Gators Total Twelve Top Ten Finishes and Three All-Time Top Ten Marks on First Day of Tom Jones Memorial Invitational
Anthaya Charlton, Abraham Sargent and Gracelyn Leiseth all add or change their position on the UF All-Time Top 10 lists.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators began action at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational by totaling twelve top ten finishes in addition to three all-time top ten marks and seven personal records. Friday’s action also featured some Gator Greats making their return to Percy Beard Track as the Gators hosted six of their alumni for the first day of competition.
TOP PERFORMANCES
Claire Bryant carried her momentum from an outstanding indoor season to her 2024 outdoor debut. Competing in the Women’s Long Jump Invite, Bryant landed a wind-assisted jump (5.8m/s) of 6.65m/21’10” which placed her as the top collegian in the event and second overall.
Robert Gregory and Wanya McCoy, also making their 2024 outdoor debuts, tallied strong starts to their season as they competed in the Men’s 200m Invite. Gregory, who showed incredible closing speed in the final 100m, clocked a time of 20.29 while McCoy ran a steady race to the tune of 20.40. The duo finished in first and second place in their heat as well as fourth and seventh overall, respectively.
Malcolm Clemons recorded a fourth place finish (second place collegian) in the Men’s Long Jump Invite. His mark of 7.72m/25’4” provides the redshirt junior with a strong starting mark for the 2024 outdoor season.
Alida van Daalen finished third overall in the Women’s Shot Put Invite with her best throw landing at 17.52m/57’5.75”. The sophomore showed strong consistency as she was able to complete four throws of over 17.50m in her series.
ALTERING THE RECORD BOOKS
Anthaya Charlton jumped her way into the record books recording a distance of 6.60m/21’8”. Charlton’s jump moves her into the No. 7 spot in the UF All-Time top 10 list passing Yolanda Thompson (2001). Her jump was also good for the No. 2 spot in the NCAA (2024).
Abraham Sargent reset his Javelin Throw PR in his second meet with the Gators. The graduate student who joined the Gators prior to the 2024 season recorded a 73.36m/240’8” throw which keeps him at No. 5 on the UF All-Time Top 10 list. Sargent is right behind Stipe Zunic who recorded a throw of 77.89m/237’9” at the 2012 Texas Relays.
Gracelyn Leiseth has been on fire as of late. Her personal record performance on Friday night is the third consecutive meet in which the freshman has recorded a personal record in the shot put. Leiseth competed in the Women’s Shot Put Invite, along with her teammate van Daalen, and recorded a fifth place finish. Her mark of 17.16m/56’3.75” moves her up two spots to No. 8 on UF’s All-Time Top 10 list.
LET’S GET PERSONAL
Imani Washington set a personal record in the Hammer Throw recording a distance of 57.43m/188’5”. Her performance was good for third place.
Malique Smith-Band improved his 200m time from Pepsi Florida Relays in Friday’s action as he crossed the finish line in 20.85 which resulted in a 24th place finish.
Eoin McNally also broke a personal record he previously set at the Pepsi Florida Relays. He secured a new best time of 3:47.88 competing in the Men’s 1500m.
Rylee Pustilnik and Breanna Stuart both notched personal records in the Women’s 1500m recording times of 4:35.90 and 4:38.41, respectively.
