Cross Country Hosts FAU Invitational; Only Home Race of Season

Wednesday, September 1

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

FAU Invitational

2019 FAU Cross Country @ FAU Cross Country Invitational

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

Cross Country Hosts FAU Invitational; Only Home Race of Season

8/31/2021 11:22:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's XC/Track & Field

Florida Atlantic at FAU Invitational
Race Details	Date: Wednesday, Sept. 1 Time: Men's 5K at 6:30 p.m. \| Women's 5K at 7 p.m. Location: Boca Raton, Fla. \| Regional Park Dr, Boca Raton, FL 33498
Race Coverage	No live results Twitter: @FAUXCTF Instagram: @FAUXCTF Facebook: FAU XC/Track & FIeld
Florida Atlantic Links	News \| Men's Roster \| Women's Roster \| Schedule

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University men's and women's cross country teams will kick off the 2021 slate by hosting the FAU Invitational tomorrow, Wednesday, at South County Regional Park. In FAU XC's only home meet of the year, the men's 5K will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the women's 5K will follow at 7 p.m.

The women's team is looking to keep their streak alive at the invitational as they look to win their seventh consecutive home race (last year's race being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This race commences a full slate of cross country events this season after the 2020 schedule was shortened to two races.

About the Owls

Women

The team is coming off a historical sixth-place finish at the 2020 C-USA Cross Country Championships, which was the best finish for the squad at a C-USA Championship
Madlen Kappeler is the top returner on the squad. The Germany product finished sixth place at the UAB Blazer Classic in the 6K with a personal record time of 21:11.38 and followed up that performance by placing 11th at the C-USA Championships. Her finish earned her All-C-USA Second Team honors
Paige Saiz was 42nd (23:20:00) and Analise Davis (23:26.54) captured 44th in the 6K at the C-USA Championships, and both return for another season
The team has seven returners and three newcomers: Gabrielle Dewhurst, Leah Helms and Erin Shannon

Men

The men's team finished the C-USA Championships in 11th place
Preston Dunn is the top returner on the men's side after leading the Owls at the C-USA Championships with a 45th place finish in the 8K (26:37.65)
The team is young, featuring three returners and five newcomers. Giuliano Gencarelli, Joseph Jaurek, Matthew Labrato, Bodey Miller and Nicholas Von Graff are each in their first season as an Owl

Competing Teams

Bethune-Cookman (M/W)
Florida A&M (W)
Florida Gulf Coast (W)
FIU (M/W)
Keiser (M/W)
Lynn (M/W)
Miami (M/W)
Stetson (W)
UCF (W)

Last FAU Invitational (2019)

Women

The women's team won the 2019 FAU Invite with 32 points, helping the team achieve their six-peat at the home opener
Kappeler made her Owl debut, winning the race in 18:17.71, while Jordan Stevens (19:16.92) and Casey O'Connor (19:25.97) came in sixth and seventh, respectively

Men

The team finished the last FAU Invite in third for the second year in a row
Dunn ran in his first race and came in 28th place (17:23.17) in the 5K

Upcoming

The men's and women's team will head to Tallahassee, Florida for the Florida State Invite on Friday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 a.m.

Owls on Social Media

For complete coverage of FAU cross country and track & field, follow us on Twitter (@FAUXCTF), Instagram (@FAUXCTF) and Facebook (FAU XC/Track & Field).