UNF’s Smilla Kolbe makes history as first Outdoor First Team All-American in Program History

University of North Florida senior Smilla Kolbe capped off one of the most decorated seasons in program history by becoming UNF’s first-ever Outdoor First Team All-American. Kolbe placed sixth in the women’s 800 m final at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field, clocking an impressive 2:00.37 to secure her second First Team All-American honor of the season and lead the Ospreys to a 51st-place team finish. 

Kolbe’s historic performance adds to her remarkable legacy as only the third UNF athlete ever, joining Briana Frazier (’12) and Eden Meyer (’17) to earn First or Second Team All-American honors. Entering the meet with the third-fastest time in the nation and the fourth-best time in collegiate history, Kolbe delivered on her potential against the nation’s top competitors.  

Kolbe was one of eight runners to receive First Team All-American honors in the event and concluded her collegiate track and field career with three All-American distinctions. She was one of five women's runners in the nation to take home First Team All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor track and field this season. 

Kolbe advanced to the final on Saturday after she earned an at-large qualification spot with a time of 2:00.70 in the semifinal on Thursday. She advanced to Hayward Field after she recorded first-place finishes in her heat at the 2025 NCAA East Region First Round hosted at North Florida's Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium on May 29 and 31. 

The Hanover, Germany, native concludes her accomplished career at UNF as a three-time All-American, including a pair of First Team selections, an eight-time All-ASUN selection across outdoor track, indoor track and cross country, a four-time ASUN Track Athlete of the Week honoree and most recently the ASUN's Most Outstanding Women's Outdoor Track Performer of the Year. She holds five program records across the three seasons and is the event record-holder for both the ASUN Indoor and Outdoor Championships. 

Kolbe was also a five-time ASUN All-Academic Team selection with three ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year nods, as well as a CSC Third Team Academic All-America selection in 2024. She is set to graduate from UNF with her bachelor's degree in psychology with a 4.0 GPA this fall. 

"Looking back over the last two years, she has elevated our program in many ways,” said head coach Jeff Pigg. “A presence at the NCAA Championships yielding two First Team All-American honors is amazing. She has taught us all about how to be 'all in' with her approach to everything she does. She is respectful, humble and a fierce competitor. It was an amazing journey and I'm proud to have had the opportunity to coach her."