As a new season sprouts for Florida’s cross country program, big changes are approaching for both the men’s and women’s teams.
Some of these changes were expected. Others were unforeseeable. Regardless, coach Paul Spangler enters his fifth season with unanswered questions.
While the women’s team brings nine new faces to the terrain for the upcoming season, it will have a lot of ground to cover to fill the void of those who left the team.
It unexpectedly lost 2015 sophomore Lauren Brasure after she was injured in a car accident that she is still recovering from.
Her immediate concern is returning to full health, as the accident led to multiple surgeries and left her in critical condition for days.
Meanwhile, runner Maria Larsen — the 2015 All-SEC freshman — decided to return home to Copenhagen, Denmark, for personal reasons.
The men’s team was dealt its fair share of losses as well, with five runners who combined for 15 top-20 finishes last season leaving due to graduation, including then-redshirt senior Jimmy Clark.
Clark had a productive final year, placing in the top 10 in four races and qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
However, with sudden exits comes optimism toward the future.
Spangler looked for recruits across the nation, but he found some of them closer to home.
Freshman Blake Lowery, a graduate of Gainesville High School, finished second in the 2015 FHSAA Class 3A Cross Country Championship and is among one of the younger runners expected to produce.
On the women’s side, one addition was already a UF athlete. She just had to change sports.
Redshirt sophomore Paige Scheriger spent her first two years on Florida’s swimming and diving team.
Along with some runners who have experience, such as seniors Carlos Miranda and Taylor Tubbs, the younger runners will look to lead Florida into future.
The teams will have their first opportunity to compete on Sept. 2 at the Covered Bridge Open in Boone, North Carolina.
Florida had one of its best performances at this event last year, finishing first in the men’s event and second in the women’s.
Contact Skyler Lebron at slebron@alligator.org or follow him on Twitter @SkylerLebron.
Carlos Miranda races during the 2014 Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 20
