Senior Calvin Smith made his final 400-meter run at the James G. Pressly Stadium/Percy Beard Track complex a memorable one.
The senior posted a 2010 world-leading time of 44.81 seconds in beating a world-class field as Florida won 11 events Saturday in its own Tom Jones Memorial Classic. Smith, competing against Tyson Gay, a three-time gold medalist at the 2007 Osaka World Championships, and Renny Quow, the third-place finisher at the 2009 Berlin World Championships, ran a strategic race to win. His time was the second-fastest time in school history and bettered his previous best of 44.96 set last spring in the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Gainesville.
“I thought we did some special things today,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I was very, very pleased with the way we competed. This meet was in memory of coach Jones and I wanted to make sure we went into this meet and performed at a high level to honor him. We can’t rest on our laurels, we have to come out here and continue to work to get better.”
The meet, which honored the late women’s track and field coach at Florida, also served as Senior Day for a number of Florida track and field athletes who were recognized prior to the running events.
“When our seniors like Calvin and Mariam (Kevkhishvili) joined this program, it wasn’t at the level we are at today,” Holloway said. “They believed in what we were doing and you can see the results of that today. What our fans got to see in those kinds of athletes for four years is something very, very special.”
Redshirt freshman thrower Jeremy Postin broke his own school record in the men’s hammer throw with his toss of 198 feet, 9 inches. His previous best of 196-6 came at the UCF Invitational March 26. Kevkhishvili, a four-time NCAA Champion and seven-time All-American, won the women’s shot put with a personal-record throw of 60 feet, 6.75 inches. Her effort was the second-best throw in school history. Sophomore Keely Medeiros finished second with a throw of 53-2.75 and sophomore Fidela James took fifth with a personal-best toss of 50-10.75. Medeiros also was third in the women’s discus with a personal-best throw of 170 feet, 6 inches.
Senior Evelien Dekkers won the women’s javelin with a season-best throw of 171 feet even. Her best effort of 174 feet, 5 inches came during last season’s NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Junior thrower Kemal Mesic was the top collegian in the men’s shot put with a toss of 63 feet, 7 inches, a foot short of his personal best. Sophomore Christian Taylor won his first long jump competition of the outdoor season with a leap of 24 feet, 7.75 inches. Freshman Omar Craddock was second at 23-0.75.
Sophomore sprinter Jeff Demps, whose 10.11-second winning effort in the 100 meters at the Pepsi Florida Relays was a world’s best this season, won the event Saturday with his 10.22 clocking. He also anchored Florida’s winning 4×100-meter relay team (consisting of fellow football player Chris Rainey, Jeremy Hall and Terrell Wilks) that was clocked in 39.06 seconds. Florida’s other 4×100-meter relay team of R.J. Anderson, Calvin Smith, Jovon Toppin and Tony McQuay were clocked in 39.31 seconds. McQuay had a personal-best time of 45.37 seconds finishing fourth in the 400 meters and Anderson won his heat of the 400 in a personal-best time of 46.37 seconds.
Senior Shara Proctor won the women’s triple jump with an effort of 43 feet, 7.25 inches. Michael Anderson won the men’s steeplechase with a personal-best time of 9:09.48. Senior Julie Northrup finished second in the women’s 1,500 meters with a personal-best time of 4:28.90. Junior Eric Foran won the men’s pole vault in 15 feet, 5 inches. Freshman Bryan Turner won the high jump with a collegiate best of 6 feet, 8.75 inches.
Junior Ali Crabb (10:08.70, third) and freshman Callie Cooper (10:16.26, fourth) had personal bests in the 3,000-meter run. Sophomore Claire Spurling was fourth in the women’s pole vault with her effort of 12 feet, 8.25 inches. Freshman Ugonna Ndu had a personal-best time of 14.05 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles prelims.
Finally, the Florida 800-meter corps recorded four top-five finishes, all in personal-best times: freshman John Mitchell was second in 1:50.52, freshman Sean Obinwa was third in 1:50.58, senior Ethan Philpot was fourth in 1:51.16 and senior Justin Taylor was fifth in 1:51.46.
Next for the Gators is the Penn Relays Carnival beginning Thursday in Philadelphia.
