UNF Alum combines passion for running and storytelling covering NCAA Track and Field Championships

Anderson Bobo, who graduated from the University of North Florida in 2020, took the road less traveled on the way to the NCAA Track and Field Championships. 

Bobo has always loved running.  

“The harder I worked, the better I got,” he said. 

At the end of his sophomore season running track in high school at Lake Highland Preparatory School, he started to see results and realized if he kept working hard and improving, he would have more opportunities at the next level. 

Bobo was focused on running collegiately and, while UNF’s proximity to the beach allured him, it was seeing the culture Coach Jeffrey igg cultivated that affirmed his decision.  

“The team and the tight-knit athletic community made for a special experience,” Bobo said.  

Some of his favorite memories include the team’s ASUN Cross Country Championships in 2018 and 2021, but the one that stands out the most was in 2019 when UNF hosted the NCAA Track and Field Regional and Noah Perkins (’21) became the first male Osprey to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 5K. The entire team rushed to the infield to celebrate his historic accomplishment. 

Bobo was studying multimedia journalism in the School of Communication, but at the time, he didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do when he was done with school. At his core, he loved storytelling, so shooting photos and videos for track and field was a natural fit. For a sport that typically doesn’t get the most press, Bobo was able to elevate the program and share the stories of the student-athletes from a personal level that only he could. 

After graduating, he continued his journey down the road at the University of Florida (UF), working as an intern in the Gators video department while pursuing a master’s in mass communication. Despite UF and its athletics department being much bigger, his storytelling model was the same. During his two years as a Gator, the Men’s Outdoor Track and Field team won back-to-back National Championships in 2022 and 2023, while the Women’s Track and Field teams swept the Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2022. Bobo captured and produced content for all four national championships, which broadcasted his talent to a national (and even international) audience and led to him getting an offer from Tracktown. 

Bobo now serves as the Creative Director for the Oregon Ducks Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Due to its long history within the sport, the University of Oregon’s iconic Hayward Field, also known as Tracktown USA, has hosted numerous NCAA Championships and Olympic Trials, and has become a top destination for athletes trying to compete at a higher level.  

Covering this sport is not always the easiest. Track and field meets often have multiple events overlapping, so he works closely with GoDucks Creative and student interns. Knowing the flow on a personal level gives Bobo an advantage to create a plan and make sure they have coverage of everything. Plus, during cross country season, he typically runs around the course to capture the athletes, so his speed comes in handy. 

For Bobo, working at Tracktown is a dream come true.  

“Every now and then I take a step back to reflect on how blessed I am to be here,” he said. The most rewarding part of his role is working with world-class coaches and athletes, providing support to help them achieve their goals. 

Somewhere down the road, he would love to take his talents to the film industry, but in the near future, he hopes for the chance to work during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Outside of work, he enjoys watching films, drinking coffee, taking in the Oregon nature, and, of course, continuing to run.