GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a morning race through the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, the FGCU men's and women's cross country teams continued to build the success of the program with the men posting their second-consecutive fourth-place finish and the women clocking their fastest team average to date, beating No. 6 Florida State, to place seventh at the Mountain Dew Invite hosted by the University of Florida on Saturday.
 
Finishing fourth in the men's 8K with 137 points was FGCU, outpacing Kennesaw State in fifth (150), South Florida in sixth (172) and Atlantic Sun Conference members Stetson and Jacksonville taking 10th (252) and 11th (297), respectively. Winning the race was Georgia Tech (41) followed by Florida in second (51) and North Florida in third (60). Totaling 205 points, the FGCU women finished in seventh in front of FAU in eighth (208), Florida State B in ninth (215), Stetson in 12th (325) and Jacksonville in 13th (334).
 
"I was very pleased with our performance today," head coach Cassandra Goodson said. "Most of the men ran a personal best on this course. They are improving and it's exciting. Our top-five women finished under 19 minutes, which has never happened before. Both team had a strong showing today and I'm excited for what's to come."
 
Leading the FGCU men for the second time this season was freshman Troy Clark (Mount Dora, Fla./Mt. Dora Bible HS), placing 20th overall after recording a 25:32.84, which ranks seventh in the all-time record book and is the fastest an FGCU freshman has ever recorded. Next to cross was Nathan Kandie (Iten, Kenya/University of Arizona) in 30th with a 25:57.92, directly followed by Courtland Bernard (Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota HS) in 31st with a 25:59.11. Placing 39th was Jean Deceus (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) (26:35.91), who was closely trailed by Jose Cartagena (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Estero HS) in 41st (26:41.97) and Austin Boetje (Lawrenceville, Ga./Mill Creek HS / Georgia State) in 43rd (26:45.01). Rounding out the Eagles were Cody Adkinson (Port Charlotte, Fla./Port Charlotte HS) in 47th (26:58.42) and Leonel Delacruz (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) in 49th (27:03.77).
 
In the women's 5K, FGCU did something no Eagle squad had ever done before, as the first five to cross the finish line from the Green and Blue finished the race in less than 19 minutes. Leading the women's team for the third-consecutive meet was Brooke Sill (Lake Zurich, Ill./Eastern Illinois University), who finished 18th overall after clocking a 17:58.35. Second to cross for the Green and Blue was Courtney Corradetti (Oceanside, Calif./Vista HS) in 42nd with an 18:34.60. Closely trailing Corradetti was Lauren Tarovisky (Wheeling, W.V./Wheeling Park HS/Moorehead State University) in 47th (18:37.99), right in front of Regan Farrow (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Howell HS) in 52nd (18:42.21). Next to cross was Anita Munoz (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) in 70th (18:59.89) directly followed by Alicen Wilbur (Pine Island, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) in 71st (19:02.83). Rounding out the Eagles showing were Stephanie Cajas (Lithia, Fla./Newsome HS) in 96th (19:44.38) and Amanda Restivo (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape HS) in 132nd (20:55.27).
 
After they return from Gainesville, the Eagles will travel to the Bluegrass State for the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic hosted by the University of Louisville on Oct. 4. For complete coverage of FGCU men's and women's cross country, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_XC and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com.
 
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
20. Troy Clark - 25:32.84
30. Nathan Kandie – 25:57.92
31. Courtland Bernad - 25:59.11
39. Jean Deceus - 26:35.91
41. Jose Cartagena - 26:41.97
43. Austin Boetje - 26:45.01
47. Cody Adkinson - 26:58.42
49. Leonel Delacruz - 27:03.77
 
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
18. Brooke Sill - 17:58.35
42. Courtney Corradetti - 18:34.60
47. Lauren Tarovisky - 18:37.99
52. Regan Farrow - 18:42.21
70. Anita Munoz - 18:59.89
71. Alicen Wilbur - 19:02.83
96. Stephanie Cajas - 19:44.38
132. Amanda Restivo – 20:55.27
 
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Georgia Tech – 41
2. Florida – 51
3. UNF - 60
4. FGCU - 137 
5. Kennesaw State - 150   
6. USF – 172
7. FIU – 216
8. Troy – 229
9. FAU – 252
10. Stetson – 252
11. Jacksonville – 297
12. FAMU - 332
 
WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Florida – 35
2. Georgia Tech – 67
3. UNF – 90
4. UCF - 117   
5. USF – 124
6. Kennesaw State - 184  
7. FGCU - 205  
8. FAU – 208
9. FSU - 215 
10. FAMU – 250
11. Troy – 292
12. Stetson – 325
13. Jacksonville - 334