UF Athletes Ranked Among Best In U.S. By Track & Field News
Friday, December 30, 2005 | General
Five current University of Florida track and field athletes were hailed in the January issue of Track & Field news among the top professional or amateur athletes in the U.S. in their respective events.
For the men's team, senior Shane Stroup (Highland, Md.), junior Mike Morrison (Willingboro, N.J.) and sophomore Wes Stockbarger (Port Charlotte, Fla.) each posted among the top times and marks by American athletes in 2005, while seniors Rachel Longfors (Erhard, Minn.) and Jyn Wynn (Douglasville, Ga.) accomplished the same on the women's side.
Longfors led the crop of current Gators with a No. 8 U.S. ranking in the discus with a best of 187-1 during the 2005 season. The school record holder in the event, Longfors earned a pair of All-America honors in 2005 and finished second in the discus at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Longfors also had the 37th-best throw in the hammer (191-10) in the U.S. in 2005.
Morrison paced the men with the No. 9 U.S. ranking in the high jump with a best of 7-4.50, while also tying for the 15th best mark in the long jump by an American in 2005 (25-9.50). Morrison earned five All-America honors in 2005 and finished fourth in the high jump at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor championships, while also taking fifth in the long jump at both meets and running the second leg of the 4x100m relay that took second at the outdoor meet.
Stroup shattered the Florida record in the 1,500m in 2005 on his way to the 13th-best American time in 2005 (3:38.57). He pulled off late heroics at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in moving from 11th to fifth on the final lap to break the previous UF record held by current cross country and distance coach Jeff Pigg (3:41.04).
Wynn posted a top mark of 197-2 in the hammer, which was the 26th-best toss by an American in 2005. Wynn achieved her mark at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships where she took a career-best fourth.
After redshirting during the indoor season, Stockbarger came out and posted the 35th-best mark by an American in the discus in 2005 (184-10). He finished 17th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the discus after taking fourth at the SEC Championships.
Several former Gators also fared well not only in the U.S. rankings, but in the world rankings. In all, four former men's athletes totaled five top-10 U.S. rankings, while five former women tallied five top-10 U.S. rankings.
Former UF athletes Hazel Clark (800m), Kristin Heaston (shot put) and Erin Gilreath (hammer) were each ranked as the top American in their respective events with Clark also holding the No. 9 spot in the world and Gilreath No. 10.
For the men, Kerron Clement, who posted the top time in the world in 2005 in the 400m hurdles (47.24), was ranked No. 3 in the world and in the U.S. in the same event, while John Capel locked down the No. 8 world ranking in the 200m and the No. 5 U.S. ranking in the same event. Capel also came in at No. 6 in the U.S. in the 100m, while former Gators Josh Walker (110m hurdles) and Rickey Harris (400m hurdles) were ranked 10th in the U.S. in their respective events.
The 2006 Florida track and field season begins soon with the Florida Intercollegiate on Jan. 15 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The first event is set for 10:30 a.m.
