Taylor wins triple jump for Florida

EUGENE, Ore. – Talk about a great jump-start.

Sophomore Christian Taylor provided it Wednesday to what the Florida Gators hope will be an NCAA Outdoors Track and Field Championships team title by winning the school’s first triple jump championship ever, helping the Gators to 13 first-day points as the four-day meet opened at historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

Taylor, the two-time defending NCAA Indoor triple-jump champion, leaped 56 feet, 1 inch (17.09 meters) to win the event, and together with freshman Omar Craddock’s sixth-place finish, the Gators find themselves one point behind leader Texas A&M as they attempt to add the NCAA Outdoors team title to the NCAA Indoors team title they won in March.

“I thought we had a great day,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “Hats off to Christian Taylor. He had a great performance in winning the triple jump and he did a very job of kick-starting the meet for us.”

Taylor, who had the top mark through the preliminary round, was leading with a leap of 53 feet, 3 inches but fell behind in the fourth round when Texas A&M’s Tyron Stewart leaped 53 feet, 9 inches to take the lead.

But Taylor came back to go 54-8 and then 55-10¼ with his fifth leap. On his sixth and last attempt, Taylor turned in the American and collegiate-leading mark of 56 feet, 1 inch that would have broken the Florida record he owns except that it was wind-aided (+2.9).

Stewart never approached his fourth leap and settled for second place with his 53-9. His Aggie teammate, Sharif Zuheir, was third with his 53-5¾ effort. Craddock, who had won his flight with an effort of 52 feet, 11 inches, finished sixth and earned All-America honors. Florida’s two jumpers totaled 13 points, while the Aggies’ tandem earned 14.

Afterward, Taylor talked about his victory.

“Getting the outdoor title means a lot to me,” he said. “Heading into the finals, I knew I needed to step up and get the job done and I’m glad I was able to do it. It was a great crowd and a great atmosphere today. Doing what I can to help the team and trying to win that team title – that would really be special.”

In other events, sophomore Jeff Demps of Winter Garden, the reigning NCAA Indoors champion, qualified for the 100-meter finals and also provided the Gators with a blistering anchor leg to help the 4×100-meter relay team qualify. Additionally, Calvin Smith qualified for the finals in the 400 meters.

The 4×100 relay team, the defending NCAA Outdoor champion, was clocked with the preliminary round’s best time of 38.94 seconds. The team was the only one to clock under 39 seconds. Demps’ fellow Florida backfield mate Chris Rainey of Lakeland ran the lead 100 meters and was followed by Jeremy Hall of Jacksonville and Terrell Wilks of New Haven, Conn. The final in the event is Saturday afternoon at 1:11 p.m.

Demps, the 2010 SEC Outdoor champion, posted a time of 10.15 seconds (+2.2 wind) to win the first heat. Kentucky’s Rondel Sorrillo won the second heat in 10.14 (+2.6) to lead the eight qualifiers. The slowest qualifier was Louisiana-Monroe sophomore Luther Ambrose, who finished in 10.30 seconds. Florida junior Wilks was clocked in 10.33 seconds to finish 11th overall. The 100 final is Friday at 8:25 p.m. ET.

“Obviously, we would have liked to have qualified Terrell in the 100,” Holloway said. “But, in the big scheme of things, I am really, really proud of our group for their effort and focus today.

The Gators also went 1-1 (qualify/did not qualify) in the 400 meter prelims. Snior Calvin Smith of Lutz finished second in his heat and fourth overall with a time of 45.64 seconds. Sophomore Joey Hughes of Southern California led all qualifiers with a time of 45.15 seconds. Smith’s heat was won by second-fastest qualifier Kirani James, an Alabama freshman, in 45.44 seconds. Florida freshman Tony McQuay of Riviera Beach, however, failed to qualify, finishing sixth in his heat with Smith and James and 14th overall with a time of 46.50 seeconds. The 400 final is Friday night at 9:25 ET.

