This week, the world of collegiate
track & field heads to the historic Hayward Field out in Eugene, Oregon for
their last event of the season. Our No. 1 ranked Florida Gators are looking to
reestablish their title as the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Champions
after losing to Oregon last year. Just before heading to Eugene, the Gators
made a quick stop in Jacksonville, Florida for the NCAA East Preliminary
rounds. To call the weekend a success is an understatement, with a total of 23
athletes, both men and women, qualifying for the outdoor championships.
There is a
tremendous amount of talent within the Southeastern Conference, but Florida has
consistently proven to be a track and field powerhouse thanks to Coach Mike
Holloway and his staff. Most notable of his team are senior sprinter Dedric
Dukes and senior jumper Marquis Dendy. Both athletes have built an impressive
resume on the track over the past four years. You can expect that they end
their final season with the Gators with some of their best performances yet!
Before the meet ended, I got a chance to talk with both athletes about their
performances and what we should expect to see out at Hayward Field. “It’s
exciting to have the team heading back to Oregon. We are really looking to
bring home the championship, it would be a great way to end my last season,”
said Dendy. Keep in mind, Dendy had a record-breaking 8.05 meter leap in the
long jump. Sprinter Dedric Dukes is looking forward to the same season ending,
with hopes of taking his career to the next level. His feelings on the moment
were summed up in four simple words, “Last one, best one.” With a winning time
of 20.14, Dukes is looking to hold on to his title in the 200 meter dash. Do
not be surprised if we see a sub-20 performance this weekend, as he told us he
has been working really hard for this moment, especially after overcoming an
ankle injury just before the start of the indoor season. 
While these two
Gators shine in the spotlight, there’s still much more to expect from the team.
Including runners Najee Glass and Antwan Wright who are a part of the 4x100
relay. You should also look out for senior Mark Parrish, who is looking to take
his final wins in the steeplechase and the distance duo consisting of Andres
Arroyo and Ryan Schnulle dominating the 800 meter race. Of course, we can’t
forget about our Lady Gators! They are heading into the competition ranked No.
6. If regionals were any indication of what to expect of the Florida women this
weekend, we are in for a treat! Sprinter Kyra Jefferson broke a University of
Florida record with her 22.49 finish in the 200 meter dash. Senior hurdler
Bridgette Owens also had a great performance in the 100 meter hurdle alongside
fellow senior Cierra Brewer, who is best known for her success as Florida’s
leading triple jumper. The women’s 4x100 team also took a huge lead in the last
leg of the relay, confirming their spots in Eugene with a 42.93 finish.
You can catch the
NCAA Championships starting June 10th, hosted by the University of
Oregon. We wish our men’s and women’s teams the best of luck as they make their
way to Oregon this week. As always, it’s great to be a Florida Gator!
--solementality
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