Florida Gators
Pre-NCAA Invitational
Cross Country Performs Well at the Pre-NCAA Invitational
Saturday, October 15, 2005 | Cross Country
The University of Florida Cross Country teams both put together quality performances at the 2005 Pre-NCAA Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. Saturday. The men finished third of 34 teams, behind only No. 3 Colorado and No. 7 Notre Dame. The women finished 24th of 36 teams.
Each of the Florida men's top five runners finished the 8K race in under 25 minutes. Sophomore Henok Lechebo (Toronto, Canada) was the men's top finisher for the fourth meet this season with a time of 23:50, just three seconds off his career-best time. Sophomore Steven Hassen (Ocala, Fla.) finished in 24th overall with a time of 24:20. Freshman Jeremy Criscione (Interlachen, Fla.) was Florida's third finisher in 26th place overall with a time of 24:24. Florida's fourth finisher was Daniel Parker in 32nd overall with a time of 24:27. Junior Jeremy Miller (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was Florida's final scorer with a time 24:49 in 65th place overall.
“The guy ran another great race,” head coach Jeff Pigg said. “Their performance today backed up what we did before at Notre Dame. This proves to us that we can do it week in and week out. We are here to stay.”
Freshman Jacy Kruzel (Cooper City, Fla.) led the Gators for the first time this season in 65th place overall with a time of 21:37, the best time by a Gator in a 6K race in two years. Sophomore Lindsay Sundell (Northport, N.Y.) was Florida's second finisher in 107th place with a time of 22:07, a career best. Florida's third finisher was freshman Sara Petrick (Apollo Beach, Fla.) with a time of 22:26 in 136th overall. Freshman Kathryn Kramer (Tampa, Fla.) ran 22:38 to finish in 155th overall. Sophomore Kristen Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) rounded out the Florida scorers in 174th place with a time of 22:52.
“On the women's side we knew this would be a tough meet,” Pigg said, “We are a young team, but today I saw some very encouraging things. There were signs of life in this team today and we will be just fine. We are going to continue to be even better.”
The Gators now have two weeks off before heading to South Carolina for the 2005 Southeastern Conference Championships on October 29.
Top 10 Men's Teams
1. No. 3 Colorado, 70
2. No. 7 Notre Dame, 96
3. No. 13 Florida, 152
4. No. 14 Iowa, 193
5. No. 16 Portland, 218
6. No. 15 William & Mary, 219
6. No. 19 Michigan, 219
8. No. 24 Washington, 236
9. No. 8 Iona, 239
10. No. 26 Air Force, 353
Florida Men's Finishers
5. Henok Lechebo, 23:50
24. Steven Hassen, 24:20
26. Jeremy Criscione, 24:24
32. Daniel Parker, 24:27
65. Jeremy Miller, 24:49
110. Ryder Leary, 25:17
127. Enoch Nadler, 25:27
Women's Top 10
1. No. 3 Stanford, 86
2. No. 8 Notre Dame, 47
3. Columbia, 207
4. No. 4 BYU, 209
4. No. 9 North Carolina State, 209
6. No. 10 Minnesota, 223
7. No. 24 Northern Arizona, 239
8. No. 22 Virginia, 313
9. Rice, 351
10. North Carolina, 358
24. Florida, 637
Florida Women's Finishers
65. Jacy Kruzel, 21:37
107. Lindsay Sundell, 22:07
136. Sara Petrick, 22:26
155. Kathryn Kramer, 22:38
174. Kristen Johnson, 22:52
187. LeeAnn Nawrocki, 23:09
188. Valeria Rodriguez, 23:10
