BOCA RATON, Fla. –  A new era is dawning upon Florida Atlantic University athletics, where the men's and women's cross country teams will join the fun as they begin their first season competing in the American Athletic Conference in the fall of 2023.
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The Florida Atlantic University men's and women's cross country teams have unveiled their 2023 fall schedule, beginning with their only home meet of the year and culminating in their first American Athletic Conference Championships, followed by the NCAA South Regionals.
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The Owls will be led by head coach
Alex Smolka entering his 23rd year at the helm of the cross country program.Â
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"We are super excited for our first season in the AAC," said coach Smolka. "With the help of our administration, we have put together a cross country schedule which we think will help us be as competitive as possible during the championship segment of our season."
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The season kicks off with the ninth annual FAU Cross Country Invitational on Friday, September 1, to be held at Boca Raton's South County Regional Park beginning at 6:30 p.m.. The Owls will look to build off their momentum from their 2022 home meet, headlined by
Casey O'Connor finishing in second place with a time of 18:22 that earned her Conference USA Athlete of the Week.
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Florida Atlantic will then head up to Gainesville, where they will compete in an NCAA Preview Meet hosted by the University of Florida, to be held on Friday, September 15.
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After a two week rest, both squads will be in the state capital of Tallahassee to compete in Florida State's XC Invitational on Friday, September 29.
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On Saturday, October 14, the women's team will participate in the East Carolina Invitational in Grimesville, North Carolina, a preview of the AAC championships to come.Â
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The big moment will arrive on Saturday, October 28, where both squads will take the trip back to Grimesville to compete in their first AAC championships.
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Following the championships, the Owls will return to Gainesville to take part in the NCAA South Regionals, held on Friday, November 10.
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For the full women's cross country schedule clickÂ
HEREÂ and for the full men's slate clickÂ
HERE.
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