
Track & Field Sweeps 10,000m Race at Black & Gold Invitational
3/21/2025 10:00:00 PM | Men's Track, Women's Track
ORLANDO, Fla. - North Florida track and field competed in its first road meet day of the season with stellar placements at the Black & Gold Invitational hosted by UCF on Friday evening.
The Ospreys dominated the 10,000m races on both the men's and women's side. Laci Watford won her second race in as many meets to start outdoor season, while Sebastian Hernandez notched the top placement leading four of five Ospreys in the top five overall.
UNF also had a few top five finishes to go along with its winners, as Robert Pedroza ran a great 1500m race to place as the runner-up. Rey Hernandez was also fourth in the 400mH, along with Madeline Castillo and Brooke Yates joining Watford in the top five of the 10,000m.
Men's Events
Women's Events
"Laci [Watford]'s continued her hot streak. She ran such a great time and it was her first 10,000m race. 25 laps is a rough race. I thought all of our men and women did a great job in the 10,000m. Sebastian [Hernandez] set the stadium record and executed a perfect race. He is finally hitting his stride after good indoor season. Those 10k races show us where we can be and it is great to see the training paying off. The 1500m race by Robert [Pedroza], Aidan [O'Gorman] and Aiden [Arnold] were also hot races as well. They really kicked off their outdoor season with strong runs. Ana [Markovina], Ella [Chandler] and Ines [Arqued] also ran strong 1500m races to open their season. The 400m hurdles was a nice event for us. Rey [Hernandez] and Troy [Williams] looked great placing high in their event. Celine [D'Anna] ran a great opener and we know they will all get even better as the season progresses."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg
The Ospreys finish out their weekend at the Black & Gold Invitational on Saturday, Mar. 22, in Orlando, Fla.
Women's 400mH
Celine D'Anna - 10th - 1:01.41
Serenity Miller - 35th - 1:07.47
Jordan Youngman - 36th - 1:07.49
Men's 400mH
Rey Hernandez - 4th - 53.37
Troy Williams - 7th - 53.79
Men's 200m
William Owens - 48th - 21.93
Jonathan Bailey - 83rd - 22.68
Women's 1500m
Ana Markovina - 10th - 4:32.98
Ella Chandler - 11th - 4:33.98
Ines Arqued - 16th - 4:37.93
Men's 1500m
Robert Pedroza - 2nd - 3:42.32
Aidan O'Gorman - 5th - 3:45.05
Aiden Arnold - 6th - 3:45.18
Christian Ruocco - 23rd - 3:53.26
Shamar Henry - 25th - 3:53.60
Ben Tary - 27th - 3:54.24
Ryan Douihech - 32nd - 3:55.12
Andrew Mahorner - 41st - 3:58.13
Women's 5000m
Isa Leen - 6th - 17:43.83
Cohen Kooker - 7th - 17:47.60
Women's 10,000m
Laci Watford - 1st - 36:14.02
Madeline Castillo - 4th - 38:01.76
Brooke Yates - 5th - 38:10.80
Abigail Williams - 7th - 38:36.18
Men's 10,000m
Sebastian Hernandez - 1st - 30:21.15
Paul Lespasio - 2nd - 30:28.18
Aaron Schimke - 4th - 30:49.82
Colton Lawson - 5th - 31:04.99
Alejandro Romagosa - 18th - 32:04.19
The Ospreys dominated the 10,000m races on both the men's and women's side. Laci Watford won her second race in as many meets to start outdoor season, while Sebastian Hernandez notched the top placement leading four of five Ospreys in the top five overall.
UNF also had a few top five finishes to go along with its winners, as Robert Pedroza ran a great 1500m race to place as the runner-up. Rey Hernandez was also fourth in the 400mH, along with Madeline Castillo and Brooke Yates joining Watford in the top five of the 10,000m.
FINISH LINE
Men's Events
- Rey Hernandez clinched fourth in the 400m hurdles with a time of 53.37, followed by Troy Williams in seventh.
