Kolbe Smashes 800m Program Record

Saturday, March 30

Gainesville, Fla.

All Day

University of North Florida

Florida Relays - Day 2

3/30/2024 10:00:00 PM | Men's Track, Women's Track

Pepsi Florida Relay Results Stanford Invite Results

O'Gorman & Pedroza Competed Unattached

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women held it down to finish off the Florida Relays with phenomenal performances on Saturday afternoon.

Smilla Kolbe marked program history by clinching the 800m school record at the meet, securing her first record this season. The junior notched an eighth-place finish with a time of 2:03.29, ousting Sonja Andenmatten's UNF record from 2019.

FINISH LINE

Women

Kolbe overturned a five-year program record and secured a lifetime mark of 2:03.29, ousting Sonja Andenmatten's 2019 record.
The junior notched a seventh-place finish overall in the race.
Ella Chandler clinched a personal-best mark of 2:08.43 in the women's 800m.
Nicole Shepherd notched a second-place title and a personal-best record after clearing 1.66m in the women's high jump.
Renske Drenten notched a new lifetime mark of 1.61m in women's high jump.
The freshman also secured a sixth-place title overall.

Unattached Men

Aidan O'Gorman and Robert Pedroza both competed in unattached meets.
Pedroza secured the first place title in the men's 800-meter run at the V12 meet in Jacksonville, Fla.
Aidan O'Gorman notched a new lifetime mark of 28:35.53 in the Stanford Invitational and compiled in the top 26.

PIGG'S POINTS

"Aidan [O'Gorman] ran at the Stanford Invitational. He ran unattached, but he went out there and ran 28:35.53. So his goal was obviously to be faster than he's ever been in his life and make the most of this season. He's been training hard, and indoors he's run unattached; he ran 13:44, which is tremendous. This was just a great race and we're really proud of him. He ran 24 seconds faster than he's ever ran. So this is all preparation for next year, obviously, for his development and enjoyment.

And then secondly, at the Florida Relays, Nicole [Shephard] jumped to win 1.66m and one miss ended up being second in the open division, so that was a good jump for her. And in the 800m, which was a really stellar day for us, probably the best I've ever had in the 800m as a coach for women. Smilla [Kolbe] ran 2:03.29 at the time; it was number eight in the East region and ended up being the ASUN leader, so we were thrilled that was a second half improvement from the 2:04 she previously ran last summer. Ella [Chandler] continued to race well, got second in her heat, and ran 2:08.43 and that was a great run for her. So we went over there with two people in the van, and they both ran, so they both had great races. Coach Wells also went over with two high jumpers, Nicole [Shepherd] and Renske [Drenten], and Shepherd got second.

Then tonight, this meet was just kind of put together after the youth meet today and it was just an opportunity for kids to compete at home that maybe didn't have the opportunity to go to go to Florida Relays because of industry standards and things like that. While it's a bit chaotic in some ways, it's also an opportunity to learn and compete. We see a lot of different kids out here getting a chance to run. Robert Pedraza ran unattached under 1:49, which was exciting. A lot of the other kids got a chance to get on track and run, which is another good opportunity. So I'm thankful for that."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg