MADISON, Wis. – Florida’s cross country teams competed in the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course Saturday and earned seventh-place finishes.
Senior Charlotte Browning of England was first overall for the No. 7 Gators in the women’s 6K race. Junior Dumisani Hlaselo of South Africa finished seventh in the men’s 8K.
“I thought we had a solid day on both sides, with some things we can improve upon as well,” cross country coach Todd Morgan said. “This was a competitive field, and they approached the meet focused. Charlotte had an outstanding race to lead our women’s team. It was her first race of the season and she did a terrific job with that. On the men’s side, we had a great day. Our men’s team has a completely different dynamic than a year ago and we stepped up today against several competitive, top-ranked teams.”
Browning covered the 6K course in 20 minutes, 14 seconds as the women totaled 195 points. Next came junior Genevieve LaCaze of Australia (20:55, 33rd) followed by senior Ali Crabb (21:11, 45th), freshman Cory McGee (21:12, 47th) and sophomore Callie Cooper (21:39, 69th). Freshman Stephanie Strasser (21:48, 80th) and sophomore Mandy Perkins (22:09, 89th)
Cooper and Perkins both set personal-best marks Saturday, while McGee and Strasser established marks in their first collegiate 6K race, the distance for both the SEC and NCAA Championship races. The Gators also saw five top 25 programs in No. 11 Syracuse (11th), No. 20 Michigan State, No. 22 Michigan, No. 26 Wisconsin and No. 29 North Carolina.
In the men’s 8K race, junior newcomer Hlaselo clocked 23:46 in his first race for the Gators, who totaled 217. Not far behind, junior Josh Izewski, the 2010 Mountain Dew Invitational winner Sept. 18, crossed as Florida’s second finisher, finishing 26th in 24:04. Freshmen Matt Mizereck (24:33, 59th) and Mark Parrish (24:35, 62nd) were followed closely by senior James Uthmeier (24:36, 63rd). Senior Anthony Morales (24:42, 74th) and sophomore Danny Manco (24:48, 85th) completed the Florida effort. The men’s race field was saturated with talent: No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 11 Syracuse, No. 15 Michigan, No. 18 Michigan State, No. 20 Providence, No. 23 Princeton, No. 24 Georgetown and No. 25 Indiana, the race winner.
The Gators head to Tallahassee Friday to compete in the Florida State Invitational.
WISCONSIN ADIDAS INVITATIONAL
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 / Thomas Zimmer Course / Madison, Wis.
WOMEN’S 6K
Top 10 teams: 1. Syracuse 89; 2. North Carolina 98; 3. Michigan State 109; 4. Michigan 113; 5. Indiana 151; 6. Harvard 157; 7. Florida 195; 8. San Francisco 205; 9. Nebraska 248; 10. Texas A&M 256.
Florida runners: 1. Charlotte Browning 20:14; 33. Genevieve LaCaze 20:55; 45. Ali Crabb 21:11; 47. Cory McGee 21:12 (pb); 69. Callie Cooper 21:39 (pb); 80. Stephanie Strasser 21:48 (pb); 89. Amanda Perkins 22:09.
MEN’S 8K
Top 10 teams: 1. Indiana 43; 2. Wisconsin 75; Princeton 112; 4. Syracuse 131; 5. Oklahoma 132; 6. Michigan State 191; 7. Florida 217; 8. North Carolina 225; 9. Ohio State 256; 10. Illinois 280.
Men’s champion: Donn Cabral (Princeton) 23:46.
Florida runners: 7. Dumisani Hlaselo 23:46 (pb); 26. Josh Izewski 24:04 (pb); 59. Matt Mizereck 24:33 (pb); 62. Mark Parrish 24:35 (pb); 63. James Uthmeier 24:36 (pb); 74. Anthony Morales 24:42; 85. Manco Danny 24:48 (pb).