O'Gorman Sets ASUN Record in Final Day of Outdoor Championships

Saturday, May 13

Jacksonville, Fla.

All Day

University of North Florida

ASUN Outdoor Championships

O'Gorman Sets ASUN Record in Final Day of Outdoor Championships

5/13/2023 11:30:00 PM | Men's Track

Event Results

Three Runners Go Gold, One Snags Silver

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The North Florida men's track and field team made more history and closed out the ASUN Outdoor Championship with a trio of gold medals on Saturday, May 13, at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.

Macauley Franks got the pace going with a calculated first-place finish in the 1500m run, with Timothy Doyle following with silver. Robert Pedroza's fierce strides earned him a first-place win in the men's 800m final, while Aidan O'Gorman left the site in awe by overturning the ASUN Outdoor Championship meet record in the 5000m. This is the fourth school record O'Gorman has broken this season and the second outdoor record he's set.

"I was fired up after getting second in the 10k and just wanted to come back, race hard and hopefully walk away with a win this weekend," said O'Gorman on his gold medal performance. "Whoever's leading, don't be afraid to get messy and just go through the pain, hold on and don't let go. That was basically the plan and what was running through my head. Thankfully, that's how it went. All glory to God."

Aidan O'Gorman medals once again with a gold finish and an ASUN meet record of 14:16.51 in the 5000m!#SWOOP (1/3) pic.twitter.com/pBeDidSCSX
— UNF X-Country/T&F (@OspreyXCTF) May 14, 2023

FINISH LINE

O'Gorman broke the 5000m ASUN Outdoor Championship meet record.
The senior won the race in 14:16.51, becoming the third Osprey to go gold.
Pedroza ran smart, as he floated through the straightaway with a first-place finish in the 800m.
He notched a gold medal in the race crushing the race in 1:49.56.
Franks set the tone with a gold medal in the 1500m earning a whopping lead in the race.
The graduate snagged the race in 3:46.24 clinching the first-place spot.
Doyle led the first lap and pulled out just behind Franks in second, notching a silver medal in the 1500m race.

Robert Pedroza earns the third gold medal for the Ospreys this weekend placing first in the 800m final at 1:49.56!#SWOOP (1/2) pic.twitter.com/qX3F6bL4Wa
— UNF X-Country/T&F (@OspreyXCTF) May 13, 2023

PIGG'S POINTS

"What a beautiful day to wrap up the ASUN Championships. It's been a long three days and a lot of work goes into it. Ervin Lewis being on the NCAA committee and being the sports facilities supervisor here for us. He puts in a ton of work with his crew, volunteers and officials and I think everybody appreciates the effort that goes into it. The result is just a great student-athlete experience. It was nice to be blessed with good weather too, which makes it that much better. I really appreciate everything that those guys and our staff d to create a good experience for our kids.

In the 800m, Robert [Pedroza], just took command. He wasn't going to let somebody else dictate how that race went because he wanted to win it and he knew the best way for him to win was a good honest pace. So that's what he made it. He took command and led wire to wire and beat a really good field, so I was really proud. He did a great job. In the men's 1500m I was really proud of how well our guys did. They took control of the race and went out and executed a good plan and worked together. Mac [Franks] and Tim [Doyle] went one, two. Those guys ran a great race. Aidan [O'Gorman] in the 5000m I thought was a really good race and he competed well, stayed focused. When you run 10k, two nights ago and run another twelve and a half tonight, you have to be one tough dude. You have to be prepared. You have to want it and he certainly did. So, I'm really proud of that. Ryan [Thomas] banged up his ankle yesterday and was able to come back and do a great job."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg