I thought it would be informative to keep a running list of both transfers and H.S. signees for next years Track and Field men and women’s team. Both teams lose several outstanding performers to eligibility, and Valby Parker who has additional eligibility has indicated she is turning pro… however the women should return several short event sprinters from injury and have some really good young individuals. The men ostensibly will have fewer to replace but definitely need some transfers to augment their ultra talented youngsters. I’ve already listed several H.S. signees in a previous post but I’ll add some I’ve heard lately, please feel free to add any additional names: 1. Tia Wilson (England) 5K 15:39 and 3k 8:57.14 (the only down side is she is a transfer and 22 years old. 2. Jacob Lemmon originally from Ft. Myers, he holds the H.S. Discus record in Florida and placed 4th in the recent outdoor NCAA Championships. He is transferring as a graduate from the University of Virginia and I believe he has two years left. 3. Jaden Wiley out of Georgia (H.S.) and a very good short sprinter, especially in 200m 20.67 or so. 4. Nicolas Crosswhite, also out Georgia high school ranks. He is a solid jumper that is good in the HJ, LJ, and TJ.
Relays are my favorite events. Would like to see us stay near the top in the men’s 4 x 400 and get enough depth and talent to make the finals in the men’s 4 x 100 and both women’s 4xs.
The men’s team did make the finals in the 4 x 100. I agree the women should always place a team in the relay finals. we signed the national record holder in the long hurdles out of Arizona. Gilbert's Vance Nilsson, U.S. high school record-holder in the 300M hurdles, commits to Florida
Thank you for the information, it makes it much easier to get information about the athlete. Vance is also nationally rank in the short hurdles… 13.39, and has solid times in the open 400M and 400M hurdles, as well as 200M. He’s also 6’2” which bodes well for the step up in hurdle height at the collegiate and international level.
Strong rumor that UF will get a really high profile transfer track athlete on the women’s side. The runner is in the transfer portal and was one of the highest scoring runners at the recent NCAA Championships in the distance events. Right now this is only rumor so I hesitate to name the person, but she would be an excellent replacement for Parker Valby.
Well there was only one runner even in the range of Valby, and she was in crimson, and is in the portal
Nicolas Crosswhite, also out Georgia high school ranks. He is a solid jumper that is good in the HJ, LJ, and TJ. he is a going to be a good Gator
It wasn't the prettiest race. Even Vance Nilsson admitted that much. But a win is a win. And this victory was one of his biggest to date. The high school national record-holder went stride-for-stride with the best under-20 athletes from the United States on Thursday at the U.S. U20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, and came out ahead. Running out in late eight, Nilsson, a recent high school graduate from Gilbert High School in Arizona, used the final 120 meters of the 400 meter hurdle final to inch away for a 50.23 victory. That was his new personal record and the 16th-best performance in high school history. he also runs low 47 in 400 now so this guy will be able to get us points in several events including 4x4 down the road.
Thank you biggerigator I mentioned Crosswhite in the initial post but didn’t expand on him much. As you said he is an outstanding all around jumper. He did win the TJ at the state meet with a jump of a little over 49’ , and had high finishes in both the HJ 6’10” and LJ (his best is 24”). Obviously he is a terrific athlete who should only get better with increased speed and strength. One example is Coach Holloway’s son Michael II .He came to UF as a 21’5.25” LJ (never did the TJ) out of Oak Hall in Gainesville. We had many jumpers with superior numbers throughout the state and country, so the critics came out in force. He finished his career at Florida with a best of 24’ 0.75” and a TJ of 51’ 2.75”, neither were outstanding in terms of national impact, but his improvement was remarkable… and more importantly he was a positive influence on the team.
He had only run the 400m hurdles once or twice before with a best of 52 seconds plus. This was an impressive improvement time wise and bodes well for the future. Jaden Wiley out of Georgia (see post 1) also won the 100 and 200 meter races at the Under 20 meet beating the top 5 rated track athlete for next year Maurice Gleason… also out of Georgia. Gracelyn Leiseth UF’s outstanding frosh from South Dakota also won both the SP and DT at the same meet.
Nilsson is competing in the Olympic Trials in the 400 Meter hurdles. The event is scheduled for the 27th, I’ll update after the race.
OT-This is over the Cancer Center entrance on the south side of Archer. Sorry for the picture, but to take a good one, I would have had to stand in the middle of Archer at rush hour, which I was not willing to do. Shands is the only Olympics-endorsed hospital in Florida.
