PREVIEW: Track & Field Hosts UNF Invitational

Friday, April 29

Jacksonville, Fla.

All Day

University of North Florida

UNF Invitational

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UNF Invite preview graphic with Nathan Jubran

4/28/2022 1:30:00 PM | Men's Track, Women's Track

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Multiple Power Five Teams, Olympians to Run at North Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The North Florida track and field teams will host their first home meet of the season when they compete in their regular-season finale at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium April 29-30.

The Ospreys will be competing against a stacked field in the UNF Invitational for their sixth outdoor meet of the season. The field includes two nationally ranked teams, four Power Five teams, four national teams, and various highly-touted individuals, including six-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse.

UNF will be honoring nine seniors during this weekend's festivities at the UNF Invitational. This will be the first of two meets in the next couple weeks that the Ospreys will be hosting, as they will be competing in the ASUN Outdoor Championship that will also be hosted at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium from May 12-14.

LAST TIME OUT

Top Marks at Georgia Tech Invitational

Tariq Lajoie had a great jump of 2.00m that notched him third place among 10 athletes, which was only two centimeters short of his season-best mark.
Kaley Petrosky and Izabelle Hays both posted lifetime best marks in the women's high jump, as Petrosky recorded a jump of 1.69m and Hays was right behind with a 1.64m mark.

Top Times at Georgia Tech Invitational

Aidan O'Gorman notched his first collegiate win last weekend after running a time of 14:14.85 in the 5000m race among a strong field, while Nathan Jubran also ran a great time at 14:26.50 for fifth.
Timothy Doyle ran an excellent race with his fastest 1500m time of the season at 3:44.62 to bring home another first-place finish for UNF, along with Aiden Arnold and Robert Pedroza inside the top 20.
Pedroza also had a ninth-place finish in the 800m race just edging out his lifetime best mark at 1:51.59.
Gavin O'Brien placed second in the 3000m steeplechase after recording a time of 9:08.13 to earn his best time and second two-top finish of the season, as well as Onix Ortiz Vazquez finishing eighth.
McLain had another top-three finish in the 3000m steeplechase clocking in at 11:14.05, while Cooney placed fifth with a time of 11:43.74.
Erica Fisher turned in an impressive top-20 finish in the 5000m race at 17:48.46, along with Raquel Lespasio at 18:17.02 for 25th.
Celine D'Anna also ran the fastest 400m hurdles of her collegiate career with a time of 1:05.69 that got her 17th place.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS

The field for the UNF Invitational will include athletes from 48 different teams, including eight clubs/individuals and four national teams. Other notable collegiate opponents will include No. 3/3 Florida, No. 18/NR Florida State, Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, South Florida, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Coastal Carolina and Toledo. There will also be ASUN opponents in the meet with Jacksonville, Jacksonville State and Liberty making the trip to Hodges.

One of the most notable athletes that is competing at the UNF Invite will be Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse, who is a six-time Olympic medalist and reigning Olympic champion in the 200m. He's scheduled to race in the 200m dash at 7 pm on Friday, as well as the 4x100m relay at 12:55 pm and the 100m dash at 3:15 pm on Saturday.

The four national teams that will be in attendance are France, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the British Virgin Islands. There will also be individuals competing for their respective organizations, such as PUMA, Tumbleweed Track Club, Atlanta Track Club, Skypolevaulter Elite Athletics, Empire Athletics, Gymshark, Team Agile and Take Notice Sports Management.

UNF SENIOR DAY

The Ospreys will recognize the following track & field seniors before the second day of competition on Saturday at 11:30 am.

PIGG'S THOUGHTS

"The meet has shaped up to be a great one for senior day. From the Olympian's to NCAA champions and all levels of college running, there are opportunities for everyone competing to have great weekend.

For the UNF athletes, it is an exciting time, as the meet coincides with the last day of classes so there is a lot going on. The weather looks perfect so we are ready to roll!"
-- head coach Jeff Pigg

UP NEXT

The Ospreys will roll from one home meet to the next, as they will be competing in the ASUN Outdoor Track Championships from May 12-14 hosted at Hodges Stadium.