GARDEN CITY, Kan. (November 12, 2018) - Amid frigid temperatures, men's and women's cross country runners from across the nation descended upon Garden City, Kan., for the NJCAA Cross Country Championships.
With the influx of men's and women's cross country teams in Region 8, the national championship event marked another significant milestone in the growth of the sport in the Sunshine State.
In the men's championship 8K, Seminole State College's Hillary Kandie, the Region 8 individual champion, was the region's top male runner, finishing 37th overall in a time of 27:22.9. His teammate Yassin Raffay was not far behind, finishing 46th in 27:32.8. Daytona State College's Tyler Simmons crossed the line 85th overall in 28:30.5.
Daytona State was the lone Region 8 school to score in the team standings, finishing 28th.
On the women's side, Pasco-Hernando State College's dominant season concluded with a 10th-place finish in the team standings, its best ever. Three other Region 8 schools joined the Bobcats in team scoring - Daytona State (24th), Florida Gateway College (34th) and South Florida State College (35th).
Pasco-Hernando State dominated the individual results as well.
State champion Olivia D'Angelo was the region's top runner, finishing 35th in 20:34.0. Teammate Quincy Mayer was next in 58th (21:09.8) while Daytona State's Kris Gray finished 63rd (21:12.5).
The final event on the trails for the fall season will take place on Saturday, November 17 - the NJCAA Half Marathon in Gulf Shores, Ala.