If history is any indication, the Florida men’s and women’s cross country teams will finish on top in tonight’s season opening meet in Cullowhee, N.C.
Since they began competing at the Western Carolina Invitational in 2011, the Gators have brought home a team title in the men’s and women’s races each year.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, a Gator has taken home an individual victory every year as well in the men’s and women’s races.
That’s a streak that coach Paul Spangler would like to continue as he enters his third year as the cross country head coach.
“The Western Carolina Invitational gives us a chance to head up to the mountains and get some training in for a few days, and have our athletes race an off-distance,” Spangler said. “Normally the women will race 5,000 meters, but at this meet the women will race 3,200 meters. On the men’s side, (they) usually run an 8K, but at this meet the men will run a 5K.”
The women’s team features a vastly different and younger team than the one that swept the 2013 Western Carolina Invitational, securing a perfect score of 15 points in the two-mile race. It was the first perfect score at the Western Carolina Invitational for the Gators since 2011 when both the men’s and women’s team finished with a perfect score.
Gone is redshirt senior Agata Strausa, who won the women’s title last year in 10:52.29. Three other women who placed — seniors Shelby Hayes and Stephanie Strasser and sophomore Julie Macedo — all are no longer with the team as well.
Sophomore Taylor Tubbs returns as the lone runner who placed for the women last year, finishing fourth with a time of 10:59.09.
Eyes are also on redshirt freshman Becky Greene, who will make her cross country debut on Friday.
The men’s team will also run at an off-distance on Friday, with the hopes that running a 5K will give the runners a chance to work on their speed in a competitive meet.
Mark Parrish won the 5K last year in 14:50.06. The Gators will rely on seniors Eddie Garcia and Jimmy Clark, as well as freshmen Mac Macoy and Thomas Howell to pace the team. Clark finished third at last year’s race, with Garcia coming in fourth. Redshirt junior David Kilgore will also make his much-anticipated debut after transferring from Colorado this year.
Spangler hopes the Gators use the Western Carolina Invitational as preparation for its Sept. 20 meet at home in Gainesville, the Mountain Dew Invitational. The men’s team brought home the team title for the eighth time in nine years, with Clark winning the individual title in the 8K race. The women’s team finished in third, with graduated senior Agata Strausa finishing in second.
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Mark Parrish runs in the Southeastern Conference Championship on Nov. 1, 2013 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville.
