Gators in the National Rankings: Jan. 17

After a strong opening weekend of competition, the University of Florida track and field team has six athletes and one relay team that hold nine spots among the nation’s top-15 in their respective events, according to the Track and Field Results Reporting System on Monday.

Sophomore jumper Omar Craddock (Killeen, Texas) is the highest-ranked Gator, currently ranking second nationally in the men’s triple jump with a personal-best mark of 16.19m/53-1.50. He is one of only two athletes nationally to have automatically-qualified for the upcoming NCAA Championships in the men’s triple jump.

Junior distance runner Genevieve LaCaze (Queensland, Australia) is among the nation’s top-15 in two different events, ranking third nationally in the women’s 3,000-meter run (9:34.42) and 13th in the women’s mile (4:49.48).

Freshman distance runner Cory McGee (Pass Christian, Miss.) had an outstanding first collegiate track and field meet and ranks among the nation’s top-10 in both the women’s mile and the women’s 3,000-meter run. McGee is fourth nationally in the mile (4:46.70) and seventh in the 3,000m (9:43.72). She currently is the nation’s top freshman in both events.

Senior thrower Kemal Mesic (Sarajevo, Bosnia) is fourth-ranked in the men’s shot put, finishing as the top collegian at the Nittany Lion Challenge with a mark of 18.93m/62-1.25.

Florida has a week off from competition before returning to action Jan. 28-29 at the Texas A&M Challenge in College Station, Texas.

GATORS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

Name	Event	Rank	Mark/Time
Omar Craddock	Men’s Triple Jump	2nd	16.19m/53-1.50
Fidela James	Women’s Weight Throw	14th	19.28m/63-3.25
Genevieve LaCaze	Women’s 3,000m	3rd	9:34.42
Genevieve LaCaze	Women’s Mile	13th	4:49.48
Cory McGee	Women’s Mile	4th	4:46.70
Cory McGee	Women’s 3,000m	7th	9:43.72
Kemal Mesic	Men’s Shot Put	4th	18.93m/62-1.25
Jeremy Postin	Men’s Weight Throw	T13th	19.69m/64-7.25
Whittaker, Williams, Ndu, Eutsey	Women’s 4x400m	5th	3:38.18