Thursday, the men’s decathlon begins with Gray Horn seeded fourth and the women’s heptathlon concludes. In the field events, finals are scheduled for women’s hammer throw (6 p.m. ET), men’s pole vault (7 ET), women’s triple jump (7 ET) and men’s javelin throw (8:15 ET). Running prelims are scheduled in the men’s and women’s 200, the men’s and women’s 1,500, the men’s 110 hurdles, the women’s 100 hurdles, the women’s 3,000 steeplechase and both the men’s and women’s 4×400 relays. The only running final is the men’s 10,000, which is scheduled for 10:25 p.m. ET.

NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hayward Field / Eugene, Ore. / Host: University of Oregon

MEN

Team standings: 1. Texas A&M 14 points; 2. Florida 13; 3. Arizona State 12; 4. Kansas 8; 5. Texas Tech 6; 6 (tie). Southeastern Louisiana 5 and Louisville 5; 8 (tie). Southern California 4 and Texas-San Antonio 4; 10. Florida State 3; 11. Louisiana State 2; 12 (tie). Southern Illinois 1 and Georgia Tech 1.

Triple jump: 1, Christian Taylor, Florida, 17.09m, w:2.9 (56 feet, 1 inch) (10 points); 2, Tyron Stewart, Texas A&M, 16.38m, w:3.2 (53-09) (8); 3, Zuheir Sharif, Texas A&M, 16.30m, w:1.7 (53-05.75) (6); 4, Andre Black, Louisville, 16.26m, w:1.9 (53-04.25) (5); 5, Devon Bond, Texas-San Antonio, 16.20m, w:3.6 (53-01.75) (4); 6, Omar Craddock, Florida, 16.13m, w:2.3 (52-11) (3); 7, Zedric Thomas, LSU, 16.12m, w:1.3 (52-10.75) (2); 8, Alphonso Jordan, Georgia Tech, 15.93m, w:1.9 (52-03.25) (1). Also: 9, Melvin Echard, Texas A&M, 15.76m, w:3.0 (51-08.50); 10, Will Claye, Oklahoma, 15.71m, w:1.5 (51-06.50); 11, Zacharias Arnos, Boise State, 15.71m, w:2.4 (51-06.50); 12, Bryce Lamb, Texas Tech, 15.62m, w:-2.2 (51-03); 13, Darrell Roddick, Texas Tech, 15.43m, w:-0.5 (50-07.50); 14, Neelon Greenwood, Oklahoma, 15.42m, w:2.4 (50-07.25); 15, Josh Fowler, Clemson, 15.41m, w:2.0 (50-06.75); 16, Eric Quick, Notre Dame, 15.40m, w:2.1 (50-06.25); 17, David Banks, Kentucky, 15.37m, w:3.6 (50-05.25); 18, Aven Wright, Southern California, 15.10m, w:1.8 (49-06.50); 19, Chris Carter, Houston, 15.07m, w:-1.0 (49-05.50); 20, Damar Forbes, LSU, 15.02m, w:-1.6 (49-03.50); 21, Jeremiah James, Wyoming, 14.97m, w:1.8 (49-01.50); 22, Clarence Powell, Liberty, 14.93m, w:1.9 (48-11.75); 23, Marcus Robinson, Virginia, 14.81m, w:3.7 (48-07.25); 24, Kyron Foster, Michigan State, 14.78m, w:-2.8 (48-06).

