The Gator women’s and men’s 4x400-meter relays wrapped up
Saturday in phenomenal fashion, as both relays sprinted out to world-leading
times to close the 86th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, presented by State
Farm.
“What a day at Texas,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway proclaimed.
“I’m very proud of all the Gators. We were very competitive in both 4x1s and to
close the meet winning both 4x4s was special. What we saw out there today is a
testament to the hard work these young people are putting in at practice every day.”
The women’s 4x400-meter relay, with Robin Reynolds (Miami,
Fla.), Lanie Whittaker (Miami, Fla.), Destinee Gause (Reynoldsburg,
Ohio) and Ebony Eutsey (Miami, Fla.) in the lineup, ran the fastest time
in the world this year with their winning time of 3:27.61. The Gators battled
for the top spot with Texas but an impressive third leg by youngster Gause got
the Gators out in front on the anchor leg. Eutsey held her position through the
final 200 meters and just edged the Longhorns with her anchor leg time of 51.51.
The men’s 4x400-meter relay, competing in the Cleburne
Price, Jr. Invitational relay, also finished first in a world-leading 3:02.65. The
lineup featured two freshmen and two sophomores, with Najee Glass (Woodbridge,
N.J.) leading things off for the Gators. Sophomore Hugh Graham, Jr. (Miami,
Fla.), a member of the 2012 SEC and NCAA Champion 4x4, handled duties on the
second leg while freshman Arman Hall (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) took over
for the third leg. Sophomore Dedric Dukes (Miami, Fla.) fought off an
outstanding anchor leg from Texas A&M to clinch the victory in the final
race of the Texas Relays.
Florida’s men’s 4x100-meter relay, comprised of Eddie
Lovett (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Graham, Jr., Leonardo Seymore (Palm
Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Dukes, turned in a season’s best 38.99 to finish as a
runner-up and owns the second-best time in the NCAA this year.
The Gator women’s 4x100-meter relay finished fourth in
Saturday’s finals with a time of 44.23, courtesy of Reynolds, Kyra Jefferson
(Detroit, Mich.), Gause and Eutsey. 44.23 goes down as the seventh-fastest
time in the NCAA this year.
“I want to give a shout out to our strength coach Matt
DeLancey for the wonderful work he is doing with our athletes, and to
trainer Andy Klock and his staff for their efforts in keeping everyone
healthy,” Holloway noted. “I couldn’t be more appreciative to have such
incredible support staff.”
“Now we have to get back to Gainesville and get refocused as
we prepare to host the Pepsi Florida Relays next weekend. It’s great to be a
Florida Gator,” Holloway finished.
