South Florida Bulls track and field

South Florida Bulls track and field
Founded1992 (outdoor)
1994 (indoor)
UniversityUniversity of South Florida
Athletic directorMichael Kelly
Head coachErik Jenkins
ConferenceThe American
LocationTampa, FL
Outdoor trackUSF Track and Field Stadium (Capacity: 4,000)
NicknameBulls
ColorsGreen and gold[1]
   
Individual Indoor National Champions
Men:
Romaine Beckford – High jump (2023)
Individual Outdoor National Champions
Men:
Jon Dennis – 5,000 meter run (1992, 1993)
Romaine Beckford – High jump (2023)
NCAA Indoor Tournament Appearances
Men:
2015, 2016
Women:
1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2011
NCAA Outdoor Tournament Appearances
Men:
1992, 1993, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016
Women:
2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014
Conference Indoor Championships
Men:
2024
Women:
1995, 2000, 2001
Conference Outdoor Championships
Men:
2024
Women:
1994, 1995, 2003

The South Florida Bulls track and field program represents the University of South Florida in the sport of track and field. The program consists of separate men's and women's teams and competes in the American Athletic Conference within NCAA Division I. Both of the Bulls track and field teams are coached by Erik Jenkins, who also coaches the USF cross country teams.[2] The teams practice and host outdoor meets at the USF Track and Field Stadium. While the university sponsors indoor teams as well, the university does not have an indoor track facility suitable to host meets. There is an indoor track in the Campus Recreation Center which the teams use for practice, but it has no space for indoor field events or spectators.

Neither team has won a team national title, but the men's team has featured four individual national championships: Jon Dennis won the outdoor 5000-meter run in 1992 and 1993 and Romaine Beckford won the indoor and outdoor high jump in 2023.

Men

The USF men's outdoor track and field team was founded in spring 1992, and the indoor team was founded in spring 1994.[3] They have won two conference championships, the 2024 indoor and outdoor American Athletic Conference titles.[4][5] They have made two appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships and seven appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[6][7] Members of the team have won 31 individual indoor and 60 individual outdoor conference championships, plus four relay indoor and five relay outdoor conference championships.[8]

Jon Dennis won the 1992 and 1993 national championships in the outdoor 5,000 meter run, and Romaine Beckford won the 2023 national championship in the indoor and outdoor high jump.[9][10][11] Matthew O'Neal was the national runner-up in the 2016 indoor triple jump.[12]

Women

The USF women's outdoor and indoor track and field teams were also founded in 1992 and 1994, respectively.[3] They have won three indoor and three outdoor team conference championships and appeared in six NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships and seven NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[13][14] Members of the team have won 41 individual indoor and 53 individual outdoor conference championships, plus three relay indoor and four relay outdoor conference championships.[15]

Two women's athletes have finished as NCAA runners up: Tara Quinn in the 2002 outdoor 10,000 meter run and Courtney Anderson in the 2013 outdoor high jump.[16]

Athletes

All-Americans

As of 2022, the men's program has produced 14 first team all-American selections from seven athletes, while the women's program has produced 13 first team selections from six athletes and one relay team.[16]

Men's first team all-Americans

  • Jon Dennis (1992 outdoor 5,000 meter run, 1993 outdoor 5,000 meter run)
  • Jimmy Baxter (2001 outdoor high jump, 2004 outdoor high jump)
  • Jan-Erik Solo (2001 outdoor steeplechase)
  • Mikese Morse (2008 outdoor long jump)
  • David Aristil (2010 outdoor 400-meter hurdles, 2011 outdoor 400-meter hurdles, 2012 outdoor 400-meter hurdles)
  • Jared Thomas (2012 outdoor discus)
  • Matthew O'Neal (2013 outdoor triple jump, 2014 outdoor triple jump, 2015 indoor triple jump, 2015 outdoor triple jump, 2016 indoor triple jump, 2016 outdoor triple jump)

Women's first team all-Americans

  • Kerine Black (2000 outdoor triple jump, 2000 indoor triple jump, 2001 indoor long jump)
  • Kerine Black, Damu Cherry, Maiteland Marks, Sasha Springer, Amber Williams (2000 outdoor 4x100 meter relay)
  • Tara Quinn (2002 outdoor 10,000 meter run)
  • Chandra Brewer (2003 outdoor shot put, 2005 outdoor shot put)
  • Dayana Octavien (2004 outdoor discus, 2004 indoor weight throw)
  • Denise von Eynatten (2008 indoor pole vault, 2011 indoor pole vault)
  • Courtney Anderson (2013 outdoor high jump, 2014 outdoor high jump)

USF Athletic Hall of Fame

Main article: University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame

Three track and field athletes have been inducted into the University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, two women and one man:

Olympians

See also: South Florida Bulls in the Olympics

Five Bulls track and field athletes have competed in the Olympics:[20][21][22][23][24]

As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, no Bulls have won any Olympic medals in track & field.

See also

References

  1. ^ USF Athletics Brand Guide (PDF). August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "USF's Jenkins promoted to Director of Track & Field and Cross Country; Id-Deen to Associate Head Coach". USF Athletics. 2024-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  3. ^ a b Company, Tampa Publishing. "USF's Dennis a surprise winner in NCAA championships". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-08-02. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ "Charlotte Women, South Florida Men Capture First American Indoor Track & Field Championships". theamerican.org. 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  5. ^ "South Florida Men Capture First American Indoor Track & Field Championships". USF Athletics. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  6. ^ "NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Record Book" (PDF).
  7. ^ "NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Record Book" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Men Conference History (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  9. ^ "2019 NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track & Field Record Book" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Beckford Wins Men's High Jump National Championship". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  11. ^ "Beckford Claims Men's High Jump National Champion Title and New Program Record Mark". USF Athletics. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  12. ^ "Davis, O'Neal and Williams to Enter USF Athletic Hall of Fame". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  13. ^ "NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Record Book" (PDF).
  14. ^ "NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Record Book" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Women Conference History (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  16. ^ a b "USF Track and Field Records - NCAA All-Americans". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  17. ^ "Kerine Black (2010) - USF Athletic Hall of Fame". USF Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  18. ^ "Dayana Octavien (2013) - USF Athletic Hall of Fame". USF Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  19. ^ Brown, Nolan; Editor, Sports (2020-10-26). "Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees announced". The Oracle. Retrieved 2020-11-14. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ "USF Olympians - GoUSFBulls.com?Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida". USF Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  21. ^ "Bulls to Brag About". www.usfalumni.org. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  22. ^ "Dayana Octavien (2013) - USF Athletic Hall of Fame". USF Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  23. ^ "ICYMI: Justin Bridgewater won the Bahamas National Championship in the men's 800m in 1:55.21 yesterday. Flag of Bahamas #HornsUp". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  24. ^ "ICYMI: Jasmine Knowles won the women's 800m at the Bahamas National Championships in 2:18.39. Flag of Bahamas #HornsUp". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-28.