WT&F Notches Five Wins, School Record at Clemson

Five University of Florida women’s track and field athletes claimed victories Saturday – in both running and field events - on the final day of the Clemson Open. The Gators swept the top seven spots in the shot put, while they also won in the pole vault, 60m hurdles, 300m dash and 500m dash. Kim Barrett’s winning throw of 17.25m/56-7.25 in the shot put set the school record.

Barrett’s throw set the Florida standard by more than a foot, and two-time SEC Champion Karen Freberg finished right behind her with a second-place mark of 16.49m/54-1.25. Candice Scott rounded out the top three with a mark of 15.60m/51-2.25. LaQuanda Cotten (14.94m/49-0.25), Scarlett Ekeroma (14.61m/47-11.25), Akera Lathan (14.27m/46-10) and Jukina Dickerson (13.85m/45-5.25) finished out the top seven sweep for the Gators, and Rachel Longfors placed ninth (13.19m/43-3.25) in the event as well.

Krystle Moss was the runner-up in the high jump, clearing 1.75m/5- 8.75 to finish second. Carly Brown finished fifth with a mark of 1.65m/5- 5.00, while newcomers Christina Regan (1.60m/5-3.00) and Candace Cabey (1.55m/5-1.00) placed eighth and ninth, respectively.

Chandra Lacombe tallied a win for Florida in the pole vault, clearing 3.80m/12-5.50 for the title. Dana VanWagner and Dara Altman both cleared 3.65m/11-11.75 to finish third and fourth respectively, while Cece Ray rounded out Florida’s entrants in the event by finishing in 12th place with a clearance of 3.35m/10-11.75.

Andrea Bliss won the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.23, while Tiandra Ponteen won the 300m dash in 37.65 for her first-ever collegiate win. In the 500m dash, Novlene Williams came away with a win, finishing in 1:11.83, as three other Gators finished behind her – Andrea Bliss in12th place (1:17.79), Amber Hickman in 17th place (1:18.72) and Cabey in 22nd (1:20.65).

In her first race in more than a year, Kamille Bratton finished second in the 800m run in 2:14.13, and she was followed by Amanda Schommer in third place (2:16.24) and Jodi Heyens in fifth place (2:18.59). Brigette Dyce rounded out the running events with a fifth- place finish in the mile, crossing the finish line in 5:27.10.

Florida returns to action on January 17th when the Gators host the Florida Intercollegiates.