Discus: 1, Ryan Whiting, Arizona State, 59.06m, (193-09) (10 points); 2, Mason Finley, Kansas, 58.35m, (191-05) (8); 3, Julian Wruck, Texas Tech, 58.03m, (190-05) (6); 4, Adonson Shallow, Southeastern Louisiana, 56.60m, (185-08) (5); 5, Aaron Dan, Southern California, 56.14m, (184-02) (4); 6, Michael Putman, Florida State, 56.03m, (183-10) (3); 7, Jason Lewis, Arizona State, 55.72m, (182-10) (2); 8, Jake Deiters, Southern Illinois, 55.23m, (181-02) (1). Also: 9, Colin Boevers, Kentucky, 54.88m, (180-01); 10, Greg Pilling, Central Michigan, 54.45m, (178-08); 11, Tyler Hitchler, Nebraska, 54.44m, (178-07); 12, Andres Rossini, Northern Arizona, 54.13m, (177-07); 13, Alex Rose, Central Michigan, 54.01m, (177-02); 14, Luke Bryant, Oklahoma, 53.61m, (175-11); 15, Brian Bishop, Kansas, 53.55m, (175-08); 16, Eric Werskey, Auburn, 52.93m, (173-08); 17, Bryan Powlen, Brown, 52.81m, (173-03); 18, Thomas Killen, TCU, 51.28m, (168-03); 19, Jared Thomas, South Florida, 51.27m, (168-02); 20, Austin Gamble, Duke, 50.06m, (164-03); 21, Derek Peterson, Rhode Island, 49.72m, (163-01); 22, Larry Jones, Louisiana Tech, 49.59m, (162-08). Foul: Leif Arrhenius, Brigham Young, and Matthew Gac, Buffalo-SUNY.

WOMEN

Team standings: 1. Iowa State 18 points; 2. Hawaii-Manoa 10 and Southern Illinois 10; 4. Arizona 9; 5. Oklahoma 8; 6. Santa Barbara 7; 6 (tie). Oregon 6, Nebraska 6 and Oral Roberts 6; 10 (tie). Alabama 5, Baylor 5, West Virginia 5; 13 (tie). Florida State 4 and Michigan State 4; 15 (tie). Loyola Marymount 3, Southern Methodist 3 and St. John’s 3; 18. Air Force 2; 19 (tie). Kentucky 1, East Carolina 1 and Stanford 1.

10,000: 1, Lisa Koll, Iowa State, 32:49.35 (10 points); 2, Betsy Saina, Iowa State, 33:13.13 (8); 3, Nicole Blood, Oregon, 33:22.62 (6); 4, Clara Grandt, West Virginia, 33:23.22 (5); 5, Pasca Cheruiyot, Florida State, 33:23.63 (4); 6, Tara Erdmann, Loyola Marymount, 33:27.66 (3); 7, Danielle Domenichelli, Santa Barbara, 33:32.81 (2); 8, Stephanie Marcy, Stanford, 33:32.92 (1). Also: 9, Andrea Walkonen, Boston University, 33:33.18; 10, Jessica Rydberg, Notre Dame, 33:34.60; 11, Amanda Goetschius, Charlotte, 33:38.11; 12, Megan Duwell, Minnesota, 33:40.94; 13, Kimberly Ruck, Clemson, 33:42.88; 14, Mattie Bridgmon, Oregon, 33:43.64; 15, Anita Campbell, Washington, 33:44.57; 16, Natasha Labeaud, Georgetown, 33:44.63; 17, Tonya Nero, Wichita State, 33:45.83; 18, Katie DiCamillo, Providence, 33:53.61; 19, Semehar Tesfaye, Iowa State, 33:55.95; 20, Catherine DeSarle, Syracuse, 33:58.13; 21, Bridget Lyons, Georgia, 34:02.80; 22, Carly Seymour, Duke, 34:06.40; 23, Sarah Cummings, Princeton, 34:13.04; 24, Zsofia Erdelyi, Southern California, 34:44.63.

