PREVIEW: 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships - East First Round

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A trio of Osprey competitors look to make their mark at the NCAA East Region First Round meet, as North Florida hosts the nation's best at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium from May 24-27.

Aidan O'Gorman, Robert Pedroza and Macauley Franks will all have their sights set on joining Noah Perkins on the list of UNF outdoor runners to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. All three runners currently hold the respective program records for the races that they will be competing in over the course of this upcoming week.

UNF schedule:
Robert Pedroza | Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. (1500m)
Aidan O'Gorman | Wednesday, May 24 at 9:10 p.m. (10,000m)
Mac Franks | Friday, May 24 at 5:15 p.m. (1500m steeplechase)

LAST TIME OUT

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.
He also earned second overall in the 10,000m during conference races.
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.

PIGG'S POINT'S

"There is a lot of energy here, as we host the East First Round and our guys are ready to join the fun. It has been a good season for all three of them and it is now time to take it to the next level. I feel that each of them have a legitimate chance to make it to the finals. I can't wait to get the racing started."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg

NOTABLE OPPONENTS

A trio North Florida men will compete against the top 48 competitors in the East region for a chance at advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship next month in Austin, Texas. There will be 163 Division I teams represented at Hodges Stadium this weekend with over 1,600 athletes looking for a chance to make the finals.

UP NEXT

O'Gorman, Pedroza and Franks looks to put together great finishes in hopes of moving forward to NCAA Championship from June 7-10 in Austin, Tex.