UT Runners Complete Florida State Invitational
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The No. 8 University of Tampa women's cross country team earned a third place finish at the 2009 Florida State Invitational. Tampa's men also ran the 8K race, placing fifth overall.
The seven-team 5K women's race was won by Stephen F. Austin as the host Seminoles finished second. UT defeated Florida (B), North Florida, Augusta State and Florida A&M.
Stephen F. Austin also won the men's event, followed by Florida (B), North Florida, Florida State and UT. Florida A&M was the sixth place team as Tampa was the lone NCAA Division II team in the men's race.
Heather Nicolosi and Dara Fox were the first Tampa women to cross the finish line, earning 11th and 12th place finishes. Nicolosi's team-leading performance took place in 18:27.12 as Fox finished in 18:36.29.
Other Spartan women to compete included Paige Williams (16th), Alysha Duffy (18th), and freshman Tallahassee native Kaia Hampton (19th). Jess Butler (22nd), Sarah Nelson (29th), Michelle Gabrielle (34th) and Katie O'Brien (43rd) also competed for the Spartans, who finished with 76 points.
In the men's race, Tampa had 112 points as Chris Catanach was the top Spartan with a 17th place finish in a time of 26:27.58. Lewis Price (22nd), Greg Moore (33rd), Charles Toledo (34th) and Steve Cain (47th) rounded out the Spartan top five. Also competing for Tampa's men were Mike Leone (48th) and Tory Webb (49th).
Tampa will return to action on Sat., Oct. 24 when it competes in the Sunshine State Conference Championships in Lakeland.
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