Cross Country Claims 8th at FSU Cross Country Open

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The 14th-ranked University of Miami cross country team wrapped up its second week of competition on Friday morning at the Florida State Cross Country Open at Apalachee Regional Park with an eighth-place finish.

As a team, the Hurricanes placed eighth out of 29 teams while topping besting Eastern Michigan by 31 points and Auburn by 65 points who was ranked 12th in the South Region last week. UM was only bested by Clemson by just 24 points, a team that finished 13th in the conference last year.

After both the men and women raced in the 5K last weekend, the women raced their first 6K of the season today. Daphnee Lavassas posted a finishing time of 22:12.1 to finish 31st for the Hurricanes. Just five spots back in 36th came Elle Mezzio who clocked in at 22:25.6.

“The women had a great showing today,” said head coach Cody Halsey. “The job was to leave it on the course and race unafraid, which I believe they accomplished. Each week I’m more and more impressed with how well such a young group finds a way to get it done.”

In the first men’s 8K of the year, Austen Cannon led the UM men with a time of 26:30.2 to claim 85th.

“Collectively the men didn’t have a great day, we have some work to do,” Halsey added. “This was, for many of them, their first attempts at that distance. I believe in the weeks to come we will be in a better place.”

Following next week off, the Canes will be back in action on Oct. 1 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for the Paul Short Run.