TALLAHASSEE, FL – Select members of the FGCU cross country program concluded their post-season action, highlighted by senior runner Carley Lutzow garnering NCAA All-Region honors placing 16th overall Friday morning at Apalachee Regional Park.

"What a race!" said head coach Cassandra Goodson. "First, Jill getting an opportunity to compete against the best in the region! I am confident she is just going to get better from here. Then Jan ran an unbelievable race improving by a minute and how he moved up after starting out conservative. He's so coachable and showed much fight towards the end of the race! I'm so happy for him. Finally, Carley, it's been a long journey full of hard times and good times. One thing that never wavered was her work ethic, her humility to be coached and her desire to maximize every opportunity. Her race today was perfectly executed, she kept her composure early and stayed mentally tough when it got hard. She also showed tremendous class when accepting her award shaking all the hands of her fellow award winners. She's a beautiful representation of our program, her family and this University."

Lutzow (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere HS) toed the starting line for the final time in her Eagle career and found herself in 26th place after 3000 meters and would only continue to climb up. From there, her split of 7:07.40 positioned her into 19th place at the 5k mark as she would gain three more places for a final finish of 16th overall with a time of 21:03.8 (3:27.60 split) en route to NCAA All-Region honors. The senior's individual finish is the second-highest in program history since 2013 where Kelly Perzanowski placed 14th, also the only other FGCU cross country female runner to collect All-Region honors.

The Illinois native was the first ASUN runner to cross the finish line, the next being Lipscomb's Courtney Brenner – ASUN Championship meet winner – who came in 19th (21:09.40). Lutzow's 6k time now put hers third all-time in the FGCU record book, surpassing last season's time by more than 11 seconds.

In the men's 10k, Jan Figueroa – second-consecutive NCAA Regional appearance – left his mark running one minute faster while finishing 50 spots ahead after last season's NCAA meet in Tuscaloosa, AL. Figueroa (Casselberry, Fla./Lake Howell HS) capped off the meet etching a personal-best 10k time of 33:55.40 (93rd) as he was the sixth ASUN runner to cross the end line.

Freshman Jillian Felton got her first taste of an NCAA race Friday morning. Felton (Inverness, Fla./Citrus High School) came in 164th (24:08.40) to end her first season as an Eagle. In a stacked field of veteran runners, Felton placed inside the top-50 of freshmen runners (47th) to cross the finish line.

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 nine seasons at the helm have taken the Eagles from their humble beginnings to a competitive D-I program, highlighted by eight trips to the NCAA South Regional Championship. Every mark in the FGCU all-time record book has been etched during the Goodson era, as she has coached 19 ASUN All-Conference selections, the 2013 Female Conference Runner of the Year and three 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.

FOOD DRIVE
FGCU is collecting food donations at home events all during November to benefit FGCU Campus and Harry Chapin Food Banks. Donations can be dropped off at the marketing table in the Alico Arena lobby.

VETERANS APPRECIATION
Veterans Appreciation is all weekend in Alico Arena, including the men's basketball home opener against Southeastern on Thursday, volleyball senior night on Saturday against Liberty and the women's basketball home opener on Monday against Florida Memorial. Veterans will receive free admission with valid ID and accompanying family members receive tickets for half price. As part of the celebration on Thursday and Monday, service pictures of our fans will be shared on Eagle Vision and service hymns will be played during media timeouts as we honor veterans with a certificate of appreciation from FGCU Athletics as well as a free barbeque sandwich from Mission BBQ.

TOY DRIVE
The FGCU athletic and police departments, Lee County Sheriff's Office and Heroes Unlimited have teamed up to participate in a holiday toy drive. New, unwrapped toys are being collected and will be delivered to the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida this holiday season. Collection boxes have been placed in the lobbies of Alico Arena, UPD and the FGCU Family Resource Center until Wednesday, Dec. 14. No toy is too small, and all toys will be wrapped prior to delivery.