The Florida Gators track and field teams fell short of SEC glory on Sunday as the men's team finished second overall and the women's team finished fourth at the 2013 SEC Indoor Championships. Despite a late charge from both Florida squads, the Arkansas Razorbacks won both the men's and women's team titles, as expected. But the Gators didn't leave the Randal Tyson Track Center empty handed.
On the final day of competition, Sean Obinwa took home the 800 meter title as he ran a season best with a time of 1:48.40 seconds as he finished about a second ahead of runner-up Charles Grethen of Georgia. Also, Cory McGee won the women's mile with a time of 4:35.33 seconds.
The women's distance medley also captured the SEC title, but the highlight of the day was Eddie Lovett in the 60 meter hurdles. Lovett, whose championship winning time of 7.54 seconds was not only personal best and a school and meet record, but it was also an NCAA leading time.
The final standings, courtesy of Flash Results (PDF), show that the meet was very competitive and could have gone differently had a few things worked out in the Gators' favor.
Women's (top-five only):
- 1) Arkansas - 114.50 points
- 2) LSU - 109.50 points
- 3) Texas A&M - 88 points
- 4) Florida - 87.50 points
- 5) Georgia - 52.50 points
Men's (top-five only):
- 1) Arkansas - 152.50 points
- 2) Florida - 117 points
- 3) Texas A&M - 88.50 points
- 4) Georgia - 56 points
- 5) LSU - 44 points
The Gators will now begin preparations for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The final competition of the year will be held in two weeks, right back in Arkansas at the Randal Tyson Track Center, and Florida will attempt to gain qualification for the NCAAs by competing in a split weekend of competition. Gators will be attending either the Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend, Indiana or the Virginia Tech Qualifier in Blacksburg, Virginia this coming weekend.