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Gator Track and Field Makes a Statement on Day One of Florida Relays

        

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Florida track and field team earned six victories on the opening day of the 68th Annual Pepsi Florida Relays, setting the Gators up for a strong day of relays on Saturday. It was a well-rounded group representing the Gators on Friday, as jumpers, sprinters, throwers and distance runners were all part of the winning circle.

"Tomorrow is what the Florida Relays are all about," Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. "It's a team thing for us. It's a lot of hype and a lot of passion. There are a lot of high school relays tomorrow too and for us, we want to build on what we did today. It's hard to remember everything we did today because it was such a great performance for us. We need to have the same drive, passion and focus that we did today."

Title winners for the Orange and Blue included sophomore Lorraine Graham (Springdale, Md.), who took home the women's long jump title with a personal best of 6.20m/20-4.25 (-3.2).

Sophomore thrower Stipe Zunic (Zadar, Croatia) followed shortly after with a win of his own in the men's javelin throw, tossing a mark of 73.38m/240-9.

Junior sprinter Tony McQuay (Riviera Beach, Fla.) turned in a time of 45.65 to take the men's 400 meters, a time that ties for the best collegiate time in the country.

In the men's 100 meters, senior sprinter Jeff Demps (Winter Garden, Fla.) won a tightly contested battle for the top spot, winning his heat and overall with a time of 10.11.

Freshman Marquis Dendy (Middleton, Del.) won his first long jump title of the outdoor season after capturing the SEC men's indoor long jump title, leaping 7.68m/25-2 on Friday afternoon.

Newcomer Agata Strausa (Riga, Latvia) won her first individual title as a Gator with her finish of 10:21.03, a Florida Relays record and fourth all-time in Florida school history.

The final race of the evening, the men's 5000 meters, proved to be worth the wait. Junior Josh Izewski (Doylestown, Pa.), who has fought back in the last year from injury, came from behind to upset a strong field, including 2012 SEC Champion in the 3000 and 5000 meters, Kentucky's Luis Orta. Izewski won the race in 14:02.57, a personal record and fourth all-time at Florida.

"Josh was a guy who had a lot of success a couple of years ago, and he had a few injuries last year," Holloway said. "We talked after cross country season about getting back to that level and I think what you saw tonight was a big by-product of that focus."

Other prime performances came from the ladies' quartermilers, as sophomore Ebony Eutsey (Miami, Fla.) and junior Lanie Whittaker (Miami, Fla.) went neck-and-neck in the women's 400 meters. Whittaker held a steady lead throughout the first 300 meters, but Eutsey was right on her heels and the two could not have finished any closer, as Whittaker won and Eutsey finished right behind her, turning in times of 52.06 and 52.07, respectively, to finish as the top two collegiate performers in the event.

"You look at those two and I don't think anyone will be surprised with the result because they're both very talented," Holloway commented. "We talked with all of the women this week about believing they can be an elite team. I think what you'll see from the women (this season) is a lot of passion and a lot of fight, because they can be one of the better teams in the country."

Junior Ashley Miller (Miami Beach, Fla.) led all Gators in the women's discus with a mark of 51.39m/168-7, placing fourth in the event.

Junior Jeremy Postin (Auburndale, Fla.) finished fifth in the invite section of the men's hammer throw, setting a new school record and personal best with a mark of 67.78m/222-4.

Junior Ugonna Ndu (Newark, N.J.) set a new personal best in the women's 400 meter hurdles, moving to fourth all-time at Florida with a time of 57.59, finishing sixth.

Sophomore Eddie Lovett (West Palm Beach, Fla.) finished 12th overall and third amongst collegians in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 13.86.



 

 

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