BOCA RATON, FL – The FGCU cross country programs turned in stellar finishes Friday evening, highlighted the men's team taking home their second FAU Invitational title in the last three years and senior Carley Lutzow capturing first overall on the women's side, as the team claimed fifth overall.

"Both teams have been training incredibly hard," said head coach Cassandra Goodson. "We always enjoy opportunities to compete. There were a few significant personal bests on this course this year, which I'm happy to see their hard work pay off. It's early and we are looking forward to continuing our training back at The Nest."

On the men's side, newcomer Lucas Kiprotich (Eldoret, Kenya/EKU/Concord HS) was the first of four Eagles in the top-10 to cross the finish line, etching a 5k time of 15:24.01. The time was just under four seconds shy of the first-place winner. Competing for the first time since 2016, senior Ronny Greenup (Miami, Fla./FIU/Miami Sunset Senior HS) wasted no time making an impact as the Miami native crossed the finish line with a time of 15:29.77, placing him fourth overall.

Freshman Austin Redondo (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef Senior High School) was the next Eagle to score, coming in ninth place with a time of 16:03.98 while junior runner Jan Figueroa (Casselberry, Fla./Lake Howell HS) was on his heels at 16:05.12 for 10th overall. As Figueroa rounded out the top-10, Sophomore Joseph Salerno (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) became the fifth FGCU runner to score with a mark of 16:05.39. Newcomer Boniface Mutai (Eldoret, Kenya/Biwott Ngelel Tarit Secondary School/FAMU) was just .41 tenths of a second (16:05.80) short of Salerno as they both finished 11th and 12th, respectively.

After being knotted at 36 points with ASUN foe Stetson after five runners, freshman Bryce Bell's (Orlando, Fla./Lyman High School) finish of 22nd overall would give the Eagles the edge over the Hatters and their second-ever FAU Invitational crown.

On the women's side, Lutzow (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere HS) blazed through the field of runners, finishing nearly one minute ahead of the second overall placer as the senior clocked in a 5k time of 17:35.56. No stranger to South County Regional Park, the Illinois native has owned the course, recording a trio of top-6 finishes in each of her three FAU Invites she has run in. Last year on this same course, the Belvidere HS product produced a time of 18:56.42, shattering that that mark tonight by more than one minute and 21 seconds.  

A pair of freshmen in Emily O'Connor (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg High School) and Jillian Felton (Inverness, Fla./Citrus High School) turned in excellent debuts in their first collegiate races coming in 16th and 22nd, respectively. Angela Cruz Gonzalez (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee HS/Pasco-Hernando State) and Madeline Wyers (Wakeman, Ohio/Western Reserve HS) rounded out the scoring for FGCU, totaling 112 points.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will head up to the Bronx, NY next Saturday, Sept. 8 for the Fordham Fiasco. This will also be the same site for the ASUN Championships taking place on Oct. 26. 

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
2. Lucas Kiprotich –15:24.01
4. Ronny Greenup – 15:29.77
9. Austin Redondo – 16:03.98
10. Jan Figueroa – 16:05.12 (18 seconds faster than 2017)
11. Joseph Salerno – 16:05.39 (Eight seconds faster than 2017)
12. Boniface Mutai – 16:05.80
22. Bryce Bell – 16:22.44
28. Bradyn Ricca – 16:38.23
36. Cole Pruim – 16:52.65
44. Leonard Kipruto – 17:09.42

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Carley Lutzow – 17:35.56
16. Emily O'Connor – 19:43.33
22. Jillian Felton – 20:00.42
38. Angela Cruz Gonzalez – 20:42.44
50. Madeline Wyers – 21:30.38
51. Julia Filip –21:30.59

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS (Top 5)
1. FGCU – 36
2. Stetson – 36
3. FAU 113
4. Palm Beach Atlantic – 129
5. Miami – 148

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS (Top 5)
1. FAU – 46
2. Miami – 65
3. UCF – 72
4. St. Thomas – 106
5. FGCU –112

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 seven 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 18 ASUN 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.