Watson Wins 800-Meters At Gator Invitational

Feb. 3, 2001

Gainesville, FL – Senior All-American Natalie Watson (Clarendon, Jamaica) finished first in the 800-meters with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 2:08.58 to highlight competition at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, FL.

Watson, who earned All-America honors last season with a sixth-place finish in the 800-meters at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, was one of three Hurricanes to record NCAA provisional qualifying marks.

Sophomore Patricia Pearson (Jacksonville, FL) also provisionally qualified in the 800-meters finishing sixth with a time of 2:09.80.

In the triple jump, All-American Kareen Clarke (Lithonic, GA) finished third with an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 12.76 meters (41-10.50). The Hurricanes dominated the event with four jumpers finishing in the top-7 including Antonnikka Owens (Orlando, FL) who finished fifth (12.33m/40-05.50), Gina Harris (Philadelphia, PA) who took sixth (12.17m/39-11.25) and Raquel Scott (Dallas, TX) who finished seventh (12.11m/39-08.75).

The meet marks Miami’s final tune-up before the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships, February 17-18, in Syracuse, NY.