TOM JONES MEMORIAL CLASSIC
At James G. Pressly Stadium/Percy Beard Track, Gainesville, Fla.
All running events in meters
WOMEN
Hammer: 1. Kristin Smith (Kentucky) 199 feet, 8 inches; 2. Brynn Smith (Brown) 183-09; 3. Emma Ruggiero (Princeton) 180-10; 4. Heather Smith (Kentucky) 173-06; 5. Lakendra Thames (UCF) 159-01; 6. Ashley Kirkpatrick (UCF) 153-02.
Javelin: 1. Evelien Dekkers (Florida) 171 feet, 0 inches; 2. Jennifer Svoboda (Kentucky) 129-03; 3. Taylor Bartolotta (UCF) 111-01; 4. Natalie Wise (Kentucky) 94-05; 5. Ashley Newby (Kentucky) 88-05; 6. Precious Nwokey (Kentucky) 75-11.
Long jump: 1. Kassandrea Son (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) 20 feet, 2¼ inches; 2. Tianna Madison (unattached) 19-10¾; 3. (tie) Danielle Watson (UCLA) and Sonnisha Williams (UCF) 19-3¼; 5. Amber Bledsoe (Star Athletics) 18-9; 6. Jacquelyn Gilchrist (UCF) 18-8½; 7. Ke’Nyia Richardson (UCLA) 18-3¾; 8. Samatha Shields (UCF) 17-2¾; 9. Ashley Newby (Kentucky) 17-1¼.
Discus: 1. Ashley Muffet (Kentucky) 181 feet, 10 inches; 2. Danielle Grunloh (Brown) 173-3; 3. Keely Medeiros (Florida) 170-6; 4. Mary Angell (Kentucky) 163-8; 5. Lakendra Thames (UCF) 161-1; 6. Ashley Miller (Florida) 150-9; 7. Kaitlin Davis (Florida) 141-11; 8. Jessica Francis (UCF) 138-9; 9. Heather Smith (Kentucky) 136-11; 10. Catherine White (UCLA) 130-7.
High jump: 1. Alexandra Morgan (Kentucky) 5 feet, 6 inches; 2. Mariah Gibson (UCLA) 5-6; 3. Alexis Muniz (Florida) 5-4¼; 4. Rebecca Goldring (Florida) 5-2¼; 5. Audrey Mitchell (UCLA) 5-2¼; 6. Ashley Baucham (UCLA) 5-2¼.
Pole vault: 1. Katy Viuf (UCLA) 14 feet, 2 inches; 2. Tori Pena (UCLA) 14-0; 3. Tory Worthen (Princeton) 13-0¼; 4. Claire Spurling (Florida) 12-8¼; 5. (tie) Jennifer Holly (Florida Atlantic) 12-8¼ and Daisy Glasser (Florida) 12-8¼; 7. Karyle Marshall (UCLA) 12-4½; 8. Samantha Stenzel (Kentucky) 12-4½; 9. Morgan Schuerschel (unattached) 12-4½; 10. Brooke Guy (Florida Atlantic) 11-6½.
Shot put: 1. Mariam Kevhishvilli (Florida) 60 feet, 6¾ inches; 2. Keely Medeiros (Florida) 53-2¾; 3. Ashley Muffet (Kentucky) 52-6¾; 4. Danielle Grunloh (Brown) 51-4½; 5. Fidela James (Florida) 50-10¼; 6. Brynn Smith (Brown) 50-1¾; 7. Thanithia Billings (Princeton) 49-4½; 8. Jennifer Svoboda (Kentucky) 48-6¾; 9. Mary Angell (Kentucky) 46-10; 10. Lakendra Thames (UCF) 44-10¼; 11. Kristin Smith (Kentucky) 44-4¾; 12. Catherine White (UCLA) 43-2¼; 13. Jessica Francis (UCF) 40-2¼; 14. Ashley Newby (Kentucky) 32-3½; 15. Precious Nwokey (Kentucky) 28-9.
100 hurdles: 1. Loreal Smith (Nike Central) 13.11 seconds; 2. Lindsay Rowe (UCLA) 13.36; 3. Mica Wimberly (UCF) 14.05; 4. Ugonna Ndu (Florida) 14.09; 5. Ryann Krais (UCLA) 14.12; 6. Santrell Atkins (UCF) 14.39; 7. Ke ‘Nyia Richardson (UCLA) 14.56; 8. Samatha Shields (UCF) 15.48.
