Holloway delivers dynamic double in debut

Florida freshman sets program record, becomes No. 2 American Junior performer and runs third-fastest indoor 300-meter time in collegiate history; Also produces Gators' No. 2 mark in 60 hurdles

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

One of the most anticipated college debuts of the new year didn’t disappoint Saturday as Clemson showcased its new indoor track at the Orange and Purple Classic.

Florida freshman Grant Holloway, the top athlete in the Gators’ recruiting class after commits Noah Lyles and Josephus Lyles decided to sign professional contracts with adidas, became the No. 2 all-time American Junior performer and third-fastest in collegiate history in the indoor 300 meters by winning in 32.80 seconds.

RESULTS

LaShawn Merritt set the U.S. Junior record of 31.94 at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas in 2010, the same race American Wallace Spearmon ran the world record 31.88.

Holloway, who broke the 1990 program record of 32.90 set by Tyrone Kemp, trails only Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence (32.32) and Mississippi State’s Lorenzo Daniel (32.67) among the fastest collegiate indoor 300 performers on a standard 200-meter track. Pittsburgh’s Carvin Nkanata ran 32.60 on an oversized track in 2013.

Holloway also prevailed in the 60-meter hurdles in 7.63, No. 2 in program history behind Eddie Lovett, who ran 7.50 in 2013.

Since the NCAA Indoor Championships switched from the 55-meter hurdles to the 60 hurdles at the 1999 finals, Holloway – who ran 7.75 in the prelims – became only the third freshman to run faster than 7.65.

Jamaican Omar McLeod, the collegiate record holder at 7.45 and reigning World indoor champion, ran 7.57 at the 2014 NCAA prelims and 7.58 to win the title during his freshman year at Arkansas. Auburn’s Shamar Sands placed second at the 2003 finals in 7.59.