Grace Stark and Alida van Daalen Reset Own School Records on Final Day of Tom Jones Memorial Invitational
The Gators totaled an additional 19 top ten finishes, four Florida All-Time Top 10 mark and seven personal bests in their weekend action.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators Track & Field program turned in countless impressive performances on the final day of the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational and the Bryan Clay Invitational headlined by Grace Stark and Alida van Daalen resetting their own school records in the 100m Hurdles and Discus Throw, respectively. The program totaled an additional 19 top ten finishes, four Florida All-Time Top 10 marks and seven personal records.
Saturday also marked the return of multiple Gator Greats to Percy Beard Track as they competed professionally back on their home turf.
TOP PERFORMANCES
Grace Stark returned to 2022 form as she rattled off a record breaking run of 12.56 in the 100m Hurdle finals. Stark’s run breaks her own school record which she set in 2022 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational (12.58). In addition to setting a new top time in UF History, the White Lake, Michigan native holds the No. 1 time in the NCAA in 2024 and the fifth best time in the world this year.
For the third consecutive week Alida van Daalen has broken her own discus school record: first at Pepsi Florida Relays, then at the Triton Invitational and now at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational. The record, and van Daalen’s personal best, now stand at 62.58m/205’4”. The sophomore’s mark stands at No. 2 in the nation in 2024, top in the Southeastern Conference and allowed her to take home first place in the Discus Throw Invite on Saturday.
Gracelyn Leiseth carried her momentum from Friday night into Saturday’s competition as the freshman finished first in the Women’s Discus Throw Open. Her mark of 51.93m/170’4” makes this the third instance Leiseth has thrown over 51.00m this season.
Participating in the Men’s Hammer Throw Invite, Will Gross IV showed his consistency as he recorded a mark of over 66.00m for the third time this outdoor season. The Newfane, New York native’s best throw on Saturday landed at 66.35m/217’8” which placed him second in the competition.
Jevaughn Powell recorded the fastest opening 400m time of his collegiate career as he posted a time of 45.21. His time was not only good enough to place him fourth in the event but lands him in fourth in the NCAA in 2024 as participants of the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational take up the top seven spots.
Kai Chang placed fourth in the Men’s Discus Throw Invite with his best throw landing at 59.88m/196’5”. Chang just narrowly missed his third consecutive meet in which he has recorded a throw of over 60.00m.
ALTERING THE RECORD BOOKS
The Florida Men’s 4x400m team of Reheem Hayles, Wanya McCoy, Jevaughn Powell and Jenoah McKiver topped the entire field of collegiate and professional teams to take home a first place finish in the event. Their time, 3:01.20, is the third fastest in the nation this year and No. 9 on Florida’s All-Time Top 10 list.
Flomena Asekol, Elise Thorner and Parvej Khan, all competed at the Bryan Clay Invitational, all participated in their respective 1500m Invites and all earned Florida All-Time Top 10 marks in the event. Flomena Asekol holds the No. 4 time on the Women’s 1500m All-Time list crossing the finish line in 4:11.55. Elise Thorner is tied for eighth on the list with Imogen Barrett with a time of 4:14.55. Finally, Parvej Khan, in his first collegiate outdoor 1500m, snatched the No. 2 spot on the men’s list with a time of 3:38.76.
LET’S GET PERSONAL
The Gators totaled two personal records in the Men’s 100m as Malique Smith-Band and Kevar Williams notched times of 10.46 and 10.87.
Ryan Maseman, Miguel Pantojas, Joe Wester and Jess Edwards all tallied personal records in the 800m. Maseman, Pantojas and Wester, all running in the same heat, crossed the finish line with times of 1:48.03, 1:48.07, and 1:48.29, respectively. Edwards topped her time from the Tyson Invitational as she finished in 2:05.99.
MJ Holloway and India Alix both recorded personal records in the Men’s and Women’s Triple Jump. Shortly after being honored for Senior Day, Holloway took to the runway and on his first jump landed a mark of 15.60m/51’2.25”. Alix, the freshman from Houston, Texas, secured a best jump of 12.63m/41’5.25 (2.2m/s). However, due to the wind assist, her personal record sits at 12.33m/40’5.5”.
