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SHAREWT&F Throwers Win Two Events at Hoosier Hills
The University of Florida’s women’s throwers had another tremendous performance Saturday at the Hoosier Hills meet hosted by the University of Indiana as the Gators swept the top six spots in the weight throw, while UF also swept the top two spots in the shot put. The Gators won both events in which they participated in the meet.
The weight throw saw Erin Gilreath record her third victory of the season, throwing 20.54m/67-4.75 for an automatic qualifying mark. Jukina Dickerson (20.20m/66-3.25) and Kim Barrett (20.16m/66-1.75) also recorded automatic qualifying marks in rounding out the top three. Merilyn Brown’s fourth-place mark of 18.88m/61-11.50 was a provisional qualifying mark, and Karen Freberg’s fifth-place throw of 18.21m/59-9.00 is a personal best and also places her 10th in school history. Rounding out the top six for Florida was Dore DeBartolo with a mark of 18.08m/59- 4.00. Also competing for the Gators were Rachel Longfors, who finished eighth with a throw of 17.68m/58-00.25, and Scarlett Ekeroma in 10th place at 17.08m/56-00.25.
“I was really pleased with the weight throw. We were very, very consistent with three athletes going over the auto again,” said UF Associate Head Coach Larry Judge. “Erin, Jukina and Kim are 1-2-3 in the country and have been very consistent all year long. None of the three have been beaten by a collegiate thrower this year. I was really pleased with our consistency in the weight throw and we're definitely throwing at a consistently high level, and that will prepare us well for conference next week.
In the shot put, Freberg notched her third consecutive title, clearing 16.73m/54-10.75 for a personal best and automatic qualifying mark. Her mark also places her second in school history. Barrett improved her third-place position in school history with a personal best and provisional qualifying mark of 16.02m/52-6.75. Gilreath completed a great performance Saturday with a personal best and provisional qualifying mark of 15.45m/50-8.25 in finishing fifth, jumping into the sixth spot in UF history, and DeBartolo finished sixth with her mark of 15.22m/49-11.25. Brown’s eight-place mark of 14.76m/48-5.25 was a personal best, while Dickerson (14.30m/46-11.00) and Ekeroma (14.12m/46-4.00) rounded out the top ten for the Gators.
Gilreath, Barrett and Freberg all improved their qualifying marks in the shot put, which Judge said is a good sign of things to come.
“I felt like we really increased our level of intensity,” said Judge. “We had four personal bests today, and I really feel like we’re starting to gel for the conference in that event.”
The Gator women’s track and field team will try to defend its SEC title next weekend as Florida hosts the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Feb. 28-March 2.
UF WINS: 2
Erin Gilreath – weight throw, 20.54m/67-4.75; Karen Freberg – shot put, 16.73m/54-10.75
UF AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS – 4
Erin Gilreath – weight throw, 20.54m/67-4.75; Jukina Dickerson – weight throw, 20.20m/66-3.25; Kim Barrett – weight throw, 20.16m/66-1.75; Karen Freberg – shot put, 16.73m/54-10.75
UF PROVISIONAL QUALIFIERS - 3
Merilyn Brown – weight throw, 18.88m/61-11.50; Kim Barrett – shot put, 16.02m/52-6.75; Erin Gilreath – shot put, 15.45m/50-8.25
