Track and Field: Ryan Willie leads the Florida Gators into Championship Weekend

"The 2023 SEC Men’s Runner of the Year and 400 Meter Dash Champion, Willie is the “swiss army knife” for a deep Florida men’s roster which is poised for another run at a national title."

Florida Sprinter Ryan Willie

When you ask great athletes and coaches what makes a great leader, many will state that the best way to lead is by example. Florida junior sprinter Ryan Willie has come to personify what leading by example means.

The 2023 SEC Men’s Runner of the Year and 400-meter dash champion, Willie is the “Swiss army knife” for a deep Florida men’s roster which is poised for another run at a national title. A season ago Willie played a role similar to a football teams’ second receiver playing a supporting role to NCAA and world champion Champ Allison who turned pro in 2022.

The Baltimore native has taken on a more versatile role for the Gators. In addition to the 400 meters, Willie runs the crucial first leg of the Gators 4x100 Meter Relay which is one of the nation’s best. In the 4x400 Meter Relay, Willie is now running the anchor leg after running the second leg for the Gators a year ago when they set the collegiate record on their way to the national title. In the SEC Championship, Willie anchored the Florida team that eclipsed the record time of 2022, setting a new collegiate mark with Jraevaughn Powell, Emanuel Bamidele and Jacory Patterson.

When visiting with Ryan Willie in 2022, one could sense that he was poised to handle the pressure that goes with taking on a leadership role for Coach Mouse Holloway’s Gators. ”We may be better than last year,” said a confident Willie. “Our transfers are really good”.

The transfers he was speaking of were sophomore Emmanuel Bamidele (Texas A&M), and juniors Robert Gregory (TCU), Jevaughn Powell (UTEP) who have added depth to a well assembled roster.

In Thursday’s NCAA preliminary round, both Bamidele and Powell advanced to the finals in the 400 meter dash while Gregory would advance in the 200-meter dash. While those performances were impressive, it is Willie who looked the strongest in his 400-meter heat, outrunning his competitors by ten meters or more.

The race was indicative of Coach Holloway’s ability to have his athletes ready when it matters most. “He has us ready and we get rowdy too,” said Willie, who is a true disciple of Holloway’s teaching.

What could be his greatest asset is how he feels about his Florida Gator teammates both -- male and female. Observing him around distance runner Gabby Wilkinson and fellow sprinter PJ Austin, Willie is a dominant voice, who will do whatever help his teammates on and off the track. However when you get right to it seems that no matter where, no matter what, no matter the leg, Willie lives for the last event of each meet.

When the Gators line up for the 4x400, his teammates gather in the stands in a cheering frenzy that rivals the Rowdy Reptiles in the O’Connell Center. The Gators have a group of five to six athletes they could choose to get the baton around the track, but no matter who handles the first three legs, it will all lead to Ryan Willie who’s arms and legs could hold the fate of the Gators national title hopes as he rounds the track. The great thing for the Gators is……he is just fine with that.

Florida Gators Advancing to the Finals and Place

Men

PJ Austin-100m Dash

Robert Gregory-200m Dash

Ryan Willie-400m Dash

Emanuelle Bamidele-400m Dash

Jevaughn Powell-400m Dash

Relays-4x100, 4x400

Sean Dixon Bodie-Triple Jump

Malcolm Clemons-Long Jump (Finished 4th)

Women

Talitha Diggs-200m Dash, 400m Dash (Defending NCAA Champion)

Jasmine Moore-Long Jump

Claire Bryant-High Jump, Long Jump (Finished 5th)

Jasmine Moore-Triple Jump, Long Jump (Finished 3rd)

Grace Stark-100m Hurdles

Alida Van Daalen-Discus, Shot Put (Finished 4th)

Parker Valby-5000m Run

Sterling Lester-Heptathlon

Relays-4x400