Owls to Host the Florida Atlantic Invitational

8/29/2024 4:30:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's XC/Track & Field

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The 2024 cross country season has arrived for Florida Atlantic's men's and women's teams. They will begin their 2024 season with the tenth annual FAU Invitational, their only home race of the season.

The competition will once again take place at the South County Regional Park, scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m Friday, Aug. 30.

The Owls are led by Head Coach Alex Smolka, who enters his 24th year at the helm of both cross country teams. He is assisted by Associate Head Coach Georgette Nixon and Assistant Coach Sonja Friend-Uhl.

Florida Atlantic XC Invitational
Race Details	Date: Friday, Aug. 30 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Boca Raton, Fla. \| South County Regional Park \| Regional Park Dr, Boca Raton, FL 33498
Race Coverage	Live Results: Mogo Timing Follow us on socials: @FAUXCTF
Florida Atlantic Links	News \| Men's Roster \| Women's Roster \| Schedule

COMPETING TEAMS

Athletics Club Miami
Blue Collar Running Club (Men's only)
Broward Elite Athletic Club (Women's only)
FIU
Florida Atlantic
FGCU
Florida National
Keiser
Miami
Miami Marathongers (Club | Men's only)
Nova Southeastern
REAL South Athletic Club (Men's only)
St. Thomas
University of Bahamas

LAST YEAR AT THE FAU INVITE

Both teams saw success in last year's race, headlined by Elyssa Toal finishing in sixth place out of 178 runners in the 5K with a time of 18:22.3, the third-best time recorded by an Owl on the South County Regional Park course. Overall, the women's team finished in fourth place with 119 points.

The men's team had Paul Glick finish in the top 25, with the group as a whole finishing in sixth overall with 186 points.

MEET THE WOMEN'S TEAM

Toal is returning for the Owls, along with Holly Arrison, Ava Aseere, Kaya Groppe, Jessica Hatch, Leah Helms, Grace Mueller, Isabel O'Brien, and Anabell Reumann

Joining them are four newcomers: three freshmen in Astrid Baunge, Emilee Moen, and Constance Pittet as well as transfer Andi VanMeter.

VanMeter arrives to Florida Atlantic after spending a year at Indiana where she also competed for the track & field team as well.

MEET THE MEN'S TEAM

The Owls will welcome back three returners, Paul Glick, Samuel Henery, and Enrique Toro. Glick led the Owls in the American Athletic Conference championship with a personal record of 25:41.1.

New to the squad is Noah Curfman, Joseph Garcia, Jake Jacoby, Maxum Kornilov, and Donovan Petty,

UP NEXT

Next up, Florida Atlantic will regroup in Jacksonville to compete in the UNF XC Invitational on Sept. 13.

SCHEDULE

For the full women's cross country schedule click HERE and for the full men's slate click HERE.

FOLLOW THE OWLS

For complete coverage of FAU cross country and track & field, follow us on social media. (@FAUXCTF)