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The University of Florida Indoor Track and Field team starts their NCAA title defense this Saturday at the Orange & Purple Elite Track Meet at Clemson University.
They do so with a gaping hole in the roster that accounted for eight NCAA titles, six SEC titles and countless memories to the Florida faithful. His name is Grant Holloway.
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Nevertheless, the Gators and Grant’s father Mike, who has been named the head coach for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team, still brings in a stacked roster.
The Elder Holloway
Mike Holloway is the architect behind Florida’s Track dynasty, but he will be dealing with some adversity. For the first time in the history of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Gators are ranked outside of the top 5 at No. 9 and the women are ranked at No. 19.
Some of the key factors to this ranking are the loss of talents such as Grant Holloway. The rankings do not take into account some of the Gators’ strengths such as the incoming freshman class and relay teams.
If anyone can make this team achieve great things, it’s the man responsible for nine NCAA titles, fifteen SEC titles and seventeen Olympic medals.
Gators Returning Talent And National Rank
Not all is lost without utterly the greatest track & field athlete in school history on the roster.
A team is not one athlete. This team is still stacked.
- Thomas Mardal (Ranked 3 in Weight Throw)
- Clayton Brown (Ranked 3 in Triple Jump)
- Natricia Hooper (Ranked 1 in Triple Jump)
Saturday’s Track Meet
Several Gators will be starring in their primary events at Clemson on Saturday.
Events of interest that the Gators should compete well in are the Men’s and Women’s 60 meters, 60 meter-hurdles and the triple jump.
Events begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex.
