University of North Florida
ASUN Outdoor Championships
Pedroza & Doyle Qualify For 800m Final at ASUN Outdoor Championships
5/12/2023 9:30:00 PM | Men's Track
Franks Goes Top Five In 3000m Steeplechase
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida track & field men closed out day two of the ASUN Outdoor Championship on Friday at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. Two Ospreys qualify for the men's 800m with a few top 10 placements behind. Robert Pedroza led the pack in the 800m run, crossing the line in 1:51.45 to place second.
Both Pedroza and Timothy Doyle will compete in the 800m finals on Saturday. Macauley Franks ran a tough race in the 3000m steeplechase, clocking the race in under nine minutes for a top-five placement.
FINISH LINE
- Pedroza led the pack in the 800m run and notched a second overall finish in the prelims.
- Doyle went top-five in the 800m as well.
- Both Pedroza and Doyle qualified for the 800m run finals on Saturday.
- Franks crushed a top-five finish in the men's 3000m steeplechase.
- Jaasiel Torres, Jacob Hippo and Tariq LaJoie all placed top six in the high jump.
- Ryan Thomas earned a top-10 placement in the men's 110m hurdles.
Jaasiel Torres earns fourth in the high jump at 2.06m, followed by @Jacob_hippo and @2Turnt_T in the top six!#SWOOP (1/3) pic.twitter.com/iOK0jLQnT0
— UNF X-Country/T&F (@OspreyXCTF) May 13, 2023
#SWOOP (2/3) pic.twitter.com/POxWkQO7nt
— UNF X-Country/T&F (@OspreyXCTF) May 13, 2023
Mac Franks headlines a group of four Ospreys in the 3000m steeplechase, as he placed fourth overall at 8:57.08!
— UNF X-Country/T&F (@OspreyXCTF) May 13, 2023
?? https://t.co/IB15cfGGNr#SWOOP (1/3) pic.twitter.com/dNLDbFCVne
PIGG'S POINTS
"The high jump was obviously a real exciting event for us. I think that having Jaasiel [Torres] come back for his final year of eligibility was exciting and it was really cool to see him. You know, just continue to improve, work hard, get back in shape and improve throughout the year. I was really excited to see him do so well. It makes the guys around him better. He's a good leader and has a good work ethic and so it was cool to see him, Jacob [Hippo] and Tariq [Lajoie] all do so well in the high jump today. I was really excited for us, it was just a great environment with our team around and administration and the students from other [UNF] teams. It was a really great event, and I am really proud of those guys. Mac [Franks] ran under nine minutes in the steeplechase, which is good and in any other year that would have gotten you a lot higher, but today, it landed him in fifth. We've got to give credit to the Eastern Kentucky guys, we know they're really good at that and they put in a clinic in the steeplechase, which was really impressive by them. Mac competed hard and broke nine minutes and so that was a good effort on his part. In the prelims for the men's 800m, Timothy [Doyle] obviously did really good and ran strong. Robert [Pedroza] also managed the prelim well and made it through to the finals, so I am excited to see those guys race tomorrow in the 800m and to see Timothy in the 1500m as well. Ryan [Thomas] banged his ankle yesterday and was sore today in the short hurdles, so he didn't have the pop that he needed. But, hopefully tomorrow it'll feel okay and will be ready to go for the 400m hurdles."
-- head coach Jeff PiggÂ
UP NEXT
The Ospreys will double back to the home course for a final day of competition in the ASUN Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Players Mentioned
