Before the contenders for Olympic gold take to the track in Los Angeles in 2028, some of them could be testing their skills in Jacksonville this week.
Thousands of athletes from colleges across the eastern half of the United States will converge on the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium for the NCAA East First Round in track and field from May 28-31.
Men compete May 28 and 30, with women in action on May 29 and 31. Field events begin at 10 a.m. with the hammer throw on the first two days, and May 30 and 31 open at 1 p.m. with the discus. Racing on the international-caliber track, which was installed in 2021, starts later in the day, at 6 p.m. (May 28-29) or 5 p.m. (May 30-31).
The top 12 in each event after the preliminary rounds of competition advance to the national championships from June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore.
Jacksonville is firmly established as a frequent host for the track preliminaries, having previously held this event in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2023. UNF is also designated as host for 2027.
But NCAA titles aren’t the only things on the minds of these athletes.
Typically, several top performers from the NCAA meets eventually work their way onto an Olympic team, with the likes of hurdler Grant Holloway and sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson attaining success in Jacksonville in the past.
This year, that list of future Olympians might include a local. Brunswick High School graduate and University of Georgia sophomore Riyon Rankin, seeded first in the men’s high jump, already ranks inside the world top 10 for 2025.
Florida has won the last three NCAA men’s track and field championships, and has placed in the top two of the women’s standings in three consecutive years as well.
All qualifiers are as listed by the NCAA, but are subject to change.
NCAA track qualifiers with Northeast Florida ties
Aaron Bell
Local tie: Parker High School
College: Tennessee
Events: men’s 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays
The Vols sophomore, who transferred from Houston after an All-First Coast career at Parker, is a part of a team that’s ranked No. 1 in the 4×100 and No. 20 in the 4×400.
Ella Chandler
College: North Florida
Events: women’s 800
One of two Ospreys in the field for this race, Chandler has a best time of 2:04.89 and the No. 41 seed.
Tristen Evatt
Local tie: Yulee High School
College: South Florida
Events: women’s 4×100 and 4×400 relays
A Florida High School Athletic Association long jump champion on this track a year ago, she’s in the lineup for two relays.
Emani George
Local tie: Sandalwood High School
College: Georgia Southern
Events: women’s 4×100 relay
Watch for the former Saint on the Georgia Southern relay squad, which is seeded 10th.
Jacques Guillaume
Local tie: Mandarin High School
College: Navy
Events: men’s 400 hurdles and 4×400 relay
The senior, who also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials for Paris last summer, enters with the No. 29 seed at 50.76. He’s also a part of Navy’s No. 21 relay quartet.
Ka’Myya Haywood
Local tie: Bishop Kenny High School
College: Tennessee
Events: women’s 800 and 4×400 relay
The speedy former BK runner is seeded 27th (2:04.37) in the 800 and could also earn a relay selection.
Brittney Jennings
Local tie: Creekside High School
College: Miami
Events: women’s 100 hurdles
In her freshman year, she’s already qualified for the East regional with a 13.35 and a No. 40 seed.
Smilla Kolbe
College: North Florida
Events: women’s 800
Could Kolbe swoop to the preliminary victory on her home track? The senior Osprey is one of four runners in the field with a seed time faster than two minutes (1:59.02), and she’s the No. 2 seed behind Michaela Rose of LSU.
Nathan Lebowitz
Local tie: Ponte Vedra High School
College: Yale
Events: men’s discus
Now in his sophomore year at Yale, former Shark Lebowitz has thrown 54.69 meters for the No. 35 seed.
Janay Moorer
Local tie: Creekside High School
College: Miami
Events: women’s 4×100 and 4×400 relays
Moorer won a state team championship at UNF last year with Creekside and could run two relays for the Canes.
Gavin Nelson
Local tie: Mandarin High School
College: Florida
Events: men’s 800
Running just a few miles from the Corral, Nelson holds a No. 17 seed in the 800 at 1:47.27.
Aidan O’Gorman
College: North Florida
Events: men’s 10,000
This could be a big opportunity for the senior from New Smyrna Beach, who holds multiple Osprey records. His seed time of 28:18.59 ranks fourth in the field.
Robert Pedroza
College: North Florida
Events: men’s 800
Watch for the senior in this race, where he’s the No. 21 seed at 1:47.37.
Terren Peterson
Local tie: Mandarin High School
College: South Florida
Events: women’s 200, 4×100 and 4×400 relays
The junior is seeded 30th in the 200 with a top time of 23.15. She’s also in the South Florida relay pool for the 4×100 and 4×400.
Jocelyn Pringle
Local tie: Providence School
College: East Carolina
Events: women’s hammer throw
Also an accomplished basketball player in high school, the sophomore is seeded 29th in the hammer at 59.85 meters.
Riyon Rankin
Local tie: Brunswick High School
College: Georgia
Event: men’s high jump
The sophomore is not only the No. 1 seed in this event but is ranked in the top 10 high jumpers on the planet, clearing 2.29 meters or more than 7 1/2 feet.
Julia Sue-Kam-Ling
College: Jacksonville
Event: women’s long jump
The junior’s best mark this year is 6.2 meters, good for the 31st seed in the field.
Cassidra Thompson
College: Jacksonville
Event: women’s 400
Entering with a time of 52.81, the Dolphins junior is the No. 29 seed in the 400.
Cassie Thompson
College: Jacksonville
Event: women’s 200
The senior has run as fast as 23.07 and enters with the 17th seed, narrowly outside the top-12 positions needed to qualify.
Skyler Watts
Local tie: Episcopal School of Jacksonville
College: South Florida
Events: women’s 400, 4×100 and 4×400 relays
The multi-talented freshman holds the 38th seed in the 400 (52.95) and is also in the field for the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: NCAA track’s best athletes are coming to Jacksonville: Which locals are competing at UNF?
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
