BOCA RATON, Fla.- The Ave Maria University cross country teams took to the course for the first time this fall, competing in the FAU Invitational on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Both sets of Gyrenes were running with numerous NCAA Division I programs, and finished well, with both teams placing in the top half of the field. The men placed fifth in a field of 16 teams, while the women ranked eighth among the 18 teams in attendance.
Joseph Perreault led the effort for the AMU men, setting a new 5k record with a time of 16:15.80, good for eleventh in a field of 136 runners. Samuel Paga and Adam Paga also logged finishes in the top 30, recording times of 16:32.60 and 16:39.50, respectively. Ave Maria's team score was rounded out by two more returners. Christopher Hermann took 35th overall with a time of 16:47.50, while John Halvorsen rounded out AMU's top five at 17:16.70
The Gyrenes were the top NAIA school in attendance, finishing well ahead of St. Thomas, Florida National, and Keiser. AMU's effort on the men's side bested two NCAA Division I programs in FAU and Bethune-Cookman, as well as four NCAA Division II programs - Palm Beach Atlantic, Nova Southeastern, Lynn, and Barry. The overall champion was junior college Daytona State, while the individual champion was Miami's Austen Cannon at 15:29.70.
On the women's side, Ave Maria's scoring was led by junior Lily Burke, who ran the course in 20:13.80. Madison Thomas finished second among AMU runners in her Gyrene cross country debut, logging a time of 20:35.10. Felicity Foxhoven, the reigning Sun Conference Freshman of the Year, clocked in at 20:38.20. A second newcomer, Sofia Torres, checked in at 20:46.70, while Anne Scheck rounded out Ave Maria's scoring with a time of 20:56.60.
Like the men, the Gyrene women were also tops among NAIA schools in attendance, outpacing the same three schools. The women also finished better than several NCAA Division I and Division II schools, including FIU, Bethune-Cookman, Lynn, and Barry. The women's field featured numerous Division I schools, with Miami winning the team title, led by individual champion Emma Maurel, who clocked in at 18:12.50.
Friday's meet was the first of six on the schedule this season for the Gyrenes, with five coming within the borders of the Sunshine State. The Gyrenes will get a weekend off before returning to the course, competing next on September 15. That appearance will come at the Keiser Flagship Cross Country Invitational, hosted by the Seahawks in West Palm Beach. The Friday meet is scheduled for a start time of 6:00 p.m.