GATOR GREATS BACK AT HOME
Gator Greats Pjai Austin, Yanis David, Marquis Dendy, Joseph Fahnbulleh, Anna Hall and Jasmine Moore, Gabrielle Wilkinson all participated in Friday’s competition as they continue their professional Track & Field careers. The results from their events on Friday are outlined below:
Pjai Austin | 200m – 20.63 | 9th Place
Yanis David | Long Jump – 6.36m/20’10.5” | 6th Place
Marquis Dendy | Long Jump – 8.05m/26’5” | 1st Place
Joseph Fahnbulleh | 200m – 20.06 | 2nd Place
Anna Hall | LJ – 5.78m/18’11.75”; 200m – 24.38; SP – 12.96m/42’6.25”; JT – 42.66m/139’11”
Jasmine Moore | Long Jump – 6.62m/21’8.75” | 3rd Place
Gabrielle Wilkinson | 1500m – 4:17.51 | 6th Place
RESULTS
Friday, April 12 – Track
Events
Place. Athlete – Time | Notes
200m (M)
23. Ryan McCloskey – 21.30
200m INVITE (M)
4. Robert Gregory – 20.29
7. Wanya McCoy – 20.40
24. Malique Smith-Band – 20.85 | PR
200m INVITE (W)
24. Jayla Hollis – 23.39
36. Kayla Davis – 23.79
1500m (M)
7. Joe Wester – 3:44.85
10. Eoin McNally – 3:47.88 | PR
15. Michael Fiore – 3:50.09
19. Ethan Geiger – 3:50.81
37. Jonathan Pitchford – 3:54.82
39. Matthew Mule’ – 3:56.75
43. Macarius Wright – 4:02.38
45. Josh Stern – 4:15.08
1500m (W)
12. Lucinda Rourke – 4:21.55
30. Ashley Klingenberg – 4:32.41
38. Rylee Pustilnik – 4:35.90 | PR
43. Caroline Bauer – 4:38.28
44. Breanna Stuart – 4:38.41 | PR
50. Olivia Jones – 4:48.01
Friday, March 29 – Field
Events
Athlete Entries
Long Jump (M)
24. Jordan McCants – 6.72m/22’0.75” (2.7m/s)
Long Jump INVITE (M)
4. Malcolm Clemons – 7.72m/25’4”
10. Sean Dixon-Bodie – 7.26m/23’10”
Long Jump (W)
35. Kendall Brown – 5.49m/18’0.25”
37. India Alix – 5.46m/17’11”
Long Jump INVITE (W)
2. Claire Bryant – 6.65m/21’10” (5.8m/s)
4. Anthaya Charlton – 6.60m/21’8” | No. 7 on UF All-Time Top 10 List , No. 2 in NCAA (2024)
Shot Put INVITE (W)
3. Alida van Daalen – 17.52m/57’5.75”
5. Gracelyn Leiseth – 17.16m/56’3.75” | PR, No. 8 on UF All-Time Top 10 List
Hammer Throw (W)
3. Imani Washington – 57.43m/188’5” | PR
Javelin Throw (M)
6. Abraham Sargent – 73.36m/240’8” | PR, No. 5 on UF All-Time Top 10 List
Saturday, March 30 – Track
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
100m (M)
Malique Smith-Band
Ryan McCloskey
Kevar Williams
100m (W)
Anthaya Charlton
110m H INVITE Prelims (M)
Joshua Brockman
Joey Stravato
100m H INVITE Prelims (W)
Jayla Hollis
Grace Stark
400m (M)
Jacob Miley
400m INVITE (M)
Reheem Hayles
Jevaughn Powell
Jenoah McKiver
Rios Prude Jr.
Ashton Schwartzman
800m (M)
Sam Austin
Ryan Maseman
Miguel Pantojas
Joe Wester
Edward Kepran
Gavin Nelson
Jonathan Pitchford
Michael Fiore
Matthew Mule’
Noah Musselwhite
Chase Ruskin
Eoin McNally
800m (W)
Lucinda Rourke
Jessica Edwards
Layla Haynes
4x100m Relay (M)
Florida Relay Team
4x100m Relay (W)
Florida Relay Team
4x400m Relay (M)
Florida Relay Team (A)
Florida Relay Team (B)
Florida Relay Team (C)
Saturday, April 13 – Field
Events
Athlete Entries
High Jump INVITE (W)
Claire Bryant
Triple Jump INVITE (M)
Sean Dixon-Bodie
Michael Holloway II
Triple Jump (W)
India Alix
Triple Jump INVITE (W)
Alissa Braxton
Shot Put (M)
Logan Montgomery
Hammer Throw INVITE (M)
Will Gross IV
Discus Throw (M)
Calvin Bostic
Logan Montgomery
Discus Throw INVITE (M)
Kai Chang
Discus Throw (W)
Gracelyn Leiseth
Da’Moni Kelly
Discus Throw INVITE (W)
Alida van Daalen
Akari Isaac
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