TAMPA – The FGCU cross country programs ran to season-best performances as the women took home the team title and the men finished second at the USF Invitational at The Claw Golf Course in Tampa, Fla., on Friday afternoon.

"I'm so proud of both the men's and women's teams today," said FGCU head coach Cassandra Goodson. "Both teams showed a lot of heart and determination. We had some big individual breakthroughs on each team, which really helped with our overall score. We'll continue to get to work as we prepare for the next few races."

On the women's side, Friday marked the first win of the season for the 15th-ranked Green and Blue as they finished ahead of a pair of fellow regionally-ranked teams in Florida (No. 8, South) and A-Sun foe Jacksonville (No. 14, South). Senior Lauren Tarovisky (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Parks HS/ Morehead State) paced the Eagles for the third time this fall as she finished fourth overall in the 6K race in a time of 21:54.90, good for the third-best time in program history. Six additional FGCU runners finished in the top 21 of the invitational, with senior Morgan Reichert (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins HS/Ohio) running to her second consecutive top-10 finish in a time of 22:28.30.

Much like the women's team, the men put together a balanced attack in the 8K race as they finished in a season-best second place, led by sophomore Troy Clark's (Mount Dora, Fla./Mt. Dora Bible HS) second-place finish in a time of 25:50.60. The pace was a season-best for Clark and the second-best among FGCU runners this season. It also registers as the top time by a sophomore runner in program history. Joining Clark in the top 10 was senior Cody Adkinson (Port Charlotte, Fla./Port Charlotte HS), who crossed the finish line 10th overall in a time of 26:50.60. Also similar to their female teammates, six additional FGCU runners finished in the top 34 of the race.

Friday's performance continued a trend of impressive finishes in Tampa as the men won the team title a year ago and the women finished third.

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
4. Lauren Tarovisky – 21:54.90
9. Morgan Reichert – 22:28.30
12. Araceli Leon – 22:43.10
13. Stephanie Cajas – 22:45.40
14. Regan Farrow – 22:47.50
18. Anita Munoz – 22:56.90
21. Courtney Corradetti – 23:02.20

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
2. Troy Clark – 25:50.60
10. Cody Adkinson – 26:50.40
11. Jean Deceus – 26:51.50
12. Leonel Delacruz – 26:51.90
22. Charles Bengston – 27:28.10
23. Courtland Bernard – 27:30.10
32. Mathew Titus – 27:42.60
34. Maximilian Weigand – 27:46.90

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. FGCU - 52
2. USF - 78
3. FAMU – 79
4. Jacksonville – 95
5. FAU – 108
6. UCF – 143
7. Miami – 192
8. Florida – 195
9. Bethune-Cookman – 251
10. FIU - 258

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Florida – 45
2. FGCU – 57
3. USF – 87
4. Miami – 132
5. FAU – 144
6. FIU – 149
7. Jacksonville – 164
8. Bethune-Cookman – 176
9. FAMU - 235 

UP NEXT
The Green and Blue will look to take their momentum and carry it into the A-Sun Conference Championships, hosted by UNF at the Hayt Golf Center on Friday, Oct. 30 at 9 a.m. The Eagles competed on the championship course earlier this season at the UNF Invitational.

FOLLOW ALONG
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.

COACH GOODSON
 Cassandra Goodson, whose seven seasons at the helm have taken the Eagles from their humble beginnings to a competitive D-I program, highlighted by three trips to the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship. Every mark in the FGCU all-time record book has been etched during the Goodson era, as she has coached nine A-Sun All-Conference selections, the 2013 Female Conference Runner of the Year and two members of the NCAA South All-Region Team.

SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.