No Place Like Home: Garcia Wins First Cross Country Title at Florida’s Mountain Dew Invitational
Saturday, September 19, 2015 | Cross Country
By Taryn Bray
UAA Communications
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After opting to redshirt his senior season last year, Eddie Garcia is back and looking to remind us all just how good of a runner he is.
Garcia captured the men's title, his first collegiate cross country victory, at the Mountain Dew Invitational Saturday morning at Mark Bostick Golf Course, clocking a time of 24:48.98 over the 8k course.
“Eddie did a great job. Ever since he won the [Southeastern Conference] title in the 10k for track last spring, he's just been on a whole different level,” UF assistant cross country coach Paul Spangler said. “I'm very, very proud of what he's done and the work that he's put in to get to this point.”
Garcia, out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin High, is back and he is making sure everybody knows it.
His latest time was 8.88 seconds faster than second-place finisher Michael Damato from the University of North Florida. Teammate Jimmy Clark, who also opted to redshirt last year, finished in fourth place with a time of 25:1.89.
“I feel pretty good about my performance,” Garcia said. “Being able to come out with a win here in my last [college] season is how I envisioned it.”
In the first race of the 2015 season at the Covered Bridge Open a few weeks ago, Garcia finished in fourth place individually running the 6.4k in 20:18.95, with Clark right behind with a time of 20:19.59 for fifth.
This time, it was clear Garcia had his eye on making a difference for the Gators after choosing to sit out last season to get one more year with the cross country squad.
“I love being back, it's very refreshing,” he said. “Last year was hard not being able to contribute, so being able to come back and be a leader on this team, I love it.”
Garcia said that it's easy to tell in the weeks leading up to a race how you are going to perform because of the kind of shape you are in during practices and workouts.
Clearly, he must have felt great this week.
As a team, the Gators took home second place overall, finishing a mere one point behind UNF.
“I wish we would have gotten the team title today,” Garcia said.
Added Spangler: “The guys did a solid job. Certainly we would have liked to have won. Losing by one point, it doesn't get any closer than that, but we'll get back to work and get these guys ready for Notre Dame.”
That would be the Notre Dame Invitational, the team's next meet, set for Oct. 2 at South Bend, Ind.
It was evident the Gators were not satisfied with second place and know there are things they need to improve on. Spangler mentioned that includes getting stronger, running smarter, and being tougher.
There are eight true freshmen on this year's squad, so there is a bit of a learning curve the first few races. But there is no doubt the team expects big things from them.
“I have very high expectations for the team this year,” Garcia said. “I can't rave enough about this group, they're a very talented group of individuals so we have big goals this season.”
Spangler is confident the squad will buckle down and do the things they need to do to be at their best in Indiana.
Garcia will do his part.
“We just need to remember who we are and we need to compete with Gator pride," he said. "If we do that, we'll be just fine."
