SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The FGCU men's and women's cross country teams raced to a pair of top five team finishes at the Upstate Invitational Saturday, Oct. 3 while competing in less than ideal conditions in South Carolina.

With flash flood warnings and wind gusts forecasted up to 40 mph, the women finished third among the 13 teams in the 5K, led by Morgan Reichert's (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins HS/Ohio University) 10th place finish with a time of 18:26.96. Lauren Tarovisky (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park HS/Morehead State University) crossed the line in 12th in 19:06.38.

"The adversity was at an all-time high and the women handled it beautifully," said head coach Cassandra Goodson. "Once we found out about the weather conditions, our objectives changed from running personal bests to staying composed in the midst of very cold and very wet competition."  

Along with Reichert and Tarivosky, every Eagle finished in the top 30 and four crossed in the top 20. Anita Munoz (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) finished just shy of a top 15 finish with a time of 19:12.84. Not far behind the sophomore, Courtney Corradetti (Oceanside, Calif./Vista HS) earned an 18th place finish with a 19:12.90 time in her 5K. Regan Farrow (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Howell HS) recorded a 22nd place finish with a time of 19:26.91.

The men were led by Cody Adkinson (Port Charlotte, Fla./Port Charlotte HS), who missed out on a top 15 finish by six seconds, completed the 8K in 26:33.02. The Eagles finished fifth of 13 teams, nearly 50 points in front of Western Carolina.

"The men struggled with the conditions," Goodson said. "They are a group that has been through their fair share of adversity this year and to be fair, they had to deal with the conditions longer. The men are great at regrouping and they will use this experience as motivation. They will be resilient."

After Adkinson, Nathan Kandie (Iten, Kenya/University of Arizona), Troy Clark (Mount Dora, Fla./Mt. Dora Bible HS), Leonel Delacruz (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) and Alex Delle Monache (Welland, Ontario/E.L. Crossley) finished within 10 seconds of each other to push the Eagles to a fifth place finish. Kandie set the pace for the group of four Eagles with a time of 27:14.23 good for 26th, followed by Clark at 27:16.62 and Delacruz at 27:20.55. Delle Monache rounded out the top 30, crossing the line in 27:23.01. Delacruz set a new season-best time with his finish.

The Eagles will hit the road one last time before competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships as they run in the USF Invitational in Tampa on Friday, Oct. 16.
 
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
10. Morgan Reichert – 19:01.22
12. Lauren Tarovisky – 19:06.38
17. Anita Munoz – 19:12.84
18. Courtney Corradetti – 19:12.90
22. Regan Farrow – 19:26.91
23. Carley Lutzow – 19:26.94
26. Araceli Leon – 19:37.00

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
16. Cody Adkinson – 26:33.02
26. Nathan Kandie – 27:14.23
27. Troy Clark – 27:16.62
28. Leonel Delacruz – 27:20.55
30. Alex Delle Monache – 27:23.01
43. Maximilian Weigand – 28:17.24

WOMEN"S TEAM RESULTS
1. Appalachian State – 47
2. High Point – 49
3. FGCU – 79
4. Liberty – 82
5. Western Carolina – 130
6. Limestone – 211
7. Wofford – 219
8. Gardner-Webb – 222
9. USC Upstate – 265
10. Citadel – 282
11. Presbyterian – 330
12. Columbia International – 361
13. Erskine – 389

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. High Point – 28
2. Appalachian State – 49
3. Liberty – 70
4. USC Upstate – 108
5. FGCU – 127
6. Western Carolina – 173
7. Citadel – 187
8. Wofford – 219
9. Limestone – 290
10. Gardner-Webb – 302
11. Presbyterian – 319
12. Columbia International – 341
13. Erskine – 365

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
FGCU is led by 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.