Yellow Jackets open outdoor season on first day of River City Relays

Yellow Jackets open outdoor season on first day of River City Relays
March 7, 2025

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Defiance College's track programs traveled to the University of North Florida to open the 2025 outdoor season at the River City Relays. In the first outdoor college meet for most of the purple and gold units, multiple Yellow Jackets had breakout days on the first day of the two-day event.

Defiance saw top-10 finishes in six events, including two such finishes in throwing events by freshman Cole Armstrong in the shot put and discuss. On the women's side, Lynsey Pease also marked a top-10 finish in the shot put. Mira Horvath won her section of the women's 400 meters in 59.35, posting the seventh-fasted outdoor 400-meter time at DC. Her time was sixth-best for the meet. Fellow Defiance High School grad Eli Fortman also won his flight in the 800 meters and placed 23rd overall with a time of 2:09.84. 

While it was the first outdoor competition for most, several Yellow Jackets bested their personal-best marks from the indoor season. Horvath's 400 time was faster than her best on the indoor circuit while Zawadi Debola did the same in the 800 meters. Additionally on the women's side, Pease, Horvath and Amanda Barnes all beat their top indoor shot put distances. On the men's side, Tyjon Mance ran his fastest 400-meter time and Jake Stephens ran his top time in the 5000 meters. Armstrong also PR'd in the shot put.

The River City Relays hosted by UNF continues on Saturday with a healthy dose of track and field events remaining. 

Women's Track Results

  • 400 Meters: Lisa Maria-Markau (Unattached), 58.54 (4th); Mira Horvath, 59.35 (6th); Shelby Clements, 1:05.41 (12th); Rakel Thompson, 1:06.18 (13th)
  • 800 Meters: Zawadi Debola, 2:32.44 (14th), Adeline Niyonkunda, 3:02.80 (21st)

Women's Field Results

  • Long Jump: Mira Horvath, 4.45m (12th), Amira Knight, 4.02m (17th)
  • Shot Put: Lynsey Pease, 8.44m (7th), Amanda Barnes, 7.75m (8th), Mira Horvath, 7.41m (9th)

Men's Track Results

  • 400 Meters: Tyjon Mance, 51.62 (19th); Marcus Snell, 53.91 (24th); Zyon Woods, 57.10 (26th)
  • 800 Meters: Eli Fortman, 2:09.84 (23rd)
  • 5000 Meters: Jake Stephens, 17:05.08 (27th)

Men's Field Results

  • Shot put: Cole Armstrong, 10.78m (6th); David Heidelberg, No Mark
  • Discuss: Cole Armstrong, 32.26m (9th)

-JACKETS-