Track & Field Debuts Outdoor Season at River City Relays

Friday, March 7

Jacksonville, Fla.

University of North Florida

River City Relays - Day 1

3/8/2025 6:30:00 PM | Men's Track, Women's Track

Results

Watford, Schimke Shine In 5000m Race in Opener

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida track and field had great opening races from both its short and long distance runners to get the outdoor season started at the River City Relays on Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.

The Ospreys reeled in a trio of top individual finishes this weekend, including a 5000m sweep from Laci Watford and Aaron Schimke as they both reached lifetime bests in the event on Friday evening. Emma Jane O'Gorman was the third Osprey to finish first overall in the women's 1500m on Saturday afternoon.

On top of the top finishers, UNF also added five podium placements in their outdoor opener as well with great showings in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m. Jada Williams, Ilias El Khattabi and Madeline Castillo were each runner-ups in their respective events, followed with Annika Buser and Brooke Yates notching third in their races.

FINISH LINE

Men's Events

Aaron Schimke was the star runner on the men's side with a time of 14:39.29 in the 5000m for a lifetime best.
Colton Lawson and Alejandro Romagosa placed fifth and sixth in the 5000m respectively.
Ilias El Khattabi led the Ospreys quartet of 1500m runners as the runner-up at 3:51.18.
Andrew Mahorner also placed in fourth, while Shamar Henry and William Montanye rounded out in the top 10.
Rashad Hemissi, Ladarius Tellis and El Khattabi went 4-5-6 in the standings for the 800m as well.
Mason Spearin was the lone Osprey runner in the 400m race with a sub-50 second time for 11th overall.

Women's Events

Laci Watford performed the best race of her collegiate career with a 17:25.39 mark as the top finisher in the 5000m event.
Madeline Castilo, Brooke Yates and Abigail Williams fell in line with Watford to fill out the top four overall.
Emma Jane O'Gorman also placed first overall clocking in 4:39.06 in the 1500m returning from a year-long injury from 2023.
Jada Williams, Melissa Bentayeb and Annika Buser ran in the 1500m as well to finish fourth through sixth.
Williams also placed as the runner-up in the 800m, followed with Buser in third, Emily Heyden in fifth and Bentayeb in sixth.
Kaitlyn Godwin and Camryn Batt both advanced to the 100m and 100mH finals respectively to each place in the top five overall.
Godwin also placed fifth in the 200m race as well, followed with a top-10 placement from Mariama Kamara as well.
Jordan Youngman, Serenity Miller and Navia Casa finished out the event with top-four finishes from all three runners.

PIGG'S POINTS

"I'm so proud of the 5000m women and their performances. Laci [Watford] has been showing some signs of a big breakthrough. Today opened some doors for her as an athlete. Her confidence and expectations will go to the next level. This race was huge and she executed a perfect plan in showing patience and grit. Abigail [Williams] also ran a very nice personal best in breaking 18 minutes for the first time. Camryn [Batt] ran a nice hurdle race, as it was her first ever and she was so close to breaking 15 seconds.

Aaron Schimke ran a very nice 5000m. It was a 10-second personal best and a very exciting race, as he closed in fast for the win. The 800m race was another solid race for the guys, as we saw Rashad [Hemissi] get a strong mark of 1:52 mark.

It was good for EJ [O'Gorman] to get another race rep under her belt. She was out for over a year and it takes time to develop race fitness and confidence. She is getting there for sure. Illias [El Khattabi] ran a solid 1500m race, as he prepares for the steeplechase."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg

UP NEXT

The Ospreys move on with a full showing at the Black & Gold Invitational in their outdoor road opener from Mar. 21-22 in Orlando, Fla.

OSPREY RESULTS

Women's 100m
Kaitlyn Godwin - 4th - 12.29

Women's 100m Prelims
Camryn Batt - 3rd - 12.29 (3)
Kaitlyn Godwin - 2nd - 12.40 (2)
Mariama Kamara - 4th - 12.74 (3)

Women's 100mH Prelims
Camryn Batt - 6th - 15.03 (1)
Serenity Miller - 8th - 15.58 (1)
Jordan Youngman - 3rd - 15.75 (2)

Women's 100mH
Camryn Batt - 5th - 15.43

Women's 200m
Kaitlyn Godwin - 5th - 25.33
Mariama Kamara - 10th - 26.06

Men's 400m
Mason Spearin - 11th - 49.73

Women's 400mH
Jordan Youngman - 2nd - 1:06.47
Serenity Miller - 3rd - 1:07.89
Navia Casa - 4th - 4th - 1:08.40

Women's 800m
Jada Williams - 2nd - 2:17.33
Annika Buser - 3rd - 2:18.15
Emily Heyden - 5th - 2:21.04
Melissa Bentayeb - 6th - 2:21.99

Men's 800m
Rashad Hemissi - 4th - 1:52.99
Ladarius Tellis - 5th - 1:53.75
Ilias El Khattabi - 6th - 1:54.05
Shamar Henry - 11th - 1:55.40

Women's 1500m
Emma Jane O'Gorman - 1st - 4:39.06
Jada Williams - 4th - 4:46.90
Melissa Bentayeb - 5th - 4:47.44
Annika Buser - 6th - 4:51.43

Men's 1500m
Ilias El Khattabi - 2nd - 3:51.18
Andrew Mahorner - 4th - 3:54.70
Shamar Henry - 7th - 3:56.16
William Montanye - 10th - 3:58.18

Women's 5000m
Laci Watford - 1st - 17:25.39
Madeline Castillo - 2nd - 17:44.93
Brooke Yates - 3rd - 18:04.84
Abigail Williams - 4th - 18:46.96

Men's 5000m
Aaron Schimke - 1st - 14:39.29
Colton Lawson - 5th - 14:58.81
Alejandro Romagosa - 6th - 15:06.94
Grant Doherty - 13th - 15:45.40