DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. / GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Stetson track and field team split its squad this past weekend, competing at the Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic and the Pepsi Florida Relays, delivering a number of strong performances across distance events.
At the Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic, hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, junior Zeke Galbraith highlighted the weekend with a third-place finish in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase, crossing the line in 9:40.02.
In the women's 1500 meters, freshman Avery Sommers led the Hatters with a 10th-place finish, posting a time of 4:50.82. Sophomore Kiley Summerlin followed in 51st (5:20.21), while senior Sofia Azzollini placed 59th with a time of 5:26.95.
The men's 1500 meters featured a tight pack of Hatters, led by sophomore Nicholas Zamora, who placed 20th with a time of 4:02.78. Freshman Jonathan Pena followed closely in 23rd (4:03.27), while sophomore Haven Gronewold (4:11.53) and freshman Cory Clayton (4:12.47) finished back-to-back in 40th and 41st, respectively. Freshman Parker Armstrong rounded out the group in 44th with a time of 4:13.59.
In the women's 5000 meters, senior Deanna Bottino recorded a 13th-place finish with a time of 18:39.30.
Meanwhile, a group of Hatters competed at the Pepsi Florida Relays, hosted by University of Florida at James G. Pressly Stadium, Percy Beard Track in Gainesville.
Freshman Hannah Judge turned in a strong performance in the women's 5000 meters, placing ninth out of 15 with a time of 17:37.12. On the men's side, freshman Blake Young led the way with a fifth-place finish in 15:03.82, while freshman Kenan Willard placed 10th with a time of 15:41.74.
Stetson will continue its outdoor season next weekend at the South Florida Invitational, hosted by University of South Florida in Tampa.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