High jump: 1, Amber Kaufman, Hawaii-Manoa, 1.86m, (6-01.25) (10 points); 2, Elizabeth Patterson, Arizona, 1.83m, (6-00) (8); 3, Epley Bullock, Nebraska, 1.80m, (5-10.75) (6); 4, Jane Doolittle, Santa Barbara, 1.80m, (5-10.75) (5); 5, Chealsea Taylor, Alabama, 1.76m, (5-09.25) (4); 6, Priscilla Frederick, St. John’s, 1.76m, (5-09.25) (3); 7, Brigetta Barrett, Arizona, 1.76m, (5-09.25) (1); 7, Krystle Schade, Alabama, 1.76m, (5-09.25) (1) 7, Tynita Butts, East Carolina, 1.76m, (5-09.25) (1). Also: 10, Maya Pressley, Auburn, 1.76m, (5-09.25); 11, Brittani Carter, LSU, 1.76m, (5-09.25); 12, Ke’Airra Jones, Southern Mississippi, 1.76m, (5-09.25); 13, Bianca Stewart, Georgia Tech, 1.72m, (5-07.75); 13, Rebecca Buchholtz, Michigan State, 1.72m, (5-07.75); 15, Emily Breslin, Purdue, 1.72m, (5-07.75). No Height: Katelyn Williams, West Virginia; Kayla Lawson, North Carolina State; Whitney Sisler, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo; Toni Tollefson, North Dakota State; Jasmin Day, Arizona; Ada Robinson, Brigham Young; Holly Parent, Washington State; Megan Seidl, Wisconsin; Victoria Lucas, Texas.

Discus: 1, Jeneva McCall, Southern Illinois, 54.98m, (180-04) (10 points); 2, Brittany Borman, Oklahoma, 54.33m, (178-03) (8); 3, Rachel Talbert, Oral Roberts, 54.09m, (177-05) (6); 4, Skylar White, Baylor, 54.08m, (177-05) (5); 5, Beth Rohl, Michigan State, 53.44m, (175-04) (4); 6, Simone du Toit, Southern Methodist, 53.20m, (174-06) (3); 7, Sara Neubauer, Air Force, 52.65m, (172-09) (2); 8, Ashley Muffet, Kentucky, 52.39m, (171-10) (1). Also: 9, D’Ana McCarty, Louisville, 51.30m, (168-04); 10, Emily Pendleton, Michigan, 50.51m, (165-08); 11, Morgan Wilken, Nebraska, 50.41m, (165-05); 12, Erin Pendleton, Michigan, 50.29m, (165-00); 13, Brittni Borrero, Kent State, 49.21m, (161-05); 14, Valerie Wert, Akron, 48.61m, (159-06); 15, Nicole Tzanakis, Minnesota, 47.43m, (155-07); 16, Samia Stokes, LSU, 47.24m, (155-00); 17, Ashley Howard, Winthrop, 46.28m, (151-10); 18, Jaclyn Espinoza, Notre Dame, 45.97m, (150-10); 19, Brittany Smith, Illinois State, 45.96m, (150-09); 20, Alyssa Hasslen, Arizona, 45.58m, (149-06); 21, Okwukwe Okolie, Texas, 45.06m, (147-10); 22, Sara Ackman, South Dakota State, 44.62m, (146-05). Fouls: Allison Randall, Morgan State; Trecey Rew, Northwestern State.

Heptathlon standings (after 4 events): 1, Chealsea Taylor, Alabama, 3619; 2, Brianne Theisen, Oregon, 3615; 3, Kiani Profit, Maryland, 3383; 4, Dorcas Akinniyi, Wisconsin, 3364; 5, Barbara Nwaba, Santa Barbara, 3361; 6, Chantae McMillan, Nebraska, 3341; 7, Uhunoma Osazuwa, Syracuse, 3332; 8, Cassie Merkley, Idaho State, 3314; 9, Precious Nwokey, Kentucky, 3305; 10, Diana Dumitrescu, Kent State, 3296; 11, Heather Zander, North Dakota State, 3245; 12, Megan Wheatley, Nebraska, 3244; 13, Olimpia Nowak, Northern Iowa, 3238; 14, Lucie Ondraschkova, Georgia, 3213; 14, Laquinta Aaron, Mississippi State, 3213; 16, Daphne Fitzpatrick, Texas A&M, 3106; 17, Buky Bamigboye, Vanderbilt, 3081; 18, Whitney Carlson, North Dakota State, 3069; 19, Desirae Gonder, Cal State-Northridge, 3067; 20, Maddie Buttinger, Notre Dame, 3051; 21, Ryann Krais, UCLA, 2978.