Four Signees Added to Cross Country & Track and Field '24 Class

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida cross country & track and field brings in four more student-athletes to join the Osprey program, as announced by head coach Jeff Pigg on Wednesday afternoon.

Matthew Groves, Inés Arqued, Bella Palmiotto and Melissa Bentayeb expands the current class of 2024 enrollees into the UNF cross country/track & field program. They join seven additions from this past April to bring the total number of newcomers to 11 student-athletes.

COACH'S THOUGHTS

"Our incoming class will help us continue to expand our track program beyond middle distance and distance events. We want to continue to be strong in cross country, distance and high jump, but the addition of sprint hurdles and relay athletes will make track season very exciting for our program."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg

Matthew Groves

Hometown: Venice, Fla.
High School: Venice HS
Track PR: 200m - 21.65 | 400m - 47.98

Notes: Ran in the 200m and 400m events for track...competed for Venice HS all four years...was the team runner-up for 4A District 8 in 2023...put up personal-best times at IMG Spring Break Invite in 200m and Florida Relays in 400m...beat the school record in the 4x800m his freshman season...earned the country championship in the 400m as a sophomore...was a 4A state medalist in the 400m with seventh-place finish as a junior...also county champion in 400m...nationally qualified for the 400m as well...named First Team All-Area (Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte County)...took fifth-place at the Pepsi Florida Relays his season year in the 400m with a lifetime best mark...also played soccer at Venice HS...son of Victor and Michele Groves...dad, Victor, wrestled at Ohio State University...has one brother, Michael (20)...born on Sept. 29, 2005...plans to major in exercise science.

Chose UNF because "they have everything I need to be successful as an athlete and person. I trust Coach [Evander] Wells and Coach [Jeff] Pigg to help me become the best runner possible."

Coach's Thoughts: "Matthew [Groves] is a great addition to our long-sprinter group. He can make an immediate impact individually and on the relays."

Inés Arqued

Hometown: Zaragoza, Spain
High School: IES Goya
Track Indoor PR: 400m - 57.39 | 800m - 2:08.00 | 1000m - 2:50.52
Track Outdoor PR: 800m - 2:05.78 | 1500m - 4:31.80

Notes: Will come to UNF as a senior middle distance runner...attended high school at IES Goya in Spain...ran both indoor and outdoor meets over the past four years...recorded personal-best times in 400m, 800m and 1000m for indoor, as well as 800m and 1500m for outdoor competition...won silver medals in the National U-20 Spanish Championship for indoor 800m in 2021 and the National U-23 Spanish Championship for outdoor 800m in 2023...earned bronze medals in National U-20 Spanish Championship in outdoor 800m in 2021 and European Championship Clubs Cup for cross country earlier this year in the mixed relay...also placed fifth overall last year in the 800m at the National Senior Spanish Championship...daughter of Pedro Arqued and Isabel Carrasco...has one sister, Marina (23)...born on Dec. 29, 2002...plans to pursue her master's in business administration with a sports concentration.

Chose UNF because "it allows me to combine high-quality studies and high athletic performance in an environment that promises to foster support and camaraderie."

Coach's Thoughts: "Ines [Arqued] is a very good 800-meter runner who will be an immediate impact. She is versatile and very talented and will be a great addition to our training group of Smilla [Kolbe] and Ella [Chandler].

Bella Palmiotto

Hometown: Toms River, N.J.
High School: Manchester Township HS
Field PR: TJ - 38' 5.25" (11.72m) | LJ - 17' 4.5" (5.30m) | HJ - 5' 0" (1.52m)

Notes: Competed in track & field all four years, as well as seventh and eighth grade, at Manchester Township HS...events were all three jumps (triple jump, long jump and high jump)...helped team to Shore Conference and Ocean County championships her freshman year...was named Shore Conference "Super Savage" as a sophomore...selected to Second Team All-Shore by Asbury Park Press her junior season...picked as Shore Conference "Jumper of the Year" as a senior...also selected as First Team All-Shore and won the Shore Conference Sportsmanship Award...also competed in volleyball and gymnastics during high school...daughter of Joseph and Kristin Palmiotto...has four siblings, Anthony (35), Domenick (27), Roman (23) and Nina (22)...born on Jan. 5, 2006...plans to major in marketing.

Chose UNF because "it was close to the beach, really nice track program and it's beneficial for my major."

Coach's Thoughts: "Bella [Palmiotto] is a welcoming addition to our team. Her previous marks indicate she will be an immediate impact for the event."

Melissa Bentayeb

Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
High School: Täby Enskilda Gymnasium
XC PR: 4k - 15:39 | 6k - 24:24
Track PR: 1500m - 4:42.29 | 3000m - 10:02.24 | 5000m - 17:44.94

Notes: Competed her junior and senior years in cross country and track during high school at Täby Enskilda Gymnasium in Sweden...helped team to Youth Swedish Championships for cross country in 2022...also went to Junior Swedish Championships for XC in 2023...reached both championships as well during the track and field season winning both in 2022 and 2023...competed in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m for track reaching lifetime bests in all three races during 2023 season...also competed as a figure skater in high school...daughter of Atmane Bentayeb and Marit Lillemo...has three siblings, Dennis (29), Adrian (26) and Emilia (24)...older sister, Emilia, is also a track and field athlete specializing in the 3000m steeplechase...born on Mar. 30, 2005...plans to major in psychology.

Chose UNF because "the school seemed to have a great academic level and a good middle distance team. I also felt like the coach and the girls I talked to that go to UNF seemed very nice and sold the school very well!"

Coach's Thoughts: "Melissa will be an impact runner for both cross country and track. It will be exciting to see her progress throughout the year."