GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The men's track and field team had a final stretch of memorable marks on the second day of the Tom Jones Memorial. The Ospreys put together highly calculated strides and left the scene with several new personal-best records.
Robert Pedroza anticipated every footstep in the 800m run, as his strides earned him a first-place finish in the second heat of the race. Pedroza clinched the race in 1:48.64, gaining a new lifetime mark.
Macauley Franks ran just under 1:50 to notch an achievable rank in the top 15 for the men's 800m. The senior earned a new lifetime achievement of 1:49.55, while Ladarius Telis went top 30 in the men's 800m run crunching a new personal-best of 1:50.44.
FINISH LINE
- Pedroza went number one in his heat for the men's 800m.
- The junior notched a new personal-best 800m split.
- Franks ran 1:49.55, smashing a new lifetime mark in the men's 800m run.
- Ladarius Tellis' strides landed him a top-30 rank in the men's 800m.
- Ryan Douihech also ran hard earning a top-40 mark in the men's 800m.
- Ryan Thomas went top 10 in his respective heat for the men's 110m hurdles.
PIGG'S POINTS
"All four of the guys ran lifetime bests. The 800m was a great race and the guys were prepared. We have worked a long time to be ready for opportunities like today. Robert won, ran smart and with confidence. He won his heat with a great time and I think he can go much faster. Mac [Franks] broke under the 1:50 barrier for the first time in his career. He competed well and finished strong. Ladarius [Tellis] gained a lot of experience today. He competed well and came home with a strong finish to run 1:50.44. Ryan [Douihech] continues to get faster. He looked solid today and had a very good kick to finish with a new lifetime best as well. The middle distance group is on track to peak at the championship part of the year."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
UP NEXT
The Osprey men and women will travel to Atlanta, Ga., to compete in their final road meet of the season at the Georgia Tech Invitational from Apr. 21-22.
