Florida Gators
Florida Intercollegiate
T&F Sets Records, Tallies Wins at Home Opener
Sunday, January 18, 2004 | Track and Field
University of Florida thrower Kim Barrett set the collegiate record in the weight throw Saturday at the Florida Intercollegiates, reaching 22.72m/74-6.50. Barrett was one of six Gators who recorded wins in the first home meet of the indoor season.
Candice Scott set the O'Connell Center record in the shot put with her winning throw of 16.86m/55-3.75, moving into second place on UF's all-time list and automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Novlene Williams added a win in the 400m dash for the women's team, clocking in at 53.10 for an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. The 4x400m relay team of Tiandra Ponteen, Kamille Bratton, Andrea Bliss and Novlene Williams combined to finish the meet with a win in 3:41.89 for the Gators.
"This was a good meet for us - I was very pleased," said Florida Women's Head Coach Tom Jones. "You can tell who worked hard over the holidays. The weight throwers - that wasn't a surprise. Everyone did a great job. We had a lot of nice performances."
On the men's side, Antonio Emperator improved his school-record mark in his win in the weight throw, reaching 19.62m/64-4.50. Josh Walker won the 55m hurdles in 7.20, moving into third place in school history in the event, and Chip Heuser added another win to his total, clearing 5.20m/17-00.75 in the pole vault. Kerron Clement clocked in at 21.34 to win the 200m dash.
"The big thing I was looking for today was to see them compete. I wanted to see how they'd handle having the uniform on and competing against other schools, and I was very pleased," said UF Men's Head Coach Mike Holloway. "I think they're a very special group and they can do very special things. I'm very proud of Josh Walker, Antonio Emperator, Michael Morrison, Kerron Clement, the list goes on and on. We have to keep getting better and working hard, starting right now."
Barrett's mark in the weight throw was an NCAA automatic qualifying mark and also improved her second-place mark in school history, and LaQuanda Cotten's third-place throw of 22.00m/72-2.25 in the weight throw moves her into fourth place in NCAA and UF history and was also an automatic mark. Barrett recorded her second automatic qualifier of the day, finishing second in the shot put with a mark of 16.80m/55-1.50. Rachel Longfors (19.65m/64-5.75) recorded an NCAA provisional mark as well as a personal record and Scarlett Ekeroma (18.47m/60-7.25) improved her personal best in rounding out the top five in the weight throw.
Mike Morrison recorded a provisional mark of 7.56m/24-9.75 in the long jump, finishing second and moving into eighth place in school history in the event in just his first meet as a Gator. Shane Stroup was the top collegiate finisher in the men's 800m, clocking in at 1:51.17 to finish third overall, and Stefan Pastor finished third in the 400m dash in 49.20.
Clement led the Gator men's team in a top-five sweep in the 200m dash, as Kyle Farmer finished second in 21.48, followed by Ahmad Jasmine in third in 21.61. Sekou Clarke and Reggie Witherspoon tied for fourth place, both finishing in 21.74 to round out the top five.
Andrea Bliss finished second in the 55m hurdles in a provisional qualifying time of 7.65, finishing just behind former NCAA Champion Joyce Bates and ahead of another former NCAA champion and a world champion. Tiandra Ponteen also recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 400m dash, finishing second in 54.24. With that time, Ponteen moved into 10th place in UF history in the indoor 400m. Dana VanWagner moved into seventh place in UF history in the pole vault, clearing a bar of 3.71m/12-2.
Former Gators Erin Gilreath and Matt Vincent had banner days Saturday. Gilreath, the 2003 NCAA Weight Throw Champion, set the fieldhouse record in the weight throw with her winning mark of 23.09m/75-9.25, while Vincent cleared 2.18m/7-1.75 to win the high jump.
Both Florida teams return to action next Sunday, Jan. 25, when the Gators host the SEC Invite.
UF Wins: 8
Men (4): Kerron Clement - 200m, 21.34; Antonio Emperator - weight throw, 19.62m/64-4.50; Chip Heuser - pole vault, 5.20m/17-00.75; Josh Walker - 55m hurdles, 7.20
Women (4): Kim Barrett - weight throw, 22.72m/74-6.50; Candice Scott - shot put, 16.86m/55-3.75; Novlene Williams - 400m dash, 53.10; 4x400m relay, 3:41.89
UF Automatic NCAA Qualifiers: 4
Women (4): Kim Barrett - weight throw, 22.72m/74-6.50, shot put, 16.80m/55-1.50; LaQuanda Cotten - weight throw, 22.00m/72-2.25; Candice Scott - shot put, 16.86m/55-3.75
UF Provisional NCAA Qualifiers: 12
Men (6): Kerron Clement - 55m hurdles, 7.35, 200m, 21.34; Antonio Emperator - weight throw, 19.62m/64-4.50; Kyle Farmer - 200m, 21.48; Mike Morrison - long jump, 7.56m/24-9.75; Josh Walker - 55m hurdles, 7.20
Women (6): Andrea Bliss - 55m hurdles, 7.65; LaQuanda Cotten - shot put, 15.65m/51-4.25; Akera Lathan - shot put, 15.42m/50-7.25; Rachel Longfors - weight throw, 19.65m/64-5.75; Tiandra Ponteen - 400m dash, 54.24; Novlene Williams - 400m dash, 53.10