400 hurdles: 1. Dominique Darden (unattached) 58.10 seconds; 2. Sheryl Morgan (unattached) 58.67; 3. Ryann Krais (UCLA) 58.96; 4. J’Zotta Rolle (Jacksonville) 1:00.69; 5. Ugonna Ndu (Florida) 1:01.57; 6. Ashley Usery (Florida) 1:02.40; 7. Paige Morton (Florida) 1:05.13.
100: 1. Cleo Tyson (unattached) 11.56 seconds; 2. Tianna Madison (unattached) 11.56; 3. Sheila Paul (UCF) 11.63; 4. Courtney Patterson (Star Athletics) 11.69; 5. Alishea Usery (Florida) 11.72; 6. Madison McNary (Florida) 11.78; 7. Lakecia Ealey (unattached) 11.82; 8. Ashley Owens (Star Athletics); 9. Jernise Saunders (unattached) 12.15.
200: 1. Novelene Williams-Mills (adidas) 23.38 seconds; 2. Cleo Tyson (unattached) 23.61; 3. Tahesia Harrigan (adidas) 23.84; 4. Madison McNary (Florida) 23.91; 5. Courtney Patterson (Star Athletics) 23.98; 6. Sheila Paul (UCF) 24.01; 7. Unique Singleton (Jacksonville) 24.19; 8. Ashlea McLaughlin (UCLA) 24.20; 9. Yasmin Woodruff (UCLA) 24.34; 10. Alishea Usery (Florida) 24.37.
400: 1. Moushaumi Robinson (unattached) 52.32 seconds; 2. Sheryl Morgan (unattached) 53.72; 3. Jenna Martin (Kentucky) 53.75; 4. Shakeitha Henfield (unattached) 53.89; 5. Unique Singleton (Jacksonville) 54.27; 6. Joy Eaton (UCLA) 54.38; 7. Lanie Whittaker (Florida) 54.46; 8. Jazmyn Shorter (Kentucky) 54.58; 9. Ije Iheoma (Florida) 55.37; 10. Michelle Stegall (Florida) 55.51.
800: 1. Joane Pierre (Jacksonville) 2:08.17; 2. Bobette Stewart (unattached) 2:08.26; 3. Carley Dart (UCF) 2:08.92; 4. Patricia Gumbs (Florida Atlantic) 2:09.62; 5. Krishna Curry (UCLA) 2:10.57; 6. Stacey Johnson (Florida) 2:14.01; 7. Amalia Vogler (Jacksonville) 2:14.09; 8. Sarah Nelson (Tampa) 2:18.94; 9. Tina Theriot (UCLA) 2:20.31; 10. Tammy King-Foster (Alpha Omega Elite) 2:20.94.
1,500: 1. Shannon Murakami (UCLA) 4:25.10; 2. Julie Northrup (Florida) 4:28.90; 3. Anastasia Fokina (Jacksonville) 4:31.02; 4. Jessica Butler (Tampa) 4:32.82; 5. Nicole Rozario (South Florida) 4:33.33; 6. Allie Prendergast (South Florida) 4:36.32; 7. Lisa Leutner (Florida Atlantic) 4:36.74; 8. Andrea Richardson (Kentucky) 4:38.46; 9. Sarah Nelson (Tampa) 4:42.88; 10. Megan Wright (Kentucky) 4:45.63; 11. Lindsay Lucas (Florida Atlantic) 4:46.97; 12. Mutinta Shaba (Tampa) 4:55.67; 13. Alyssa Franks (UCF) 4:56.14.
3,000 steeplechase: 1. Samanatha Norman (Kentucky) 11:04.97; 2. Lindsay Edwards (Tampa) 11:13.40; 3. Susanne Klungtveit (Jacksonville) 11:17.49; 4. Jamie Rzepecki (UCF) 11:24.80; 5. Mason Gardberg (UCF) 11:57.61.
