Florida Gators
NCAA Championship
Garcia Cracks Top 100, Clark Joins Elite Company at NCAA Championship
Sunday, November 22, 2015 | Cross Country
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Florida's two individual competitors at the NCAA Cross Country Championship—redshirt seniors Eddie Garcia and Jimmy Clark—capped their remarkably consistent five-year careers with solid showings.
Garcia, one of five Gators in program history to finish three NCAA Championship races, clocked a time of 30:51.0 to take 86th place in the men's 10k race. It was the ninth-fastest 10k time by a UF runner at the NCAA Championship. Prior to Saturday (Nov. 21) afternoon, Garcia had not finished higher than 150th at the NCAA Championship.
Clark, who joined Jeremy Criscisone (2005-08) as the only other Gator in program history to qualify for and finish four NCAA Championship meets, crossed in 31:11.5. The St. Johns, Fla. native finished 126th overall, his second-best performance on the biggest national stage.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
· Eddie Garcia departs as one of 11 three-time USTFCCCA All-South Region honorees in UF history, as well as a two-time second-team All-SEC member.
· Jimmy Clark ends his career as the only four-time USTFCCCA All-South Region honoree and three-time first-team All-SEC honoree in program history, and tied for the sixth-most top-10 finishes (14) in UF history.
RESULTS
| Gator Men – 10k |
| |
| Place | Runner | Time |
| 86. | Eddie Garcia | 30:51.0 |
| 126. | Jimmy Clark | 31:11.5 |
| Men's Top Five Individuals |
| |
| Place | Runner (University) | Time |
| 1. | Edward Cheserek (Oregon) | 28:45.8 |
| 2. | Patrick Tiernan (Villanova) | 29:11.1 |
| 3. | Pierce Murphy (Colorado) | 29:37.0 |
| 4. | Justyn Knight (Syracuse) | 29:46.1 |
| 5. | Jonathan Green (Georgetown) | 29:49.5 |
Note: Top-40 finishers earned USTFCCCA All-American honors
COURSE QUOTES
Florida cross country assistant coach Paul Spangler on the Jimmy Clark's and Eddie Garcia's performances: “It certainly wasn't what Jimmy was hoping for, but it was certainly better place-wise than he was two years ago (at the NCAA Championship). I thought Eddie did a great job. Top 100 was certainly one of our goals going in. If you're top 100 in the country, you're pretty good. Really, really pleased with his race. Now we get ready for track.”
Florida redshirt senior Eddie Garcia on his performance and thoughts on his UF cross country career: “I thought today went well. It's been quite a journey so far, and to come away with my best finish at the NCAA Championship is a nice way to cap off my cross country career. I'm happy that I have a teammate like Jimmy (Clark), who has helped push me to get better through my five years here. Running cross country at UF has truly been an honor and a blessing.”
Florida redshirt senior Jimmy Clark on his performance and his five years as a Gator cross country runner: “I went out in 4:43 through the mile and was back in about 130th and I think my confidence took a shot. Around halfway, I decided to really just appreciate the journey I had taken to get where I am at today in my running career, racing nationals for the fourth time, and to just enjoy the experience. I ended up passing about 31 people in the final 2k. It's not what I expected out of myself, but I left it all out on the course today. I was extremely happy to see how Eddie did in his last race as well.
“It's been a great cross country career. It's been a lot of fun with all of my teammates and I couldn't be happier with the decision I made to attend the University of Florida. Without all my coaches, none of this would be possible. They have done nothing but support me every step of the way.”
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