JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The UMBC track and field program will send a trio of student-athletes to the campus of the University of North Florida this week where they will compete for a spot in the National Championships.
 
Sophomore Caitlyn Bobb, along with freshmen Gabriel Koletsi and Iosif Papa will represent the Retrievers in the East region first round competition.  
 
What You Need to Know:
 

• Time and Date (Men's Javelin): Wednesday, May 24 (1:30 p.m.*)
• Time and Date (Women's 400m): Thursday, May 25 (7:25 p.m.*) 
• Time and Date (Men's Discus): Friday, May 26 (1 p.m.*)

*times are approximate and weather-dependent

• Video (Men's Javelin): https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/9580263d-2fb1-47b4-9a84-adccc20bf0f9
• Video (Women's 400m): https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/18caf26e-ca01-46f0-a5a2-9c7a1d62110e 
• Video (Men's Discus): https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/7375676c-64a8-4477-a64a-9f165c5f46ac
• Live Results: https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2023/FirstRounds/East/index.htm 
• Tickets: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/team.asp?SponsorID=16703
• Location: Jacksonville, Florida – Hodges Stadium

 
UMBC Overview:
 

• Gabriel Koletsi, a freshman from Heraklion, Greece, qualified for the javelin throw with a personal-record distance of 69.15, which he accomplished in his first outing as a collegian, earning gold at the Weems Baskin Relays from March 24-25. He is ranked 23rd in the region.
  • The America East's runner-up and March 29 Conference Men's Athlete of the Week collected the gold at the Weems Baskins Relays, a pair of silvers at the Bison Outdoor Classic and the America East Conference Championships, plus a top-five finish at the highly competitive Penn Relays.
• Caitlyn Bobb, a sophomore from Joppa, Maryland, qualified for the 400m run with a time of 53.44 seconds, the 39th-best speed in the region. She accomplished that mark in her final chance by winning the ECAC Championship on May 12-14.
  • Bobb finished 17th in the 400 meters at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon a year ago. She took home the title in her specialty during her final three races of the 2023 season, including both a ECAC and America East Championship.
• Iosif Papa, a freshman from Nicosia, Cyprus, qualified for the discus with a personal-best distance of 54.07m, which he accomplished at the Bison Outdoor Classic when he claimed the top spot. He is ranked No. 45 in the East region.
  • The America East and ECAC champion won the gold in five of his seven appearances on the year and medaled in all of them, adding a silver and a bronze medal to his tally as well.

The top-12 competitors in the field events along with 24 runners in the track events advance to the NCAA Championships, held in Austin, Texas, beginning on June 7.