UF Track & Field: Gators Boast 22 NCAA Indoor Championships Entries
Courtesy of University Athletic Association
BY RICK HURTADO
The Gators’ 22 combined entries are the second-most in the nation
Florida earned 22 NCAA Indoor Championships entries, including 12 on the women’s side and the 10 on the men’s side, the NCAA announced late Tuesday night.
The Gators’ 22 combined entries are the second-most in the nation. The women boast the third-most entries nationally and second-most in the conference, while the men have the fourth-most in the nation and third in the SEC.
Senior Thomas Mardal is the top-seeded weight thrower. Mardal, who was crowned SEC champion last week in Arkansas, broke the school record with a mark of 24.16 meters (79 feet, 3.75 inches), making him the fifth-best performer in collegiate history.
Newcomer Talitha Diggs enters the championship meet as the No. 2 seed in the women’s 400 meters after clinching the SEC title. The freshman clocked a time of 51.14 seconds to become the second-fastest 400-meter runner in UF history. Diggs will be joined by senior Taylor Manson, who is the No. 4 seed after winning silver at SECs.
On the men’s running events, sophomore Joseph Fahnbulleh heads to Fayetteville seeded No. 2. Fahnbulleh finished second in the conference with a time of 20.32 seconds that ranks second in the world and in school history.
Florida’s women will head to nationals ranked fifth on the latest USTFCCCA national poll. Among their 12 entrants is their 4×400-meter relays team, who will enter championship week as the No. 5 seed after earning bronze at SECs. The Gators track and field women’s team finished second at this year’s SEC championships and sixth nationally in 2019.
Florida’s men, who remain the defending indoor national champions after last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19, check in at No. 7 nationally. The Gators have finished third or higher at 20 of the last 21 NCAA Championships, including 10 of the last 11 indoors. Florida also boasts nine national titles and top-two finishes at 23 of the 34 NCAA Championships for which Mike Holloway has been head coach.
The 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships, hosted by the University of Arkansas, will take place March 11-13 inside the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
ESPN3 will provide live streaming, and further details will be provided at a later date. A replay will re-air Sunday, March 14 at 9 p.m. Eastern time on ESPNU.
NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
 *  Live Stream – Times TBD (ESPN3)
 *  Television Replays: Sunday, March 14 – 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
 *  Complete Men’s Entries List
 *  Complete Women’s Entries List
 *  Meet Schedule
*Â Â Venue: Randal Tyson Track Center (Fayetteville, Arkansas)