Gators Travel to Lexington for NCAA East Preliminaries
Track & Field continues the 2024 postseason with action starting Wednesday and concluding Saturday.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two weeks after hosting the SEC Outdoor Championships, the Gators continue the 2024 postseason in Lexington, Kentucky for NCAA East Preliminaries.
The NCAA East Preliminaries serves as a precursor to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The NCAA Preliminaries are broken up into the East and West regions. The top 48 athletes in every individual event (excluding multis) and the top 24 relay teams will compete. The top 12 athletes and relays in each event across both regions will make up a field of 24 in every event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The meet spans four days starting on Wednesday, May 22 and ending on Saturday, May 25. Men’s competitions will take place on Wednesday and Friday while women’s events will occur on Thursday and Saturday.
The men’s program has 23 athletes as well as two relays entered in the four-day competition. The women have 16 athletes and one relay set to participate in the meet.
Entries for each event can be located at the bottom of the release and are subject to change.
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARIES MEET INFORMATION
Location / Venue
Lexington, Kentucky / University of Kentucky Track
Date/Times
Wednesday, May 22: 1:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, May 23: 11:30 a.m. ET
Friday, May 24: 11:00 a.m. ET
Saturday, May 25: 3:00 p.m. ET
Meet Schedule
2024 NCAA East Preliminaries Meet Schedule<https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/championships/sports/crosstrack/d1/outdoortf/2023-24D1XTO_ScheduleofEventsLexington.pdf>
Live Results
NCAA East Preliminaries Live Results<https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2024/FirstRounds/East/index.htm>
Updates & Info
@GatorsTF on X<https://twitter.com/GatorsTF>
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Streaming
ESPN+
Streaming Links
Wednesday: ESPN+ Stream<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/fced0847-afb4-4f0f-b644-c1f604ee4df1>
Thursday: ESPN+ Stream
Friday: ESPN+ Stream
Saturday: ESPN+ Stream
Broadcast Times
Wednesday, May 22: 6:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, May 23: 6:00 p.m. ET
Friday, May 24: 5:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 25: 5:00 p.m. ET
THIS MEET, LAST YEAR
The men’s and women’s programs qualified 9 and 15 athletes, respectively, for the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships after competition at the 2023 NCAA East Preliminaries in Jacksonville, Florida.
2023 NCAA Championships Qualifiers – Men:
Pjai Austin; Emmanuel Bamidele; Malcolm Clemons; Sean Dixon-Bodie; Robert Gregory; Jacory Patterson; Jeavughn Powell; Collin Sieffert; Ryan Willie
2023 NCAA Championships Qualifiers – Women:
Imogen Barrett; Claire Bryant; Kayla Davis; Talitha Diggs; Ramiah Elliott; Kynnedy Flannel; Jayla Hollis; Sterling Lester; Jasmine Moore; Grace Stark; Parker Valby; Alida van Daalen; Vanessa Watson; Gabriella Wilkinson
NCAA OUTDOORS RECENT HISTORY
The University of Florida has won the NCAA Outdoor Men’s Championship each of the last two seasons (2022 & 2023).
During Head Coach Mike Holloway’s tenure the men’s program has totaled 11 National Championships, all of which have occurred since 2010. The men’s team also boasts 14 runner-up finishes over that span. The women’s program has totaled two national championships in that time frame, both occurring in 2022.
The most recent championship (2023) was headlined by the men’s 4x400m team of Emmanuel Bamidele, Jacory Patterson, Jevaughn Powell and Ryan Willie who not only placed first, earned ten points and sealed the victory for the Gators but did so in collegiate record fashion (2:57.74).
While the 4x400m team stole the headlines, Gators scored huge points in the 100m (Pjai Austin), 200m (Robert Gregory), 400m (Emmanuel Bamidele, Ryan Willie, Jevaughn Powell), 4×100, Long Jump (Malcolm Clemons) and Triple Jump (Sean Dixon-Bodie).
NCAA INDOORS 2024
The Gators appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships was highlighted by two NCAA Individual Championships and six additional medal finishes.
