Cross Country & Track and Field Bring in Five More Signees
7/13/2023 2:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Men's Track, Women's Track
Pace-Balzan, El Khattabi, Tary, Kolbe & Markovina Add to Incoming Class
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The North Florida cross country & track and field program has announced the signings of Mary Pace-Balzan, Ilias El Khattabi, Ben Tary, Smilla Kolbe and Ana Markovina to the program on Thursday afternoon.
Out of the five new signees, Pace-Balzan, El Khattabi and Tary will be joining UNF as incoming freshmen, while Kolbe and Markovina will be transferring in from other D-I institutions. Both Kolbe and Markovina will be sophomores heading into the 2023-24 season.
The Ospreys keep Pace-Balzan and Tary inside the state of Florida, while also picking up an out-of-state signing in Markovina from New York. UNF also dipped into the international pool with El Khattabi coming from Netherlands and Kolbe coming from Germany.
El Khattabi and Tary will be a part of the men's XCTF signing class that currently has nine other newcomers to the team. The women also add Pace-Balzan, Kolbe and Markovina to make seven total newcomers entering the new year.
"We closed out our recruiting class strong. I am very excited to get the newcomers on campus. This group is driven. They are well-centered and have big ambitions."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Hometown: Saint Augustine, Fla.
High School: Nease HS
XC PR: 5k - 19:49
Track PR: 3200m - 10:52
Notes: Competed in cross country & track and field during junior and senior years of high school...her best time in the XC 5k race was a mark of 19:49...awarded Panther Award in 2022, which is given to the best senior class for XC...Donna 5k winner...best 3200m time in track was 10:52...broke the record at Nease HS for 3200m, 1-mile and the 4x1600m races...also was state runner-up in 3200m and was given Nease's distance Panther award...4.0 GPA student...also played tennis in HS...born on May 25, 2005...plans to major in kinesiology.
Chose UNF because "I love the beautiful campus, I've heard great things about it, and it's close to home."
Coach's Thoughts: "When I first met Mary, I knew we wanted her on our team. She was an excellent match with her character and academic focus. Her running was solid and it appeared she would prove a lot. She made some huge improvements throughout the season and it will be fun to continue the journey with her."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Hometown: Rotterdam, Netherlands
High School: Johan Cruyff College
XC PR: 5k - 14:42
Track PR: 1500m - 3:50.22 | 3000m - 8:23.18
Notes: Will run distance for the UNF cross country & track teams...attended John  Cruyff College in Roosendaal, Holland...top time in the XC 5k was 14:42...also has top times of 3:50.22 in the 1500m and 8:23.18 in the 3000m for track...will enter the 2023-24 season as an incoming freshman...born on July 16, 2001...plans to major in business management.
Chose UNF because "for me, to choose the University of North Florida, as a student-athlete from Holland, offers a remarkable opportunity to excel both academically and athletically. The first time that I spoke to Coach Pigg and Coach Stahl, they gave me a great feeling about the program. They both motivated me to bring the best out of me in the upcoming years at UNF! Outstanding sports programs, scholarship support, a vibrant campus life, a favorable location, academic excellence, inclusivity and valuable career prospects, UNF provides an ideal platform for my personal and athletic development in the future."
Coach's Thoughts: "Ilias [El Khattabi] has run some very good times and fits the profile of a very good UNF distance man. We are looking forward to working together to continue his development."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Hometown: Venice, Fla.
High School: Venice HS
XC PR: 5k - 16:11
Track PR: 800m - 1:55.52 | 1600m - 4:13.51
Notes: Competed in track & field as a junior and senior, as well as cross country as a senior...personal-best in the XC 5k was 16:11 in the Region 4A-2 meet in 2022...nominated to be All-Area athlete in Sarasota County...went to state meet and placed in the top 100...best time in 800m for track was 1:55.52 at the 4A Region 2 meet...also had best 1600m time of 4:13.51 at 4A State Championship meet...team MVP and nominated to be an All-Area athlete in Sarasota County...district champion in the 800m and 1600m...regional champion in the 800m...regional runner-up in the 1600m...took dual enrollment classes for college credit throughout HS...also played soccer in HS...born on Dec. 21, 2004...plans to major in graphic design.
Chose UNF because "of the quality of the track team, specifically the events I run in. I also chose UNF because, academically, it had the majors and academic aspects I was looking for in a university."
