Gators Ready to Host Mountain Dew Invitational on Saturday
Thursday, September 17, 2015 | Cross Country
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men's and women's cross country teams will welcome upwards of 30 collegiate programs and more than 100 high school squads for the Mountain Dew Invitational, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19 at the university's Mark Bostick Golf Course.
On the men's side, the Gators, who received votes in this week's USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll, and in-state rival Miami headline the 11 Division I teams running this weekend. Another 21 programs from the Division II, NAIA, and NCCAA ranks make up the remainder of the 8,000-meter race field.
The Florida men are coming off a first-place finish at the Covered Bridge Open, hosted by Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. back on Sept. 4. It marked the 11th consecutive year the Gators opened their season with a victory. Redshirt seniors Eddie Garcia, Jimmy Clark and Charles Chambers led the club's seven runners who posted top-20 finishes, crossing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
For the women, Florida and in-state rivals Florida State and Miami lead a contingent of 13 Division I squads into the meet. A total of 23 Division II, NAIA and NJCAA programs will be in the 5,000-meter race as well.
Florida's women took second at the Covered Bridge Open, highlighted by freshman Maria Larsen's runner-up finish. Junior Taylor Tubbs (fifth), redshirt sophomore Becky Greene (sixth) and freshman Elisabeth Bergh (ninth) also collected top-10 finishes for the Gators.
MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
· Men's University/College/Open Race: 7:55 a.m.
· Women's University/College/Open Race: 8:30 a.m.
· 3A/4A Girls High School Race: 8:55 a.m.
· 3A/4A Boys High School Race: 9:30 a.m.
· 1A/2A Girls High School Race: 10:00 a.m.
· 1A/2A Boys High School Race: 10:30 a.m.
· Venue: Mark Bostick Golf Course
· Distances: 8,000 meters (men); 5,000 meters (women, all high school races)
· Admission: Free
· Parking: Free at University of Florida Levin College of Law and Gainesville Woman's Club
MOUNTAIN DEW INVITATIONAL HISTORY
· Since Florida's home event was renamed the Mountain Dew Invitational in 2005, the women have won nine titles, including last year's win
· Florida's men have amassed eight Mountain Dew Invitational victories; it took second place last year
· Six female and six male Gators have claimed individual titles at the Mountain Dew Invitational
· Then-freshman runner Lauren Brasure recorded the fastest time by a Gator and the second-fastest time ever run in a 5,000-meter race at Mark Bostick Golf Course (16:45.93) en route to her victory last season
· Redshirt senior Jimmy Clark won the individual title in 2013, helping the Gator men take first place as a team
COACH SPANGLER SPEAKS
Florida assistant cross country coach Paul Spangler on a freshman, other than Jack Guyton, who could an impact this weekend: “Nick Diaz has looked good in practice. He was one of the top high school runners in the country, one of only two Floridians history to make both the Foot Locker National Championships and the Nike Cross Country National Championships. He missed about a month this summer due to an injury, so he was a little bit behind everybody else. Ever since (Covered Bridge Open), he's looked a lot better in practice.”
On what he will be satisfied with on Saturday: “We'd love to come out with a victory; that's our goal. But seeing each athlete compete for the entire race distance is the primary thing I'm looking for.”
On whether he's seen more excitement in practice leading up to this home meet: “Oh yeah. Having a home meet, having their friends come out, parents come out—we have a big lunch with all (our) parents and cross country athletes after the race—it's exciting. This is probably one of their favorite meets of the year.”
OTHER NOTABLES
· Running unattached, redshirt senior Eddie Garcia finished fourth at last year's Mountain Dew Invitational
· Redshirt junior Mac Reynolds finished fifth among Division I runners, while senior Elliot Clemente was the 12th Division I competitor to cross the finish line at this event last season
· Last year, Lauren Brasure, Becky Greene and Taylor Tubbs became the fourth Florida trio to nab the top three individual spots at the Mountain Dew Invitational
· Florida's men have had at least four top-10 finishers eight of the 10 times this race has been conducted
· Freshman Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell will be representing New Zealand at the 31st World Mountain Running Championships on Saturday, Sept. 19 in North Wales
TEAMS LISTING
| Men's Teams | Women's Teams |
| Alabama-Huntsville | Alabama-Huntsville |
| Ave Maria | Ave Maria |
| Edward Waters | Chipola College |
| Embry-Riddle | Edward Waters |
| Flagler | Embry-Riddle |
| Florida* | Flagler |
| Florida A&M* | Florida* |
| Florida Atlantic* | Florida A&M* |
| Florida College | Florida Atlantic* |
| Florida Gulf Coast* | Florida College |
| Florida International* | Florida Gulf Coast* |
| Florida Southern | Florida International* |
| Florida Tech | Florida Southern |
| IPFW* | Florida State* |
| Jacksonville* | Florida Tech |
| Johnson | IPFW* |
| Johnson & Wales | Jacksonville* |
| Keiser | Johnson & Wales |
| Lee | Lee |
| Miami (Fla.)* | Miami (Fla.)* |
| North Florida* | North Florida* |
| Saint Leo | Palm Beach Atlantic |
| SCAD Savannah | Pasco-Hernando State College |
| Southeastern | Saint Leo |
| Stetson* | Saint Mary (Neb.) |
| Tampa | South Florida State College |
| Troy* | Southeastern |
| Valdosta State | Stetson* |
| Warner | Tampa |
| Webber | Troy* |
| West Alabama | UCF* |
| West Florida | Valdosta State |
| Warner | |
| Webber | |
| West Alabama | |
| West Florida |
* - denotes Division I team
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