began in 1939 and play host to high school and collegiate athletes from around the nation. This is the first of two home outdoor meets the Gators will host during the 2023 season.

FSU RELAYS MEET

Friday’s Finals Recap

Discus

Men- After finishing second in the men’s shot put yesterday, Logan Montgomery followed it up with another strong performance, this time in men’s discus. Montgomery finished sixth in his collegiate discus debut (49.58m/162’8″). Calvin Bostic finished eleventh with a throw of 45.91m/150’7″.

Women- In the first event of day two, the trio of Akari Isaac, Da’Moni Kelly, and Thea Jensen all finished in the top-9 of the women’s discus competition. Isaac continued her strong collegiate debut, finishing fifth with a mark of 48.82m/160’2″. Kelly placed eighth in her first discus competition as a Gator (45.46m/149’2″). Jensen (44.32m/145’5″) finished ninth.

Javelin

Men-In his Gators debut, Devon Willis earned gold and the event title in the men’s javelin (58.03m/190’4″).

Women- Sterling Lester finished eleventh (27.32m/89’7″) in the first women’s javelin competition of the outdoor season.

Triple Jump

Men- Michael Holloway II finished second in the men’s triple jump with a new outdoor personal best of 15.55m/51’0.25″. His new outdoor personal best improves upon his previous one by 0.23 meters. Jordan McCants placed eighth (13.55m/44’5.5″).

100m

Men- In his first collegiate running event, Jalen Chance finishes eighth in the men’s 100m final with a time of 10.81.

Women- Tymiah Montgomery finished thirteenth in the women’s 100m final (12.38).

100m Hurdles

Women- Sterling Lester, coming off her stellar performance at the NCAA Indoor Championship where she took fourth in the women’s pentathlon, finished third in the women’s 100m hurdles. Her time of 13.25 is a new personal best in the event. Grace Stark (13.37) and Imani Carothers (13.66) finished fourth and fifth respectively. The Gators finished three runners in the top-5.

110m Hurdles

Men- In his first outdoor meet as a Florida Gator, Kurt Powdar earned silver, crossing the line second with a time of 14.18.

800m

Men- In his Florida Gators outdoor debut, Michael Fiore finished fourth in the men’s 400m with a time of 1:52.95.

Women- Ashley Klingenberg took the lead in the women’s 800m and never conceded it in her first competition of 2023. Klingenberg finished gold (2:11.69) with a new personal best, over three seconds faster than the runner up Reagan Mahoney from Georgia Tech.

1500m

Men- Five Gators competed in the men’s 1500m final. Redshirt Senior Cavan Wilson placed first with a new personal best of 3:52.31. Wilson’s win secured the sweep of both men’s and women’s 1500m events at the FSU Relays. Ethan Geiger finished seventh (3:57.41), Ryan Miller finished eighth (3:58.59), Josh Stern finished tenth (3:59.88), and Aiden Villasuso finished eleventh (4:00.98).

Women- The trio of Kathryn Nohilly, Rylee Pustilnik, and Liina Winborn all made their first track and field appearances as Gators. Nohilly the transfer from George Washington, finished with gold in her first race as a Gator (4:25.56). Pustilnik (4:41.21) and Winborn (4:42.70) made their collegiate debuts, placing sixth and eighth respectively.

FSU Relays Results (All events are finals unless otherwise noted)

Event

Place, Gators (Time/Distance), Notes

Discus (M)

6. Logan Montgomery (49.58m/162’8″) Event Debut

11. Calvin Bostic (45.91m/150’7″)

Discus (W)

5. Akari Isaac (48.82m/160’2″) Event Debut

8. Da’Moni Kelly (45.46m/149’2″) Event Debut

9. Thea Jensen (44.32m/145’5″)

Javelin (M)

1. Devon Willis (58.03m/190’4″) Collegiate Debut