Parker Valby was the only Gator to record an NCAA Indoor Individual Title during the 2024 season as she completed the distance double by taking home first place finishes in both the 3000m and 5000m. Valby earned her third and fourth individual championships in record fashion. She broke her own collegiate record in the 5000m and set a new meet record in the 300m during her time in Boston, Mass.
Other medal finishes were obtained by: Malcolm Clemons (Long Jump), Robert Gregory (200m/4x400m), Reheem Hayles (4x400m), Jenoah McKiver (4x400m), Jevaughn Powell (4x400m), Flomena Asekol (DMR), Claire Bryant (Long Jump), Jess Edwards (DMR), Laila Owens (DMR), Grace Stark (60m H) and Elise Thorner (DMR).
LAST TIME OUT
The program began the 2024 Outdoor postseason by participating in the SEC Outdoor Championships hosted by the University of Florida.
The Gators earned a total of 18 medals, six of which were gold. Gold medals were earned by Parvej Khan (1500m), Flomena Asekol (1500m), Claire Bryant (Long Jump), Grace Stark (100m H), Parker Valby (5000m) and Alida van Daalen (Discus).
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
On the men’s side, Florida had nine individuals earned Outdoor All-American status while totaling 18 honors. The Gators returned four of those athletes in 2024 including: Robert Gregory (Sprints), Jevaughn Powell (Sprints), Malcolm Clemons (Jumps) and Sean Dixon-Bodie (Jumps)
Fourteen individual women were named Outdoor All-Americans for Florida last season, accumulating 24 honors. Seven of those athletes returned for the 2024 season including Claire Bryant (Jumps), Kayla Davis (Sprints), Jayla Hollis (Hurdles/Sprints), Grace Stark (Hurdles/Sprints), Parker Valby (Distance), Alida van Daalen (Throws) and Vanessa Watson (Hurdles/Sprints).
TRANSFERS ON A TEAR
Florida welcomed a total of 17 transfers to the program (ten men, seven women), many of which have made a significant impact on Florida’s success in 2024.
The Gators added sprinters Reheem Hayles (North Carolina A&T), Wanya McCoy (Clemson) and Jenoah McKiver (Iowa). Hayles immediately jumped into the Gators 4x400m relay, earning five spots on UF’s All-Time Top 10 list (three indoor, two indoor). McCoy has stepped into a large role with the Gators competing in the 60m, 100m, 200m and the 4x400m relay. The sprinter took home gold in the 200m and silver in the 60m at the SEC Indoor Championships and added silver medals in both the 100m and 200m at the SEC Outdoor Championships. The final piece of the puzzle came from Jenoah McKiver who helped the Gators place second or better in four 4x400m relays including taking home silver at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Florida also added throwers Kai Chang (University of West Indies), Will Gross IV (Akron) and Abraham Sargent (Oral Roberts). Chang holds the record in the Men’s Discus Throw for Florida (63.06m/206’11”) while also winning silver at the SEC Outdoor Championships in the event. Will Gross IV has recorded five straight top-five finishes in the Hammer Throw including a bronze medal at the SEC Championships. Gross IV holds the No. 7 mark on UF’s All-Time Top 10 list. Sargent has been a force to reckon with this outdoor season, winning the silver medal at the conference championships while holding the No. 5 mark in program history in the Javelin Throw.
The Gators also added multiple distance runners to the roster via the transfer portal. Flomena Asekol, who the Gators picked up from Alabama, has been a significant factor to the Gators success in distance in 2024. The Kenyan national took home first in both the mile and the DMR at the SEC Indoor Championships and backed that up with a gold medal in the 1500m during SEC Outdoors. Asekol’s mile time of 4:26.47 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational earned her the top spot in Florida history for the Women’s Indoor Mile. Elise Thorner was a new addition from the University of New Mexico. She notably won gold at the SEC Indoor Championships in the DMR and holds the school record in the 3000m Steeplechase with a time of 9:28.49 and won silver in the 3000m S at SECs.
Anthaya Charlton (Kentucky) has added versatile talent and SEC experience to the team and has jumped her way onto the UF All-Time Top 10 list landing at No. 6 on the indoor list and No. 7 on the outdoor list as well as winning silver at Outdoor SECs for the second consecutive year.
