It was a very encouraging weekend for Gator track. The highlight was Arman Hall's 45.17 in the 400. That is an indication that is rounding back into shape. Glass also had a time that will have him in the running. They are the only two college athletes who have run under 45, so if they are healthy along with Graham, the Gators should have 4 score in the 400 at nationals and they will have an excellent shot of breaking the collegiate record. The 4x100 relays team also ran a strong race and have the 4th best time in the nation, while Erikkson broke the school record in the hammer, which is the 3rd best throw in the nation. Not bad for a freshman. TJ Holmes also moved into the top 8 nationally in the 400H (2 years ago he finished 4th at nationals as a true freshman competing for Baylor). I would not surprised if the Gators return to #1 in the polls.
An indicator of how strong the Gators will be next year, one only needs to see the top indoor times for this year's HS athletes:
55m Josephus Lyles (6.20)(Holloway 2nd and Noah Lyles 3rd)
60m Josephus Lyles (6.65) (New Balance National Champ)
200 Noah Lyles (20.63) (New Balance National Champ and national record - broke Xavier Carter's record)
300 Noah Lyles (33.18)(Josephus Lyles 2nd)
400 Josephus Lyles (2nd best time outdoors)
500 Grant Holloway (1:03.35) (Jospehus Lyles 2nd)
55H Grant Holloway (7.00, National Record)
60H Grant Holloway (7.53)(New Balance National Champ and national indoor record)
Pentathlon Grant Holloway (4250) (New Balance National Champ)
LJ Grant Holloway (25'11 3/4", 2nd nationally and 4th best jump all time)
Holloway has also jumped 7'1" in the high jump, is among the top in the 300H in the high school ranks and was the national indoor track athlete last year and I think was robbed this year. Drew Hunter, a record breaking mile and 3000m distance runner who has signed with Oregon is deserving, but it still does not compare to the breadth of Holloway's incredible talent. By the way, he is the cousin of Coach Holloway, so UGA fans were nuts to think he would sign with the Bullpups.
On another subject, in the latest Directors' Cup competition, the Gators have moved up to 7th with the finish of the gymnastics team. It is hard to imagine they will not be at least 2nd by the end of the year since many of our best teams are still competing (Lacrosse 2nd nationally, men's golf 7th, women's golf 8th, women's tennis 3rd, men's tennis 11th, men's track 2nd, women's track 9th (I will be very surprised if they don't finish much higher at the NCAA meet), softball #1 and baseball #2 (how can Miami be ahead of them when the Gators won the series on the road against them?). As usual, Stanford is way ahead, but it is not inconceivable that the Gators could catch them. Next year I think will be the year that the Gators finally overtake them. Stanford has an advantage because they have so many sports, but Florida is reaching a point where every sport is extremely strong.
Finally, Canyon Berry is visiting Northwestern and then his father's alma mater Miami the first of May. If he is truly interested in nuclear engineering and academics are his priority, the only schools that make sense over Florida would be Cal or Northwestern. His addition will be a huge piece to the puzzle and make the basketball team contenders again. Personally I think they will be competing with UK even if Berry does not sign with the Gators. Allen and Robinson are as good as any other player in the league, and Egbunu will probably be the top center in the league. God knows they cannot shoot any worse than they did this year. But Berry would be a huge addition.
An indicator of how strong the Gators will be next year, one only needs to see the top indoor times for this year's HS athletes:
55m Josephus Lyles (6.20)(Holloway 2nd and Noah Lyles 3rd)
60m Josephus Lyles (6.65) (New Balance National Champ)
200 Noah Lyles (20.63) (New Balance National Champ and national record - broke Xavier Carter's record)
300 Noah Lyles (33.18)(Josephus Lyles 2nd)
400 Josephus Lyles (2nd best time outdoors)
500 Grant Holloway (1:03.35) (Jospehus Lyles 2nd)
55H Grant Holloway (7.00, National Record)
60H Grant Holloway (7.53)(New Balance National Champ and national indoor record)
Pentathlon Grant Holloway (4250) (New Balance National Champ)
LJ Grant Holloway (25'11 3/4", 2nd nationally and 4th best jump all time)
Holloway has also jumped 7'1" in the high jump, is among the top in the 300H in the high school ranks and was the national indoor track athlete last year and I think was robbed this year. Drew Hunter, a record breaking mile and 3000m distance runner who has signed with Oregon is deserving, but it still does not compare to the breadth of Holloway's incredible talent. By the way, he is the cousin of Coach Holloway, so UGA fans were nuts to think he would sign with the Bullpups.
On another subject, in the latest Directors' Cup competition, the Gators have moved up to 7th with the finish of the gymnastics team. It is hard to imagine they will not be at least 2nd by the end of the year since many of our best teams are still competing (Lacrosse 2nd nationally, men's golf 7th, women's golf 8th, women's tennis 3rd, men's tennis 11th, men's track 2nd, women's track 9th (I will be very surprised if they don't finish much higher at the NCAA meet), softball #1 and baseball #2 (how can Miami be ahead of them when the Gators won the series on the road against them?). As usual, Stanford is way ahead, but it is not inconceivable that the Gators could catch them. Next year I think will be the year that the Gators finally overtake them. Stanford has an advantage because they have so many sports, but Florida is reaching a point where every sport is extremely strong.
Finally, Canyon Berry is visiting Northwestern and then his father's alma mater Miami the first of May. If he is truly interested in nuclear engineering and academics are his priority, the only schools that make sense over Florida would be Cal or Northwestern. His addition will be a huge piece to the puzzle and make the basketball team contenders again. Personally I think they will be competing with UK even if Berry does not sign with the Gators. Allen and Robinson are as good as any other player in the league, and Egbunu will probably be the top center in the league. God knows they cannot shoot any worse than they did this year. But Berry would be a huge addition.
