Florida Gators Track And Field Heads To Virginia Tech Elite Meet

The Florida Gators track and field team invades Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Virginia this weekend for the Virginia Tech Elite Meet. The Gators, who are ranked No. 2 in the country behind the Arkansas Razorbacks, hope to continue their strong start to the season. The two-day event, starts at 5 p.m. ET on Friday and continues at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday.

The schedule, unlike the Texas A&M Challenge, combines events over the course of two-days instead of just one-day. This allows the athletes a better chance to rest in-between their respective events. There will be ten teams competing this weekend, including three from the SEC. Those competing from the SEC are Auburn, Florida and Georgia. They will be joined by Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech (obviously) and Wake Forest from the ACC, and Louisville from the Big East.

Four of those teams, Florida (No. 2), Virginia Tech (No. 12), Georgia (No. 22) and Auburn (No. 25) are ranked in the latest Top 25 of the USTFCCCA poll. The Gators remained at No. 2 despite a strong performance last week at the A&M Challenge, while Virginia Tech dropped one spot and Auburn and Georgia each rose one spot in the poll.

In action for the Gators on Friday are: Marquis Dendy (long jump), David Levin, Jeremy Postin and David Triassi (weight throw), Eddie Lovett and William Wynee (60m hurdles), Jeffery Demps (60m dash), Tony McQuay (400m sprint), and Hugh Graham Jr. and Leonardo Seymore (200m sprint open).

In action for the Gators on Saturday are: Omar Craddock and Dendy (triple jump), Dwight Barbiasz and Frankie Hammond Jr. (high jump), Jovon Toppin (400m sprint), Dedric Dukes, Tony McQuay and Seymore (200m sprint invite), Graham Jr., McQuay, Toppin and Sean Obinwa (4x400m relay).

Demps' 2012 season begins today with the 60m dash as he attempts to qualify for the Summer Olympics in London later this year. According to GatorZone, the 60m dash is scheduled to take place at 6:20 p.m and should Demps qualify for the finals, he'll run it again at approximately 8:15 p.m.

You can follow the meet live, at FlashResults.com or on Twitter at @GZTrackandField.