Coach's Thoughts: "Ben [Tary] really came in strong late in the season. He is a good fit for our culture and I think he has a very high ceiling."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Hometown: Hanover, Germany
Previous School: Southern Miss
XC PR: 5k - 17:39.7
Track PR: 400m - 55.66 | 600m - 1:36.67 | 800m - 2:04.60 | 1500m - 4:25.74
Notes: Went to Freue Waldorfschule Hannover Maschsee and will be transferring in from Southern Miss...set track personal bests in the 400m at 55.66 and 1500m at 4:25.74...most recently set a new lifetime mark in the 800m at 2:04.60 back home in Germany...had four first-place finishes at Southern Miss this past season, including the top spot in the 4x400m at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships...also placed top three in the 800m at the Sun Belt meet...will arrive to UNF as a sophomore...born on Mar. 1, 2002...plans to major in psychology.
Chose UNF because "they have a great coach, an awesome environment and my gut told me joining the team and moving to Florida will be a lot of fun."
Coach's Thoughts: "Smilla [Kolbe] is a great addition to our program. She is very versatile and will be able to concentrate in the 800m, while also running in the 400m and 1500m. She comes in with a tremendous 800m personal-best of 2:04, which she ran last week at home in Germany."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Hometown: Old Westbury, N.Y.
Previous School: St. John's
XC PR: 5k - 17:50 | 6k - 22:50.4
Track PR: 800m - 2:16 | 1500m - 4:37.19 | Mile - 4:57 | 3000m - 10:19.30 | 5000m - 17:50.50
Notes: Competed in cross country & track and field during all four years of high school...will transfer in from St. John's as a sophomore...recorded a personal-best time in the 1500 meters at the Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships...attended Old Jericho HS, where she won multiple county championships in XC and track...named Newsday Runner of the Year and Athlete of the Week in 2021...All-county all four years in XC and track...team MVP as a junior...All-state in track as a junior and senior...All-Federation and Presidential Award for Nassau County as a junior for track...father, Vinko, ran XC and track at Fairleigh Dickinson and brother, Paul, also ran XC and track at Hofstra...born on Oct. 24, 2004...plans to major in business management.
Chose UNF because "it felt like a place where I could thrive academically and as a runner."
Coach's Thoughts: "Ana [Markovina] and I are on the same page. She knows what she wants to achieve and is excited to get to UNF and start achieving her marks."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Out of the five new signees, Pace-Balzan, El Khattabi and Tary will be joining UNF as incoming freshmen, while Kolbe and Markovina will be transferring in from other D-I institutions. Both Kolbe and Markovina will be sophomores heading into the 2023-24 season.
The Ospreys keep Pace-Balzan and Tary inside the state of Florida, while also picking up an out-of-state signing in Markovina from New York. UNF also dipped into the international pool with El Khattabi coming from Netherlands and Kolbe coming from Germany.
El Khattabi and Tary will be a part of the men's XCTF signing class that currently has nine other newcomers to the team. The women also add Pace-Balzan, Kolbe and Markovina to make seven total newcomers entering the new year.
COACH'S THOUGHTS
"We closed out our recruiting class strong. I am very excited to get the newcomers on campus. This group is driven. They are well-centered and have big ambitions."-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Mary Pace-Balzan
Hometown: Saint Augustine, Fla.High School: Nease HS
XC PR: 5k - 19:49
Track PR: 3200m - 10:52
Notes: Competed in cross country & track and field during junior and senior years of high school...her best time in the XC 5k race was a mark of 19:49...awarded Panther Award in 2022, which is given to the best senior class for XC...Donna 5k winner...best 3200m time in track was 10:52...broke the record at Nease HS for 3200m, 1-mile and the 4x1600m races...also was state runner-up in 3200m and was given Nease's distance Panther award...4.0 GPA student...also played tennis in HS...born on May 25, 2005...plans to major in kinesiology.
Chose UNF because "I love the beautiful campus, I've heard great things about it, and it's close to home."
Coach's Thoughts: "When I first met Mary, I knew we wanted her on our team. She was an excellent match with her character and academic focus. Her running was solid and it appeared she would prove a lot. She made some huge improvements throughout the season and it will be fun to continue the journey with her."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Ilias El Khattabi
Hometown: Rotterdam, NetherlandsHigh School: Johan Cruyff College
XC PR: 5k - 14:42
Track PR: 1500m - 3:50.22 | 3000m - 8:23.18
Notes: Will run distance for the UNF cross country & track teams...attended John  Cruyff College in Roosendaal, Holland...top time in the XC 5k was 14:42...also has top times of 3:50.22 in the 1500m and 8:23.18 in the 3000m for track...will enter the 2023-24 season as an incoming freshman...born on July 16, 2001...plans to major in business management.
