Upcoming Event: Women's XC/Track & Field versus Ed Holloway Classic on October 17, 2025 at 6:45 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
Women's XC/Track & Field
vs. Ed Holloway Classic
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Photo by: ©Jim Rassol/FAU Athletics
Owls Announce 2025 Cross Country Schedule
8/15/2025 4:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's XC/Track & Field
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic's men's and women's cross country teams have announced its 2025 fall schedule.
The Owls will compete in three regular season races, kicking off with the 11th annual Florida Atlantic Invitational in their only home meet of the year, and will end with two postseason events.
FAU is led by Head Coach Alex Smolka, who has been at the helm of the cross country program since 2001. Joining him in Paradise is Assistant Coach Jessica Carter, who will enter her first season after winning the district title for the boy's cross country team at Charles Flanagan High School. She also coached the girls to back-to-back district titles in the last two years and was named the 4A-3A Boys Coach of the Year in 2025. Assistant Coach Sonja Friend-Uhl enters her second season primarily working with men's cross country.
On Friday, Aug. 29, Florida Atlantic will host the FAU XC Invitational, beginning at 6 p.m. The Owls are coming off a tremendous 2024 FAU Invite that saw a first-place finish for the women (out of six teams) and third-place finish (out of 12 teams) for the men, in addition to a great attendance. The team's top runners on each side from last year's race, Elyssa Toal and Paul Glick, return for their final collegiate season.
FAU will travel to Tallahassee on Friday, Sept. 26, for the FSU Invitational and then conclude the regular season on Friday, Oct. 17, in Lakeland, Fla., at the Ed Holloway Classic.
The Owls will take on their third cross country conference championship as a member of the American Conference. This year's American Championship will be held in Concord, N.C., on Saturday, Nov 1.
The 2025 season is currently scheduled to conclude with the NCAA South Regionals, held on Friday, Nov. 14, with a return trip to Tallahassee.
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
The Owls will compete in three regular season races, kicking off with the 11th annual Florida Atlantic Invitational in their only home meet of the year, and will end with two postseason events.
FAU is led by Head Coach Alex Smolka, who has been at the helm of the cross country program since 2001. Joining him in Paradise is Assistant Coach Jessica Carter, who will enter her first season after winning the district title for the boy's cross country team at Charles Flanagan High School. She also coached the girls to back-to-back district titles in the last two years and was named the 4A-3A Boys Coach of the Year in 2025. Assistant Coach Sonja Friend-Uhl enters her second season primarily working with men's cross country.
On Friday, Aug. 29, Florida Atlantic will host the FAU XC Invitational, beginning at 6 p.m. The Owls are coming off a tremendous 2024 FAU Invite that saw a first-place finish for the women (out of six teams) and third-place finish (out of 12 teams) for the men, in addition to a great attendance. The team's top runners on each side from last year's race, Elyssa Toal and Paul Glick, return for their final collegiate season.
FAU will travel to Tallahassee on Friday, Sept. 26, for the FSU Invitational and then conclude the regular season on Friday, Oct. 17, in Lakeland, Fla., at the Ed Holloway Classic.
The Owls will take on their third cross country conference championship as a member of the American Conference. This year's American Championship will be held in Concord, N.C., on Saturday, Nov 1.
The 2025 season is currently scheduled to conclude with the NCAA South Regionals, held on Friday, Nov. 14, with a return trip to Tallahassee.
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
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
XC/Distance
/ Women's XC/Track & FieldInside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #7
Thursday, September 25
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #5
Friday, September 12
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #4
Thursday, September 04
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #3
Friday, August 29