Gators Set Another NCAA Season Best at Pepsi Florida Relays

Florida Gators track and field closed the Pepsi Florida Relays Saturday, setting a collegiate lead and claiming multiple spots in the school history books.

The Gators won three events and finished in the top five in five other competitions.

Record Day

Habiba Harris set the NCAA best this year with a 12.69 time to win the women’s 100m hurdles. In the preliminary round, her 12.85 performance counted for the No. 2 wind-aided time in the world and the No. 5 time in UF history.

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On the men’s side, Demaris Waters set the third best time in the NCAA, wind-aided, in the preliminary round of the 110-meter hurdles. His 13.26 effort was a personal best, until he beat it in the event finals with a 13.21 finish. His last performance won the event and also landed him at No. 2 in UF history, trailing only the great Grant Holloway.

After setting the NCAA lead in the 4×400 on Day 1, Texas A&M took that spot in the event finals, running a 3:02.15 race. Florida’s team of Ashton Schwartzman, Justin Braun, Reheem Hayles and Rios Prude Jr. finished in second at 3:02.72 to claim the second best collegiate time this year.

Star Performances

Freshman Jaden Lippett secured his first collegiate event victory, winning the men’s triple jump. He recorded a 15.53-meter effort to win the event. On the women’s side, fellow freshman Asia Phillips finished in third place with a 13.28-meter performance on her second attempt. Her mark is now No. 9 in program history.

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In the men’s 800 meter, Ryan Maseman and Joe Wester both set personal bests. Maseman finished in fourth place with a time of 1:46.76, also claiming No. 9 in program history. Wester landed in eighth place at 1:47.34.

In the 400-meter race, Schwartzman and Hayles placed sixth and eighth, respectively. Prude Jr., set a personal best at 46.20, coming in at No. 12.

Up Next

Florida will look to build off its success at home at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational April 18-19. It’s the second and final home meet of the season for the Gators.