By Katelyn Hansen
KeAndre Bates and Grant Holloway had finished 1-2 in the long jump at last year’s NCAA championships, and Holloway also won the 110-meter hurdles, so they had high expectations in the long jump at NCAAs this year.
But Bates, the seventh man in Division I history to sweep the long jump and triple jump, fell to seventh place, with a jump of 25 feet, 9 1/2 inches. And Holloway finished ninth with a jump of 25-8 1/4, scoring no points.
“We are all going to take what we learned today,” Holloway said, “and use it in everyday life.”
Holloway also qualified second in the 110 hurdles behind Alabama’s Ruebin Walters with a time of 13.42.
“I was trying my best to get everything going,” he said. “Even in the hurdles, just some things weren’t clicking. I’m going to get this rest, go watch some film and be back on Friday, ready to run.”
Florida was the top ranked men’s team going into NCAAs, and the Gators had the most entries (17) and the most seeds in the top five (seven), making them the favorite. Florida is going for its third NCAA outdoor title and is attempting to become the sixth team to win three back-to-back NCAA outdoor titles.
After the first day, Florida was in fifth place overall after a second place in the hammer, and seventh- and ninth-place finishes in the long jump. The Gators have 13 points going into the finals, not too far from first place, Georgia, which scored 20.
“You guys had predictions, and the athletes, I guess, didn’t play up to those predictions,” Holloway said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say we were the favorite, but it’s just an off day.”
