Women Take First, Men Have Top Finisher at FAU XC Invite

Friday, August 31

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

FAU Cross Country Invitational

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

8/31/2018 9:33:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's XC/Track & Field

Women's Full Results Men's Full Results

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University men's and women's cross country teams started the 2018 season with a statement. The women's team won the FAU Cross Country Invitational for the fifth-straight year and the men came in third behind a first-place finish from Lachlan Shiver.

Teams competing in the meet were Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson, Miami, Palm Beach Atlantic, Nova Southeastern, Lynn, FIU and St. Thomas.

ALEX SMOLKA'S TAKE
"We looked very good, I'm very encouraged," said head coach Alex Smolka. "It's so early in the season, but to come out on the women's side and win the home meet in front of a great crowd. We had great support from our administration to other student-athletes. It was really exciting. For the team to run as well as they did was very, very exciting. On the men's side, the guys looked great. Lachlan is doing so well. Two years ago he ran about two minutes slower than he did today. It just shows what hard work, determination and dedication can do. For the guys to finish third is a great testament to the work they've done this summer."

QUICK HITS - WOMEN

FAU won the team title for the fifth-consecutive year.
Junior Mikaela Jonsson had the top finish for the Owls on the women's side, coming in fourth with a time of 18:48.56.
Overall, FAU had five in the top-20.
Senior Erica Lersch raced to a sixth place finish, clocking in at 19:05.30.
Senior Sophia Clark missed the top-10 by just over a second, coming in 11th place with a time of 19:17.56.

QUICK HITS – MEN

Junior Lachlan Shiver claimed the top spot for the men's side, setting a new FAU 5k record in the process, with a blazing 15:20.79 time.
The Owls came in third overall, up one spot from last season. Three Owls registered top-10 5k times in FAU history.
Sophomore Sean Barone was the next Owl to finish, coming in at 16:11.48 for a 17th place finish. That mark is the fifth fastest 5k time at FAU.
Senior Jonathan Werble claimed 24th with a time of 16:25.21, which is ninth all-time at FAU.

UP NEXT
The women's team will compete in the UCF Alumni Invite on September 15 and both teams will travel to Gainesville to participate in the Mountain Dew Invite hosted by University of Florida on September 22.

For complete coverage of FAU cross country and track & field, follow along on Twitter (@FAU_XC_Track) or Instagram (@FAUXC.TF).