Chose UNF because "for me, to choose the University of North Florida, as a student-athlete from Holland, offers a remarkable opportunity to excel both academically and athletically. The first time that I spoke to Coach Pigg and Coach Stahl, they gave me a great feeling about the program. They both motivated me to bring the best out of me in the upcoming years at UNF! Outstanding sports programs, scholarship support, a vibrant campus life, a favorable location, academic excellence, inclusivity and valuable career prospects, UNF provides an ideal platform for my personal and athletic development in the future."
Coach's Thoughts: "Ilias [El Khattabi] has run some very good times and fits the profile of a very good UNF distance man. We are looking forward to working together to continue his development."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Ben Tary
Hometown: Venice, Fla.High School: Venice HS
XC PR: 5k - 16:11
Track PR: 800m - 1:55.52 | 1600m - 4:13.51
Notes: Competed in track & field as a junior and senior, as well as cross country as a senior...personal-best in the XC 5k was 16:11 in the Region 4A-2 meet in 2022...nominated to be All-Area athlete in Sarasota County...went to state meet and placed in the top 100...best time in 800m for track was 1:55.52 at the 4A Region 2 meet...also had best 1600m time of 4:13.51 at 4A State Championship meet...team MVP and nominated to be an All-Area athlete in Sarasota County...district champion in the 800m and 1600m...regional champion in the 800m...regional runner-up in the 1600m...took dual enrollment classes for college credit throughout HS...also played soccer in HS...born on Dec. 21, 2004...plans to major in graphic design.
Chose UNF because "of the quality of the track team, specifically the events I run in. I also chose UNF because, academically, it had the majors and academic aspects I was looking for in a university."
Coach's Thoughts: "Ben [Tary] really came in strong late in the season. He is a good fit for our culture and I think he has a very high ceiling."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Smilla Kolbe
Hometown: Hanover, GermanyPrevious School: Southern Miss
XC PR: 5k - 17:39.7
Track PR: 400m - 55.66 | 600m - 1:36.67 | 800m - 2:04.60 | 1500m - 4:25.74
Notes: Went to Freue Waldorfschule Hannover Maschsee and will be transferring in from Southern Miss...set track personal bests in the 400m at 55.66 and 1500m at 4:25.74...most recently set a new lifetime mark in the 800m at 2:04.60 back home in Germany...had four first-place finishes at Southern Miss this past season, including the top spot in the 4x400m at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships...also placed top three in the 800m at the Sun Belt meet...will arrive to UNF as a sophomore...born on Mar. 1, 2002...plans to major in psychology.
Chose UNF because "they have a great coach, an awesome environment and my gut told me joining the team and moving to Florida will be a lot of fun."
Coach's Thoughts: "Smilla [Kolbe] is a great addition to our program. She is very versatile and will be able to concentrate in the 800m, while also running in the 400m and 1500m. She comes in with a tremendous 800m personal-best of 2:04, which she ran last week at home in Germany."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Ana Markovina
Hometown: Old Westbury, N.Y.Previous School: St. John's
XC PR: 5k - 17:50 | 6k - 22:50.4
Track PR: 800m - 2:16 | 1500m - 4:37.19 | Mile - 4:57 | 3000m - 10:19.30 | 5000m - 17:50.50
Notes: Competed in cross country & track and field during all four years of high school...will transfer in from St. John's as a sophomore...recorded a personal-best time in the 1500 meters at the Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships...attended Old Jericho HS, where she won multiple county championships in XC and track...named Newsday Runner of the Year and Athlete of the Week in 2021...All-county all four years in XC and track...team MVP as a junior...All-state in track as a junior and senior...All-Federation and Presidential Award for Nassau County as a junior for track...father, Vinko, ran XC and track at Fairleigh Dickinson and brother, Paul, also ran XC and track at Hofstra...born on Oct. 24, 2004...plans to major in business management.
Chose UNF because "it felt like a place where I could thrive academically and as a runner."
Coach's Thoughts: "Ana [Markovina] and I are on the same page. She knows what she wants to achieve and is excited to get to UNF and start achieving her marks."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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