Gator Country

Florida senior Omar Craddock competes in the long jump at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic on April 21 at James G. Pressly Stadium. / Gator Country file photo by Saj Guevara

Florida Gators track and field standout Omar Craddock had an impressive 2012 season as the Killeen, Texas native captured both a NCAA Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Championship in the triple jump event and played a major role in securing Florida’s sweep of team national championships.

It comes as no surprise that Craddock was named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List for 2013. The Bowerman was introduced in 2009 as an award given to the most outstanding men and women’s collegiate track and field athlete in the country.

In addition to Craddock’s NCAA Championships, he also swept the SEC Championships for triple jump in 2012. He went on to participate in the Olympic trials, placing fourth in the triple jump and just shy of securing a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

This is the fifth time a Gators track and field athlete has been named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List. Former Florida track and field athlete Christian Taylor is the only athlete in school history to become a finalist for the award.

Craddock will kick off his 2013 indoor campaign on Jan. 12 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener in Birmingham, Ala.

About the author

DrewLaing

Drew Laing is a junior at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Before college, Drew lived in Lakeland, Fla., his entire life. He began in journalism during his senior year of high school and has continued studying it throughout college. In addition to his internship at Gator Country, he is the Editor-In-Chief of The Samford Crimson and a collegiate correspondent for USA Today. Drew enjoys the finer things in life like Tampa Bay Rays baseball and PB&J sandwiches.

More Other Sports | RSS