#MXC Finishes 3rd at Atlantic Sun Championship

Saturday, November 1

DeLand, Fla.

9:30 a.m.

University of North Florida

Atlantic Sun Championship

Photo by: ASUN Photos

11/1/2014 5:20:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

By: North Florida Athletics

Final Results (pdf)

DeBARY, Fla. -- The North Florida men's cross country team finished third at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship meet on Saturday, matching the program's best showing in its 10-year history at the event.

The Ospreys, who finished with a team point total of 66, also finished tied for third at the conference meet in 2009. The 66 points were a program best score at the Atlantic Sun Championship.

"We had a solid race but just no quite enough to win," head coach Jeff Pigg said. "We have the right guys and they have worked really hard all season. We are looking forward to the next race as this was somewhat of a disappointment for this group. This whole lineup returns next season and will definitely continue to get better so that is exciting for the future."

Sophomore standout Michael Damato collected his second consecutive All-Atlantic Sun (first-team) honor after leading UNF with a sixth-place finish in a time of 25:21.17. Freshman Tyler Bennett ran 25:27.91 to finish seventh, while earning first-team All-Conference and All-Freshman team accolades. It marks the third consecutive season the Ospreys have produced an All-Freshman honoree.

"Mike Damato had another very strong performance in leading this young Osprey team," added Pigg. "Tyler Bennett continues his really strong freshman season showing that he has been able to make the transition from the prep 5k race to the collegiate 8k distance."

Sophomore Brad Hort was UNF's third finisher clocking a time of 25:54.45 to finish 15th overall followed closely by junior teammate Justin Bryan in 16th at 25:54.83. Finishing 22nd, Jacob Fuller rounded out the Osprey's top five running a time of 26:26.84.

Junior Jeremy Bryan finished 26th in a time of 26:37.81, freshman Tyler Stahl was 34th in 27:07.98 and freshman Wesley Norton finished 44th in 27:47.42 to fill out the UNF lineup.

Lipscomb claimed the team title finishing with 38 points followed by Northern Kentucky at 48 in second-place. UNF was third followed by Florida Gulf Coast (108 pts), USC Upstate (125), Kennesaw State (136), Stetson (209) and Jacksonville (230). NKU's JJ Webber raced to the individual crown in a time of 24:26.43.

In addition, the Ospreys earned a point in the River City Rumble competition by finishing ahead their crosstown rival Dolphins.

"Overall, this was a good showing for us with a pair of All-Conference awards and a third-place finish," Pigg concluded. "I also thought that Stetson did a very nice job in hosting the event."

North Florida next looks to compete at the NCAA South Regional on Nov. 14 in Tallahasse, Fla.