VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Senior
Smilla Kolbe made history for North Florida track and field with a program-record and personal-best time of 2:01.44 in the women's 800-meter race to qualify for the finals at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday.
Kolbe placed fifth in the second heat with the seventh-best time in the semifinals of the 800m race to qualify as the first at-large bid to the final round set for Saturday. She is the first Osprey to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships - men's and women's - and makes it to the final round after previously being named an alternate four days before the race.
Recently named back-to-back ASUN Indoor Track Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Kolbe adds on to her historic career resume as a two-time All-American, between both indoor and outdoor track, by virtue of her qualification into the final round of the 800m. She will be named First Team All-American after placing as a top eight finisher nationally.
The Hanover, Germany, native is one of three mid-major athletes to advance to the 800m final race with the other two runners both representing Harvard. She renewed her program record for the third time and holds the top four times in school history from all four of her 800m races this season.
"Smilla [Kolbe] came here confident and poised. She executed a perfect race strategy and was determined to compete within a talented field," said head coach
Jeff Pigg. "She has worked hard and is ready for more! I'm very happy to see her fitness matched with a great race!"
Kolbe competes in the women's 800-meter final at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. All events will be aired on ESPN+.