3,000: 1. Cally Macumber (Kentucky) 9:57.66; 2. Jessica Butler (Tampa) 10:08.64; 3. Ali Crabb (Florida) 10:08.70; 4. Callie Cooper (Florida) 10:16.26; 5. Ocean Cohen (UCF) 10:18.14; 6. Erica Weitz (UCF) 10:23.09; 7. Heather Nicolosi (Tampa) 10:25.47; 8. Laura Garrow (Florida) 10:27.16; 9. Dara Fox (Tampa) 10:27.98; 10. Sidney Devore (Florida) 10:31.31; 11. Rebecca Thomas (UCF) 10:48.06; 12. Megan Bary (Florida Atlantic) 11:10.94.
4×100 relay: 1. Kentucky (Jazmyn Shorter, Shiara Robinson, Jenna Martin, Ke ‘Undra Bishop) 45.39 seconds; 2. Florida (Madison McNary, Alishea Usery, Amani Bryant, Ugonna Ndu) 45.46; 3. UCLA (Nijah Nelms, Yasmin Woodruff, Ashlea McLaughlin, Joy Eaton) 45.73; 4. UCF (Tiki James, Mica Wimberly, Sheila Paul, Sonnisha Williams) 45.79.
4×400 relay: 1. UCLA (Joy Eaton, Yasmin Woodruff, Ryann Krais, Krishna Curry) 3:35.60; 2. Florida (Alishea Usery, Ugonna Ndu, Ije Iheoma, Lanie Whittaker) 3:38.17; 3. UCF (Champelle Brown, Sonnisha Williams, Jackie Coward, Carley Dart) 3:44.53; 4. Florida Atlantic (Annalisa Myers, Patricia Gumbs, Toyria Mattear, Charlene Luxama) 3:50.91.
MEN
Hammer: 1. Jeremy Postin (Florida) 198 feet, 9 inches; 2. David Triassi (Florida) 175-10.
Javelin: 1. Craig Kinsley (Brown) 228 feet, 9 inches; 2. Zane Breakiron (unattached) 200-08; 3. Doug Nelson (Florida) 197-02.
Pole vault: 1. Eric Foran (Florida) 15 feet, 5 inches; 2. Max Lang (Florida) 14-11.
Long jump: 1. Christian Taylor (Florida) 24 feet, 7¾ inches; 2. Omar Craddock (Florida) 23-0¾; 3. David Banks (Kentucky) 22-10½; 4. Steve Crouse (Kentucky) 21-8; 5. Josh Pederson (unattached) 21-3¼; 6. Lavaughn King (unattached) 21-1½.
Shot put: 1. Jeff Chakouian (unattached) 65 feet, 11 inches; 2. Kemal Mesic (Florida) 63-7; 3. Westley Stockbarger (unattached) 59-7¾; 4. Colin Boevers (Kentucky) 54-0; 5. Bryan Powlen (Brown) 53-5; 6. Jeremy Postin (Florida) 49-2¼.
High jump: 1. Bryan Turner (Florida) 6 feet, 8¾ inches.
Discus: 1. Westley Stockbarger (unattached) 192 feet, 5 inches; 2. Colin Boevers (Kentucky) 185-10; 3. Bryan Powlen (Brown) 176-6; 4. Kemal Mesic (Florida) 169-5; 5. David Triassi (Florida) 142-10; 6. Josh Pederson (unattached) 97-10; 7. Kyle Mailloux (unattached) 83-4.
Triple jump: 1. Brandon Roulhac (Nike) 53 feet, 1¾ inches; 2. Omar Craddock (Florida) 51-11; 3. Andrew Chapin (Brown) 48-8¼; 4. Lavaughn King (unattached) 45-2½.
110 hurdles: 1. Eric Mitchum (adidas) 13.41 seconds; 2. John Yarbrough (Star Athletics) 13.43; 3. Selim Nurudeem (Star Athletics) 13.77; 4. Jarius Cooper (Florida) 14.37; 5. Darryl Bradshaw (Kentucky) 14.71; 6. Jamaal Johnson (Florida) 15.10.
400 hurdles: 1. Javier Garcia-Tunon (Lemartec) 51.31 seconds; 2. Pod Peterson (unattached) 52.34.