BREAKING INTO THE UF TOP 10
Over the course of the 2023-2024 Track & Field season, the Gators have added 49 new marks to the University of Florida, Indoor and Outdoor, All-Time Top 10 Lists, ten of which stand as school records. A breakdown of the 2024 all-time marks for both the Indoor & Outdoor season lies below.
2024 Men’s Outdoor:
100m | No. 6 – Wanya McCoy – 10.02 (SEC Outdoor Championships)
200m | No. 4 – Wanya McCoy – 19.93 (SEC Outdoor Championships)
800m | No. 4 – Parvej Khan – 1:46.12 (Pepsi Florida Relays)
1500m | No. 2 – Parvej Khan – 3:38.76 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
4x400m | No. 3 – Hayles, Powell, Schwartzman, McKiver – 2:59.48 (SEC Outdoor Championships)
4x400m | No. 10 – Hayles, McCoy, Powell, McKiver – 3:01.20 (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
Shot Put | No. 9 – Kai Chang – 18.64m/61’2” (Pepsi Florida Relays)
Hammer Throw | No. 6 – Will Gross IV – 66.61m/218’6” (FSU Relays)
Discus Throw | No. 1 – Kai Chang – 63.06m/206’11” (Oklahoma Throw Series)
Javelin Throw | No. 5 – Abraham Sargent – 75.12m/246’5” (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
2024 Women’s Outdoor
100m H | No. 1 – Grace Stark – 12.53 (SEC Outdoor Championships)
800m | No. 6 – Flomena Asekol – 2:02.83 (Pepsi Florida Relays)
1500m | No. 4 – Flomena Asekol – 4:11.55 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
1500m | No. 8 – Elise Thorner – 4:14.55 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
3000m S | No. 1 – Elise Thorner – 9:28.49 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
3000m S | No. 10 – Rylee Pustilnik – 10:36.27 (East Coast Relays)
5000m | No. 1 – Parker Valby – 15:07.86 (SEC Outdoor Championships)
5000m | No. 8 – Flomena Asekol – 16:06.42 (SEC Outdoor Championships)
10000m | No. 1 – Parker Valby – 30:50.43 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
10000m | No. 5 – Allison Wilson – 33:34.95 (Bryan Clay Invitational)
4x100m | No. 10 – Davis, Stark, Hollis, Charlton – 43.60 (LSU Invitational)
Long Jump | No. 7 – Anthaya Charlton – 6.60m/21’8” (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
Shot Put | No. 8 – Gracelyn Leiseth – 17.16m/56’3.75” (Tom Jones Memorial Invitational)
Discus Throw | No. 1 – Alida van Daalen – 66.31m/217’6” (Oklahoma Throw Series)
Heptathlon | No. 9 – Melanie Welsing – 5014 (Hurricane Alumni Invitational)
2024 Men’s Indoor:
60m | No. 6 – Wanya McCoy – 6.58 (SEC Championships)
60m H | No. 7 – Joshua Brockman – 7.75 (SEC Championships)
200m | No. 3 – Wanya McCoy – 20.29 (SEC Championships)
400m | No. 8 – Jevaughn Powell – 45.35 (SEC Championships)
800m | No. 10 – Miguel Pantojas – 1:48.04 (Tyson Invitational)
Mile | No. 1 – Parvej Khan – 3:55.41 (Terrier DMR Challenge)
4x400m | No. 4 – Powell, Gregory, McKiver, Hayles – 3:02.53 (NCAA Championships)
4x400m | No. 6 – Hayles, Schwartzman, McKiver, Powell – 3:02.78 (NCAA Championships)
Long Jump | No. 2 – Malcolm Clemons – 8.22m/26’11.75” (SEC Championships)
Weight Throw | No. 7 – Will Gross IV – 20.25m/66’5.25” (SEC Championships)
Shot Put | No. 5 – Kai Chang – 19.36m/63’6.25” (SEC Championships)
2024 Women’s Indoor:
200m | No. 4 – Jasmine Montgomery – 23.00 (Razorback Invitational)
Mile | No. 1 – Flomena Asekol – 4:26.47 (David Hemery Valentine Invitational)
Mile | No. 5 – Elise Thorner – 4:35.72 (David Hemery Valentine Invitational)
3000m | No. 1 – Parker Valby – 8:41.50 (NCAA Championships)
3000m | No. 2 – Flomena Asekol – 8:52.57 (Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener)
5000m | No. 1 – Parker Valby – 14:52.79 (NCAA Championships)
5000m | No. 3 – Allison Wilson – 15:58.14 (Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener)
5000m | No. 5 – Amelia Mazza-Downie – 16:00.49 (SEC Championships)
DMR | No. 1 – Thorner, Owens, Edwards, Asekol – 10:52.06 (Razorback Invitational)
DMR | No. 2 – Thorner, Owens, Asekol, Valby – 10:53.29 (SEC Championships)
Long Jump | No. 6 – Anthaya Charlton – 6.39m/20’11.75” (McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational)
High Jump | No. 4 – Claire Bryant – 1.84m/6’0.5” (McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational)
ATHLETE ENTRIES
Wednesday, May 22 – Track
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
110m H (First Round) / 6:00 p.m.
