FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University's men's and women's cross-country teams will open the season Friday evening at the Florida Intercollegiate Invitational, hosted by the University of North Florida.
The meet will feature a competitive field that includes Florida, Florida State, Stetson and Jacksonville, among others. The women's race is scheduled for 7 p.m., followed by the men's race at 7:30 p.m. at Cecil Field.
Head coach
Argeo Cruz enters his second season at the helm with a mix of veteran leadership and new talent on both rosters. The men's team returns six athletes from last season —
Nekhi Perry,
Siyabonga Mokgothu,
Brayden Lowe-Massi,
Hector Toro,
Evan Casterline and
Dylan Torres — and welcomes six newcomers:
Jackson Dailey,
Jean Joel,
Jacob Leon,
Elmer Mijangos,
Joshua Neilitz and
Innocent Ntwali.
On the women's side, four new Eagles —
Violet Lackey,
Samantha Ruiz,
Tess Shultz and
Sofia Torres — join a core of six returners:
Alise Petrova,
Ozia Trujillo,
Addison Torres,
Gabrielle Spain,
Mercy Kosgei and
Haley Bergan.
The Eagles will look to build on a 2024 season in which Petrova was named ASUN Freshman of the Year and helped the women's team to a fifth-place finish in the conference. The men's team has been working to improve on its eighth-place finish at last year's ASUN Championship.