100: 1. Jeff Demps (Florida) 10.22 seconds; 2. Keston Bledman (Pure Athletics) 10.24; 3. Chris Lawson (unattached) 10.32; 4. Terrell Wilks (Florida) 10.41; 5. Jason Smyth (Pure Athletics) 10.45; 6. Rodney Green (Star Athletics) 10.46; 7. Bernard Williams (unattached) 10.47; 8. Adam Harris (Guyana) 10.48; 9. Jeremy Hall (Florida) 10.55.
200: 1. Rondel Sorrillo (Kentucky) 20.75; 2. Chris Lawson (unattached) 20.81; 3. Terrell Wilks (Florida) 20.99; 4. Christian Taylor (Florida) 21.05; 5. Jeff Demps (Florida) 21.33; 6. Sekou Clarke (Jamaica) 21.62; 7. Michael Wilson (unattached) 21.62; 8. Sean Lange (Kentucky) 21.64; 9. Roudy Monrose (Star Athletics) 21.64; 10. Rodney Green (Star Athletics) 21.73.
400: 1. Calvin Smith (Florida) 44.81 seconds; 2. Tyson Gay (adidas) 44.89; 3. Renny Quow (adidas) 45.34; 4. Tony McQuay (Florida) 45.37; 5. R.J. Anderson (Florida) 46.37; 6. Jarin Solomon (Trinidad) 46.77; 7; Rafeeq Curry (unattached) 47.77; 8. Aaron Cleare (Bahamas) 47.94; 9. Cody Schovitz (unattached) 47.97; 10. Kwasi Obeng (Kentucky) 48.17. Other Florida: 13. Jovon Toppin 48.53.
800: 1. Sharif Webb (Kentucky) 1:49.60; 2. John Mitchell (Florida) 1:50.52; 3. Sean Obinwa (Florida) 1:50.68; 4. Ethan Philpot (Florida) 1:51.16; 5. Justin Taylor (Florida) 1:51.46; 6. Jeremy Zagorski (Kentucky) 1:51.94; 7. Daquam Lee (unattached) 1:53.01; 8. Daniel Wehunt (Florida) 1:53.68.
1,500: 1. Patrick McGregor (Kentucky) 3:48.65; 2. Chris Heibell (Kentucky) 3:52.35; 3. James Uthmeier (Florida) 3:52.76; 4. Jeremy Criscione (Florida) 3:53.23; 5. Adam Henken (Kentucky) 3:53.30; 6. Josh Izewski (Florida) 3:53.68; 7. Philip Wise (South Florida) 3:56.16; 8. Anthony Morales (Florida) 3:56.23; 9. Matt Wagner (Kentucky) 3:57.68; 10. Geoffrey Anderson (Florida) 3:58.58; 11. Kevin Harley (Tampa) 3:59.18; 12. Danny Manco (unattached) 4:01.11; 13. Tim O’Loughlin (Florida) 4:02.96; 14. Jordan Maren (Florida Track Club) 4:05.71; 15. Chris Catanach (Tampa) 4:14.37; 16. Tory Webb (Tampa) 4:20.67.
3,000: 1. Josh Nadzam (Kentucky) 8:24.04; 2. Matt Sonnenfeldt (Kentucky) 8:29.97; 3. Bruce Hordusky (Kentucky) 8:37.83; 4. Matt Hensley (Florida) 8:44.59; 5. Charles Toledo (Tampa) 8:57.78; 6. Chris Catanach (Tampa) 9:32.13; 7. Kevin Lane (Tampa) 9:39.24; 8. Michael Leone (Tampa) 9:45.26.
3,000 steeplechase: 1. Michael Anderson (Florida) 9:09.48; 2. Vincent Poczekajlo (unattached) 9:44.03; 3. Kurt Roeser (unattached) 9:50.08; 4. Lewis Price (Tampa) 9:56.71; 5. Brent Schneider (unattached) 10:11.92; 6. Tyler Subasic (unattached) 10:25.08.
4×100 relay: 1. Florida A (Chris Rainey, Jeremy Hall, Terrell Wilks, Jeff Demps) 39.06 seconds; 2. Florida B (R.J. Anderson, Calvin Smith, Jovon Toppin, Tony McQuay) 39.31; 3. Kentucky (Alex Williams, Rondel Sorrillo, Kwasi Obeng, Sean Lange) 39.82; 4. Star Athletics (no names) 40.29.