JP Friday Excels in Triple Jump at NCAAs
EUGENE, Ore. – All eyes were on John-Patrick Friday at Hayward Field on Friday night.
The University of Miami senior was the only Hurricane in action on the final day of men’s competition at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Friday, who was competing in his final collegiate meet, proudly represented the Canes like he has so many times in his four-year career.
“JP has had a tremendous impact on our men’s program,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “He has provided great leadership on and off the track and he will be truly missed.”
A native of Orlando, Fla., Friday opened competition with a jump of 15.77m, just three-hundredths of a meter behind his school-record mark of 15.80m. His opening mark would prove to be his best of the day and Friday’s second attempt went for 15.23m and he fouled on his final jump.
“I wanted to go out and jump to the best of my ability,” Friday said “I wanted to jump 16 meters, but the fact that I got 11th in the nation is still good. It’s bittersweet. It’s my last meet and I wanted a little more, but the fact that I got 11th is good and it’s better than last year.”
Friday finishes his Hurricane career with the outdoor triple jump school record, as well as ranking second in the high jump (2.11m) and fifth in the long jump (7.47m). He is also the school record holder in the indoor high jump (2.11m) and indoor triple jump (15.77m), while ranks fourth indoors in the long jump (7.45m), proving himself as one of the best jumpers in Miami history.
“Hopefully my success helps bring other jumpers to the school,” Friday said. “I want to see more jumpers coming to Miami and looking at what I did and trying to break my records. I am the type of person that I want to set records, but I also want them to be broken. I hope I helped start something here.”
Friday was the final men’s competitor for the Hurricanes to compete in Eugene this week. Throwers Gian Piero Ragonesi and Isaiah Simmons represented Miami in the men’s shot put on Wednesday. Ragonesi led the way for the Canes, as the junior finished 13th with a throw of 18.76m. Simmons competed for the final time as a Hurricane, placing 23rd with a mark of 18.23m.
The Hurricanes had women advance to the national meet in the 400m, 100m hurdles, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, pole vault, high jump and hammer throw. Miami had men qualify for the NCAA Championships in the shot put and triple jump. The 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., from June 8-11.
For the second straight year, the NCAA Outdoor Championships schedule has been divided by gender. The men will compete on Wednesday, June 8, and Friday, June 10, while the women are in action on Thursday, June 9, and Saturday, June 11.
All four days of the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks. Saturday’s broadcast begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3 and at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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