Outdoor Season Kicks Off Friday

Friday, March 19

Coral Gables, Fla.

All Day

Florida Atlantic

Hurricane Invitational

3/18/2021 3:57:00 PM | Women's XC/Track & Field

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's track & field team is set for the second half of the season, which is set to begin this weekend at the Hurricane Invitational. FAU finished the indoor slate with a seventh place showing with 40 points at the Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The team looks to improve on that finish, their best and highest points total since joining C-USA, going into the outdoor portion of the season.

The Hurricane Invitational, hosted by the University of Miami, will run Friday and Saturday at Cobb Stadium. Friday's events begin at 12:30 p.m. and Saturday's will commence at 11 a.m.

Season Preview

Coach's Corner

"I think they are excited," said head coach Alex Smolka. "We had the taste of some success, and we want some more. It's a little bit like a kid who likes dessert and has a little, tiny spoonful of nutella or chocolate ice cream and they want some more, they want the whole bowl. It makes training and the commitment it takes easier because they see success. Any time they see success, you are going to be able to endure additional hard workouts, continue to make the commitment of getting your rehab done and go to bed early, just because you know what you have done in the past is paying off."

Meet Schedules

Schedule of events

About the Owls

The team is coached by Smolka, who is in his 16th season at the helm
FAU brings about a variety of experience going into the outdoor season, including from junior sprinters Roshelle Francois and Cara Simpson, as well as distance runners Megan Giovanniello and Lauren Macon
After the cancellation of the 2020 outdoor seasons, a myriad of student-athletes have yet to compete in an outdoor collegiate meet

C-USA Indoor Championships Recap

The Owls registered a seventh-place finish with 40 points at the C-USA Indoor Championships, which is the highest finish and points total at a C-USA Championships since joining the league eight years ago
Jessica Lambert won the gold medal in the 800 meters with a time of 2:11.98. The England product's finish became the fourth fastest mark in school history
Anaiis Scheeres captured the silver medal in the high jump, at 1.69m, to break the school record
Cara Simpson gathered fifth in the 200 meter dash (24.73) for the 10th fastest time in school history, as well as sixth in the 60 meter dash (7.70)
Other Owl points scorers include Marisha Thompson in the mile, in seventh place (5:06.83) and 800 meters, in seventh place (2:25.07), as well as Madlen Kappeler for seventh place finishes in the 3000 meters (10:02.37) and 5000 meters (17:35.74)
The 4x400 meter relay team of Lambert, Simpson, Madison King and Francois placed fourth with a time of 3:52.00

Upcoming

The Owls will compete in the second part of the Hurricane Invitational next weekend, March 26 and 27.

Owls on Social Media

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