County products Obinwa, Gibson zoom to 800 bests

Posted Jan 29, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 29, 2012 at 01:19 AM

Former Wharton track star Sean Obinwa, a University of Florida sophomore, posted an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the 800-meter run at Saturday’s Texas A&M Challenge, running to the second fastest time in Florida history with a personal best of 1 minute, 47.22 seconds. That was good for second place in the race. Former Sickles standout Dan Wehunt was eighth in 1:52.11.

“The biggest thing with Sean is that he believes in himself,” said Gators head track coach Mike Holloway. “We have a very special relationship. He trusts and believes in me; I trust and believe in him. At the end of the day, he goes to the line and he knows that he’s prepared.”

Also at the meet, Riverview product Ashley favors, a Gators freshman, was ninth in the women’s 60 hurdles in 8.94.

Meanwhile, at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., former Robinson star Darrin Gibson, a Florida State junior, posted his own PR in the 800 of 1:48.78 to finish third. The NCAA auto-qualifier for that event is 1:47.30, so Gibson doesn’t have too far to improve.