Florida track star and decathlon extraordinaire Gray Horn, a three-time All-American and four-time SEC champion, has been suspended indefinitely from the track team by coach Mike Holloway.
Alachua County court records show Gray was arrested and charged with driving under the influence on April 14. He was booked into the Alachua County jail at 3:39 a.m. after being arrested by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
His suspension comes just days before Florida competes in the SEC Outdoor Championships, which will take place in Baton Rouge, La., from May 10-13.
“Gray will not be competing this weekend,” Holloway said at his Monday press conference, according to Gainesville Television Network’s Julie Quittner. “Gray’s been suspended from the team, not that I want to go into it right now but he won’t be competing.”
According to Alachua County court records, Horn filed a written plea of not guilty to the DUI charge on April 25 through attorney Miles Kinsel.
He has a criminal trial date set for May 30 at 9 a.m after having a May 17 arraignment canceled.
With Florida looking to capture its first outdoor title since 2010 after finishing second last season, Horn’s absence will be significant. He finished fifth in the javelin and sixth in discus at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Gainesville on April 21, his most recent competition.
“We talk a lot here about being a team here, being a family and looking out for each other, taking care of each other,” Holloway said. “Here’s a chance for the other guys to step up and play that role. A lot of times track and field is used as an individual sport, we talk about being a team instead of a group of individuals.
“It’s an unfortunate thing, but it’s part of life, part of athletics. We’re going to be positive and move forward. We’re not going to dwell on it.”