Joshua Brockman
1500m (First Round) / 6:30 p.m.
Parvej Khan
100m (First Round) / 7:00 p.m.
Wanya McCoy
400m (First Round) / 7:25 p.m.
Reheem Hayles
Jenoah McKiver
Jevaughn Powell
Rios Prude Jr.
Ashton Schwartzman
800m (First Round) / 7:50 p.m.
Sam Austin
Edward Kepran
Ryan Maseman
Miguel Pantojas
Joe Wester
200m (First Round) / 8:45 p.m.
Robert Gregory
Wanya McCoy
Wednesday, May 22 – Field
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
Hammer Throw (First Round) / 10:00 a.m.
Will Gross IV
Javelin Throw (First Round) / 1:00 p.m.
Zach Godbold
Abraham Sargent
Long Jump (First Round) / 6:00 p.m.
Malcolm Clemons
Sean Dixon-Bodie
Caleb Foster
Thursday, May 23 – Track
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
100m H (First Round) / 6:00 p.m.
Jayla Hollis
Grace Stark
1500m (First Round) / 6:30 p.m.
Flomena Asekol
800m (First Round) / 7:30 p.m.
Jess Edwards
10,000m (Semifinals) / 9:10 p.m.
Parker Valby
Allison Wilson
Thursday, May 23 – Field
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
Long Jump (First Round) / 6:00 p.m.
Kendall Brown
Claire Bryant
Anthaya Charlton
Shot Put (First Round) / 6:30 p.m.
Gracelyn Leiseth
Alida van Daalen
Friday, May 24 – Track
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
4x100m Relay (Quarterfinals) / 5:00 p.m.
Florida Relay Team
1500m (Quarterfinals) / 5:15 p.m.
–
100m (Quarterfinals) / 6:35 p.m.
–
400m (Quarterfinals) / 6:50 p.m.
–
800m (Quarterfinals) / 7:05 p.m.
–
200m (Quarterfinals) / 7:50 p.m.
–
4x400m (Quarterfinals) / 8:45 p.m.
Florida Relay Team
Friday, May 24 – Field
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
Discus Throw (First Round) / 1:00 p.m.
Calvin Bostic
Kai Chang
Triple Jump (First Round) / 6:00 p.m.
Sean Dixon-Bodie
MJ Holloway II
Saturday, May 25 – Track
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
4x100m (Quarterfinals) / 5:00 p.m.
Florida Relay Team
1500m (Quarterfinals) / 5:15 p.m.
–
3000m S (Quarterfinals) / 5:40 p.m.
Elise Thorner
100m H (Quarterfinals) / 6:15 p.m.
–
800m (Quarterfinals) / 7:05 p.m.
–
5000m (Semifinals) / 8:10 p.m.
Flomena Asekol
Parker Valby
Saturday, May 25 – Field
Events / Time (EST)
Athlete Entries
Discus Throw (First Round) / 1:00 p.m.
Akari Isaac
Da’Moni Kelly
Gracelyn Leiseth
Alida van Daalen
High Jump (First Round) / 2:00 p.m.
Claire Bryant
Triple Jump (First Round) / 6:00 p.m.
India Alix
Alissa Braxton
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