Gators shine at U.S. track championships

placed second in long jump and qualified for the world championships.

Elsehwere, Florida's Eric Futch won the men’s 400-meter hurdles and locked in his world championships spot.

Earlier this year, Futch became the eighth man in Division I history to successfully defend his 400 hurdles title. The Darby, Pa., native and fifth-year senior crossed the NCAA finish line in 48.32 seconds, a halfsecond personal best that made him the No. 10-ranked 400 hurdler in collegiate history. Futch's second crown was the fifth in school history.

Florida’s T.J. Holmes placed third in 400-meter hurdles, joining the other Gators on the U.S. roster for the world championships. Holmes, a redshirt sophomore, was the 2016 NCAA outdoor championships runner-up in the 400 hurdles and is a three-time AllAmerican.

Former Gator Jeff Demps, a Groveland South Lake High graduate who spent time on the Tampa Bay Bucs roster, finished 13th in the semifinals of the 100 dash and did not advance.