DeBary, Fla. – Led by first-place finishes from Nathan Kandie and Brooke Sill the FGCU men's and women's cross country teams kicked off their 2014 campaigns with statement-making performances at the Stetson Hatter Invite as the men took third and the women first in a field of Atlantic Sun Competition, Saturday morning in DeBary, Fla.
 
"Today was a great way to begin our season," head coach Cassandra Goodson said. "Both teams showed good performances highlighted by race wins. Testing out the course where this year's conference championship will be held and racing against other A-Sun teams was a great way to get things started."
 
Finishing the 5k at the top with just 17 points, the FGCU women's team blew past A-Sun preseason No. 2 North Florida in second (65), as host Stetson took third (72) and Bethune-Cookman fourth (102). The FGCU men took third with 44 points, just one above Lipscomb in second with 43, while UNF finished first with 36. Rounding out the men's field was Stetson in fourth (122) and Bethune-Cookman in fifth (126).
 
The road to victory for the FGCU women was paved by seven top-10 finishes with the Eagles taking home the individual gold, silver and bronze. Equally as notable, all seven from the Green and Blue posted a 5k time below the 20-minute mark, an accomplishment the Eagles did not see during the 2013 season. Sill (Lake Zurich, Ill./Eastern Illinois University), who is also a member of the FGCU women's soccer team, put her cleats aside to make her cross country debut where she outpaced 32 other competitors to cross the finish line first with a time of 19:39.56. Finishing second was Alicen Wilbur (Pine Island, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) recording a 19:43.81, followed by Courtney Corradetti (Oceanside, Calif./Vista HS) in third with a 19:46.83. Placing fifth overall was Stephanie Cajas (Lithia, Fla./Newsome HS) clocking a 19:48.92, as team newcomers Lauren Tarovisky (Wheeling, W.V./Wheeling Park HS/Moorehead State University) and Anita Munoz (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) finished in sixth (19:50.95) and seventh (19:51.37), respectively. Rounding out the performance for FGCU was Regan Farrow (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Howell HS), who took eighth with a 19:51.79.
 
"The women ran an aggressive race and had a good pack up front," Goodson said. "Brooke had an outstanding showing, she will be someone to watch for at the conference championship meet. I am very proud of our captain Ali as she ran with a lot of aggression and poise. Courtney, Stephanie, Lauren, Anita and Regan all executed the plan and looked awesome throughout."
 
Leading the Eagles and the entire 8k field was Kandie (Iten, Kenya/University of Arizona), who recorded a 26:32.33 for first place. Freshman Troy Clark (Mount Dora, Fla./Mt. Dora Bible HS) made his collegiate debut placing fifth overall, clocking a 27:00.28, before Courtland Bernard (Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota HS) rounded out the trio of top-10 finishes for FGCU as he took ninth with a 27:25.28. Team co-captain Jean Deceus (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) finished 12th (27:39.73) followed by sophomore Jose Cartagena (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Estero HS) in 17th (28:27.89). Completing the Eagles showing were Charles Bengston (West Palm Beach, Fla./John I. Leonard HS) taking 21st (28:27.89) and Leonel Delacruz (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) finishing 23rd (28:54.89).
 
"It was a good effort by the men's team," Goodson said. "Nathan ran a strong race from the start. He is fit and will continue to progress as the season unfolds. Our top five on the men's side did a nice job, in particular Courtland Bernard. We should continue to see good things from him. Also Troy Clark ran outstanding in his first college race."
 
After they return from DeBary, the Eagles will travel to Tampa for the South Florida Invitational on Sept. 5. For complete coverage of FGCU men's and women's cross country this season, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_XC and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com.
 
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Brooke Sill - 19:39.56 
2. Alicen Wilbur - 19:43.81  
3. Courtney Corradetti - 19:46.83  
5. Stephanie Cajas - 19:48.92
6. Lauren Tarovisky - 19:50.95
7. Anita Munoz - 19:51.37
8. Regan Farrow - 19:51.79
 
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Nathan Kandie - 26:32.33
5. Troy Clark - 27:00.28
9. Courtland Bernard - 27:25.28
12. Jean Deceus - 27:39.73
17. Jose Cartagena - 27:55.28
21. Charles Bengston - 28:27.89
23. Leonel Delacruz - 28:54.89
--- Mathew Titus - 29:47.71
 
WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. FGCU - 17    
2. UNF - 65   
3. Stetson - 72   
4. Bethune-Cookman - 102  
 
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. UNF - 36   
2. Lipscomb - 43   
3. FGCU - 44  
4. Stetson – 122
5. Bethune-Cookman - 126