JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The FGCU men's and women's cross country teams ran to program-best finishes as both placed third at the A-Sun Cross Country Championships held at UNF's John Hyat Golf Learning Center in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday morning.

"Both teams ran their hearts out today," said FGCU head coach Cassandra Goodson. "Everyone ran faster on the course today than they did at the beginning of the season, some almost by a minute. The effort was there, and if that's good for third place, we'll take it. We're proud of our team."

After finishing fourth in each of the last three seasons, the men's team medaled for the first time in program history, while the women's team matched last season's program-best finish.

The women's team placed all eight student-athletes among the top-30 finishers and pushed its season total of top-30 finishes to 35. Only Lipscomb placed more runners (nine) in the top-30 of the A-Sun field. Individually, senior Lauren Tarovisky (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park HS/Morehead State) paced the Green and Blue for the fourth time this fall as she crossed the finish line eighth overall in a personal-best time of 17:48.14. Tarovisky's time is not only a FGCU season-best by more than 30 seconds, but also registers as the third-best 5K time in program history. Additionally, as far back as records indicate, her eighth-place finish is the second-best conference championship finish for an Eagle. Kelly Perzanowski became the program's only individual conference champion in 2013. Tarovisky was named a member of the A-Sun All-Conference Second Team following the race, narrowly missing first-team recognition. Fellow senior Courtney Corradetti (Oceanside, Calif./Vista HS) finished second among FGCU runners and 18th overall as she also ran a personal-best 5K time of 18:21.82, which cracks the FGCU record book as the 10th-best time in program history.

"Lauren ran fearless and crossed the finish line a minute faster than she did just two months ago," Goodson said. "Courtney and Morgan (Reichert) also ran their best races of the season. I'm very proud of our seniors."

The FGCU women accumulated a program-record 82 points and finished just ahead of Jacksonville (85). Lipscomb (19) became just the second team in A-Sun history to win a fifth-consecutive A-Sun Cross Country Championship, while UNF (73) finished runner up for the second-straight year.

On the men's side, the duo of Troy Clark (Mount Dora, Fla./Mt. Dora Bible HS) and Nathan Kandie (Iten, Kenya/Arizona) led the way for FGCU with a pair of personal-best performances as they crossed the finish line 10th and 11th overall, respectively. Clark, who became just the third member of the Green and Blue to finish in the top 10 at the A-Sun Championship, ran a pace of 25:32.31 and finished first among FGCU runners at the championship meet for the second consecutive season. Additionally, his time is good for the seventh fastest in program history. Kandie finished right on Clark's heels and clocked a time of 25:34.58, edging his previous personal-best recorded earlier this season at the UF Mountain Dew Invitational. Like Clark, his pace enters the FGCU record book as the ninth best in program history. Following their performances, Clark and Kandie were both named members of the A-Sun All-Conference Second Team. Sophomore Leonel Delacruz (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS) finished 22nd overall and ran a personal-best time of 26:20.08, besting his previous record by more than 15 seconds.

"Nathan ran with heart and tenacity, and I'm glad he had a good conference race," Goodson added. "Running well at conference was a goal of his, and he certainly accomplished that. Jean (Deceus) and Cody (Adkinson) have been unbelievable leaders and pushed themselves and our team this year. We're excited to have the opportunity to compete in one more race at the regional championships."

Like the women, the FGCU men also racked up a program-record 88 points and finished ahead of USC Upstate (102), who edged the Green and Blue at the Upstate Invitational earlier this season. The men's top three teams replicated the women's as Lipscomb (22) ran to its third-straight conference championship and UNF (45) finished in second place.  

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
8. Lauren Tarovisky – 17:48.14
18. Courtney Corradetti – 18:21.82
20. Morgan Reichert – 18:32.79
21. Anita Munoz – 18:37.39
23. Regan Farrow – 18:53.15
24. Stephanie Cajas – 18:54.02
26. Araceli Leon – 19:02.36
28. Carley Lutzow – 19:04.47

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
10. Troy Clark – 25:32.31
11. Nathan Kandie – 25:34.58
22. Leonel Delacruz – 26:20.08
25. Jean Deceus – 26:33.85
26. Courtland Bernard – 26:35.03
31. Cody Adkinson – 27:03.40
38. Charles Bengston – 27:42.50
43. Alex Delle Monache – 28:13.18

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Lipscomb – 19
2. UNF – 73
3. FGCU – 82
4. Jacksonville – 85
5. Stetson – 153
6. Kennesaw State – 166
7. USC Upstate – 194
8. NJIT - 253

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Lipscomb – 22
2. UNF – 45
3. FGCU – 88
4. USC Upstate – 102
5. Kennesaw State – 163
6. NJIT – 175
7. Jacksonville – 189
8. Stetson - 189

WOMEN'S A-SUN SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Lauren Tarovisky, FGCU: 17:48.14
Sally Larson, Lipscomb: 17:48.72
Katie Bianchini, Lipscomb: 17:50.09
Paige Stoner, Lipscomb: 17:53.55
Bridgetter Doucet, Lipscomb: 17:58.35
Nora McUmber, Jacksonville: 18:05.72
Kyla Siemens, Jacksonville: 18:06.80

MEN'S A-SUN SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Tyler Bennett, UNF: 25:18.67
Fynn Timm, UNF: 25:27.61
Troy Clark, FGCU: 25:32.31
Nathan Kandie, FGCU: 25:34.58
Justin Bryan, UNF: 25:38.79
Simone Colombini, Kennesaw State: 25:43.85
Robert Rupp, Lipscomb: 25:48.35

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.