GATOR GREATS BACK AT HOME
Gator Greats Champion Allison, Emmanuel Bamidele, Talitha Diggs, Joseph Fahnbulleh, Grant Holloway, Jacory Patterson, Hakim Sani Brown, Christian Tayor and Ryan Willie all participated in Saturday’s competition as they continue their professional Track & Field careers The results from their events on Saturday are listed below:
Champion Allison | 400m – 45.49, 4x400m – 3:02.52
Emmanuel Bamidele | 400m – 45.55
Talitha Diggs | 100m – 11.01
Joseph Fahnbulleh | 200m – 10.07
Grant Holloway | 110m H – 13.21
Jacory Patterson | 400m – 45.54, 4x400m – 3:02.52
Hakim Sani Brown | 100m – 10.04
Christian Taylor | Triple Jump – 16.41m/53’10.25”
Ryan Willie | 400m – 45.79, 4×400 – 3:02.52
RESULTS
Saturday, March 30 – Track
Events / Time (EST)
Place. Athlete – Time | Notes
100m (M)
24. Malique Smith-Band – 10.46 | PR
49. Ryan McCloskey – 10.67
64. Kevar Williams – 10.87 | PR
100m (W)
31. Anthaya Charlton – 11.57
110m H INVITE Prelims (M)
26. Joshua Brockman – 14.12
30. Joey Stravato – 14.23
100m H INVITE Prelims (W)
1. Grace Stark – 12.71
18. Jayla Hollis – 13.37
100m H INVITE Final (W)
1. Grace Stark – 12.56 | PR, School Record, No. 1 in NCAA (‘24)
400m (M)
28. Jacob Miley – 48.92
400m INVITE (M)
4. Jevaughn Powell – 45.21
9. Jenoah McKiver – 45.41
13 Reheem Hayles – 45.83
20. Ashton Schwartzman – 46.26
25. Rios Prude Jr. – 46.55
800m (M)
6. Sam Austin – 1:47.42 | SB
9. Ryan Maseman – 1:48.03 | =PR
10. Miguel Pantojas – 1:48.07 | PR
13. Joe Wester – 1:48.29 | PR
27. Edward Kepran – 1:49.88
46. Jonathan Pitchford – 1:51.80 | SB
48. Michael Fiore – 1:51.91
51. Matthew Mule’ – 1:52.14
56. Chase Ruskin – 1:53.05
57. Noah Musselwhite – 1:53.07
800m (W)
16. Jess Edwards – 2:05.99 | PR
45. Lucinda Rourke – 2:10.88
4x100m Relay (M)
8. Powell, Hayles, Smith-Band, Gregory – 39.43
4x100m Relay (W)
12. Davis, Stark, Hollis, Charlton – 44.05
4x400m Relay (M)
Hayles, McCoy, Powell, McKiver | No. 9 on UF’s
Schwartzman, Prude, Smith-Band, Maseman
Miley, Pantojas, Holloway, Austin
Saturday, April 13 – Field
Events
Place. Athlete – Mark | Notes
High Jump INVITE (W)
9. Claire Bryant – 1.74m/5’8.5”
Triple Jump INVITE (M)
6. Sean Dixon-Bodie – 16.35m/53’7.75”
9. Michael Holloway II – 15.60m/51’2.25” | PR
Triple Jump (W)
9. India Alix – 12.63m/41’5.25” (2.2m/s)
12.33m/40’5.5” | PR
Triple Jump INVITE (W)
10. Alissa Braxton – 12.53m/41’1.5”
Shot Put (M)
2. Logan Montgomery – 17.22m/56’6”
Hammer Throw INVITE (M)
2. Will Gross IV – 66.35m/217’8”
Discus Throw (M)
8. Logan Montgomery – 48.10m/157’10”
Discus Throw INVITE (M)
4. Kai Chang – 59.88m/196’5”
Discus Throw (W)
1. Gracelyn Leiseth – 51.93m/170’4”
5. Da’Moni Kelly – 49.42m/162’2”
Discus Throw INVITE (W)
1. Alida van Daalen – 62.58m/205’4” | PR, School Record, No. 1 in NCAA (‘24)
10. Akari Isaac – 51.85m/170’1”
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