Owls Set to Host the Annual Florida Atlantic Invitational

Photo by: ©Jim Rassol/FAU Athletics

8/28/2025 4:07:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's XC/Track & Field

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The 2025 cross country season has arrived for Florida Atlantic's men's and women's teams. The Owls will begin their season with the 11th annual FAU Invitational, their only home race of the season on Friday, Aug. 29.

The competition will once again take place at the South County Regional Park, with the men scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and the women at 7 p.m.

The Owls are led by Head Coach Alex Smolka, who enters his 25th year at the helm of both cross country teams. He is assisted by assistant coach Jessica Carter and assistant coach Sonja Friend-Uhl.

COMPETING TEAMS
Ave Maria
FIU

Florida Atlantic
Florida National
Miami
New College of Florida
Nova Southeastern

LAST YEAR AT THE FAU INVITE

The Owls began the 2024 season with a strong performance at the FAU Invite, with senior Elyssa Toal placing fifth overall and coming in first for Florida Atlantic with a time of 18:17.48. She now holds the best time recorded by an Owl at South County Regional Park. On the men's side, Paul Glick ran his personal best with a time of 15:46.41 to be the first runner to cross the finish line for Florida Atlantic.

MEET THE WOMEN'S TEAM
Toal is returning for the Owls, along with Ava Aseere, Kayla Groppe, Jessica Hatch, Leah Helms, Isabel O'Brien, Anabell Reumann, and Andi VanMeter.

Joining them are six freshmen: Madison Brown, Sophie Dethier, Nelly Elned, Rachel Harrar, Morgan Pennington, and Cameron Shelby.

MEET THE MEN'S TEAM

The Owls will welcome back six returners, Noah Curfman, Luke Gaudet, Paul Glick, Samuel Henery, Donovan Petty, and Enrique Toro. Henery was the first one to cross the finish line for FAU at the American Championships.

New to the squad are Nazayer Franco, Noah Highsmith, and Nate Webb.

SCHEDULE

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

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