Marquis Dendy
A 7-time NCAA champion, Marquis Dendy is getting set to compete this June to qualify for Paris.
A 7-time NCAA champion, Dendy is currently ranked among the very best in the U.S. for long jump. He was recruited to the University of Florida in 2012 by Nic Petersen, UF associate head coach for track & field and Team USA men’s jumps/multis coach. Coach Petersen coached Dendy as a student-athlete and now as a member of Team USA. Dendy was the first student-athlete from UF to win the Bowerman Award in 2015, which honors the most outstanding male and female NCAA track & field athletes.

“UF Health, Dr. (Kevin) Farmer and everybody that’s involved here at the University of Florida … I look back when I was a freshman picking schools, and if I would have known that this is what my life would turn out to be by picking UF, I would do it 20 more times.”
His parents are Mark and Dionne — Mark was a high school sprinter and Dionne was a collegiate sprinter. Dendy credits his dad for coaching him during his high school years. Even now, he says his dad “knows me to a T” and offers sage coaching advice. In 2023, Dendy made headlines by wearing a bucket hat and balaclava mask while competing in the World Championships. He continues to wear his lucky hat and mask during competitions.
Health concern
Dendy overcame many sports-related injuries during his collegiate and professional career, and he continues to receive care from UF’s physicians, Dr. Kevin Farmer and Dr. Kevin Vincent.