GAINESVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men and women fought to the finish line on the first day of the Pepsi Florida Relays with exceptional performances on Friday evening.

The Ospreys collectively solidified five top-five finishes and several athletes clinched lifetime achievements during the first outdoor road meet of the season. Jada Williams notched the highest rank for the Ospreys overall with her second-place finish in the women's 3000m steeplechase for her second consecutive top-two finish in the race.

FINISH LINE

Men

• Ilias El Khattabi notched a third-place finish overall in the men's 3000mS, clinching the race in 9:08.38 and securing the top Osprey spot.
• Ryan Douihech compiled third place overall for the men's 1500m, notching a lifetime mark of 3:48.47 in the race.
• Paul Lespasio notched a third-place title and a personal-best mark in the men's 5000m. 
• Seth Martinez secured a top-five rank and a lifetime mark in the men's 5000m.
• Christian Ruocco went top 20 in the men's 1500m, securing the second highest Osprey spot.
• Thomas Weiler & Andrew Mahorner post top 23 times in the men's 1500m.
• Rey Hernandez went top 25 in the men's 400mH.
• Gavin O'Brien, Cole Perry, Ben Tary and Colton Lawson all notch lifetime marks in the men's 3000mS.
• Sebastian Hernandez and Justin Tackling earned top 15 ranks in the men's 5000m.

Women 

• Jada Williams posted a second-place finish overall in the women's 3000mS with a lifetime mark of 10:54.77.
• Erica Fisher smashed a top-10 performance in the women's 5000m, earning a new PR of 17:02.52.
• Hannah Martin, Isa Leen, Emma Millson, and Billie Castillo all rank in the top 20 for the women's 5000m. Millson secured a new PR of 17:45.64.
• Ana Markovina clinched top 15 in the women's 1500m. The sophomore finished the race in 4:37.18. 
• Celine D'Anna notched a lifetime mark of 1:03.74 in the women's 400mH.

.
PIGG'S THOUGHTS

Post-Meet Thoughts from Head Coach Jeff Pigg, (pt. 1) #Piggspoints pic.twitter.com/suKejpiWFD

— UNF X-Country/T&F (@OspreyXCTF) March 30, 2024

UP NEXT

The Ospreys will split squads and a few runners will compete in day two of the Pepsi Florida Relays, while a few will compete in the local V12 meet in Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday, Mar. 30.