Skate competition rocks UNF campus
UNF hosted the Red Bull King of Campus skate competition Feb. 18 at the UNF Skate Park behind the north recreational fields.
The event showcased Jacksonville skaters and held the King of Campus event that crowned the top skater at UNF.
Last year’s reigning champion, Brooks Jones, looked to retain his crown but had to outshine the school’s top skaters yet again. In the final six-minute jam session, a bevy of skaters crashed the course in an attempt to dethrone Jones.
One skater out-shined all others, except for Jones. The judges determined at the end of the jam session Nico Barrio and Jones finished in a tie and would have a final two-minute session to determine who was king.
Barrio started the session with a 50-50 grind on the top rail of the hip, but right after he landed his grind, Jones landed a blunt flip on the mini ramp. Barrio was drained after his grind and failed to land any more tricks, while Jones stayed consistent.
Jones ended up winning the event for the second year in a row.
In the best trick on the quarter pipe, Marshall Lafrance came away with the win and for the best trick on the bench, Pat Schafer took first place.
UNF breaks 6 swimming and diving records
The UNF swimming and diving team broke six school records and got seven All-CCSA honors en route to taking fifth in the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Feb. 16-18.
Among the six broken school records, junior Sara Evans broke three. Evans broke the 200 breaststroke and the 200 and 400 individual medley.
This was the final meet for the team’s only senior, Gala Poone.
By: Josh Brannock, Sports Editor
UNF track and field teams finish in top 5 in Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships
In the Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships Feb. 17-18, the men’s track and field team finished in fourth place, and the women’s team finished in third.
Senior Erin Nixon highlighted the first day of the weekend by breaking the record for the women’s 3,000m event, and the men’s distance medley team broke its respective record. Nixon posted a 9:52.29 in the 3,000m event, beating the old meet record by .67 seconds.
A team consisting of junior James Post, red shirt junior Cameron Dickerson, sophomore Sean White and junior Aaron Tillman posted a 10:02.42 in the men’s distance medley, beating the old meet record by over three seconds.
The women’s distance medley team, composed of freshmen Alessandra Valdes, Elle Baker and Alyssa Brandt and junior Jaybria Calcote, also won a second place medal, in its event.
Sophomore Brianna Frazier won the Most Valuable Performer and Most Outstanding Track Performer honors, winning golds in the 200m (24.12) and the 400m (53.79).
The women’s team, which included senior Ava Rivera, sophomores Sharniece Supal and Frazier and Calcote won the team’s last gold in the 4x400m relay.
For the men, Dickerson won the 800m (1:54.21) and Post won the mile (4:10.62). A team consisting of juniors Nick Squillace, Justin Mims, Aaron Tillman and freshmen Jake Menan won a gold in the 4×400 relay.
The UNF track and field teams will next compete at Hodges Stadium as it begins its outdoor season at the UNF Spring Break Invite March 2-3.
By: Jordan Harirchi, Assistant Sports Editor
Email Josh Brannock & Jordan Harirchi at sports@unfspinnaker.com.
Follow @spinnakersports