- William Owens and Jonathan Bailey each earned quick times in the 200m race, as Owens led the duo at 21.93.
- Robert Pedroza was the runner-up in the 1500m to pick up where he left off during indoor season with a time of 3:42.32.
- Aidan O'Gorman and Aiden Arnold were outstanding as well with fifth and sixth-place finishes to go back-to-back.
- Sebastian Hernandez was the top finisher in the 10,000m race with a time of 30:21.15.
- Paul Lespasio was the runner-up as well, followed with Aaron Schimke and Colton Lawson rounding out the top five.
Women's Events
- Celine D'Anna was close to setting a new personal-best with a top-10 finish in the 400m hurdles at 1:01.41.
- Ana Markovina led a trio of Ospreys in the 1500m with a mark of 4:32.98.
- Ella Chandler and Ines Arqued followed closely behind in 11th and 16th overall.
- Isa Leen and Cohen Kooker finished back-to-back with sixth and seventh in the 5000m.
- Laci Watford was the top finisher in the 10,000m race once again at 36:14.02, which was a full minute before the runner-up.
- Madeline Castillo and Brooke Yates wrapped up the night with three Ospreys in the top five in the 10k.
PIGG'S POINTS
"Laci [Watford]'s continued her hot streak. She ran such a great time and it was her first 10,000m race. 25 laps is a rough race. I thought all of our men and women did a great job in the 10,000m. Sebastian [Hernandez] set the stadium record and executed a perfect race. He is finally hitting his stride after good indoor season. Those 10k races show us where we can be and it is great to see the training paying off. The 1500m race by Robert [Pedroza], Aidan [O'Gorman] and Aiden [Arnold] were also hot races as well. They really kicked off their outdoor season with strong runs. Ana [Markovina], Ella [Chandler] and Ines [Arqued] also ran strong 1500m races to open their season. The 400m hurdles was a nice event for us. Rey [Hernandez] and Troy [Williams] looked great placing high in their event. Celine [D'Anna] ran a great opener and we know they will all get even better as the season progresses."-- head coach Jeff Pigg
UP NEXT
The Ospreys finish out their weekend at the Black & Gold Invitational on Saturday, Mar. 22, in Orlando, Fla.
OSPREY RESULTS
Women's 400mHCeline D'Anna - 10th - 1:01.41
Serenity Miller - 35th - 1:07.47
Jordan Youngman - 36th - 1:07.49
Men's 400mH
Rey Hernandez - 4th - 53.37
Troy Williams - 7th - 53.79
Men's 200m
William Owens - 48th - 21.93
Jonathan Bailey - 83rd - 22.68
Women's 1500m
Ana Markovina - 10th - 4:32.98
Ella Chandler - 11th - 4:33.98
Ines Arqued - 16th - 4:37.93
Men's 1500m
Robert Pedroza - 2nd - 3:42.32
Aidan O'Gorman - 5th - 3:45.05
Aiden Arnold - 6th - 3:45.18
Christian Ruocco - 23rd - 3:53.26
Shamar Henry - 25th - 3:53.60
Ben Tary - 27th - 3:54.24
Ryan Douihech - 32nd - 3:55.12
Andrew Mahorner - 41st - 3:58.13
Women's 5000m
Isa Leen - 6th - 17:43.83
Cohen Kooker - 7th - 17:47.60
Women's 10,000m
Laci Watford - 1st - 36:14.02
Madeline Castillo - 4th - 38:01.76
Brooke Yates - 5th - 38:10.80
Abigail Williams - 7th - 38:36.18
Men's 10,000m
Sebastian Hernandez - 1st - 30:21.15
Paul Lespasio - 2nd - 30:28.18
Aaron Schimke - 4th - 30:49.82
Colton Lawson - 5th - 31:04.99
Alejandro Romagosa - 18th - 32:04.19
Players Mentioned
Hodges Stadium at Visit Jax Track Aerial
Thursday, July 06
Turf Field & Three-Lane Track
Thursday, July 06
UNF Track Invite
Monday, June 25
Manny Velasquez Comeback
Monday, June 25