Men's Cross Country Takes First Place at Gans Creek Classic, Jubran Makes Program History

Friday, October 1

Columbia, Mo.

10 AM (9 AM CT)

University of North Florida

Gans Creek Classic

Nathan Jubran running at the FSU Winter Classic

Men's Cross Country Takes First Place at Gans Creek Classic, Jubran Makes Program History

10/1/2021 1:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

Men's Results

Meet: Gans Creek Classic
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Date: Friday, Oct. 1, 2021

COURSE REPORT: North Florida men's cross country team impressed many in Missouri on Friday morning, as they finished first place at the Gans Creek Classic. Senior Nathan Jubran also made program history by recording the fastest 8k time ever by a UNF men's cross country runner.

The Ospreys finished over top teams in the Midwest region, such as Missouri, Iowa, and Texas A&M. They also finished eight spots ahead of Belmont, who was ranked three spots ahead of UNF in the latest South region poll.

FINISH LINE

- Nathan Jubran finished third at the meet and ran the fastest 8k time in program history, beating Nick Morken's 8k time of 24:09.8 at the 2017 ASUN Championship. He now owns three of the top four 8k times at UNF.
- Sophomore Jake Turner ran a personal-best 8k time of 24:19.1 in his first meet of the season, just outrunning his old time of 24:19.9 that was set at the CSU Invitational this past spring. His time places fifth all-time for UNF in the 8k and now has two times in the top 10 for UNF through four career races.
- Senior Noah Perkins went from 38th at the 4k checkpoint to finish 13th at the meet and was the third-fastest runner for the Ospreys. His time was also the third time in this meet to make the top-10 8k times in program history for UNF.
- Junior Aidan O'Gorman kept steady pace throughout the whole race and finished 22nd. He was the fourth-fastest Osprey at the meet on Friday morning.
- Sophomore Robert Pedroza made a comeback of his own as well when he checked in at 67th at the 3k checkpoint and moved all the way up to finish 27th at the race. He also ran a personal-best 8k time of 24:41.5 at the meet.

PIGG'S POINTS

"We had a good day today. The men's team won their meet and they just stuck to their plan as far as not going out too fast. They had enough confidence to lay back a little. The course is fast but it's also tough. It's the second 3k loop that the race was really decided. At one point, we were behind by about 15 points and we moved up to the front. We did a great job of executing and having confidence in our plan." -- head coach Jeff Pigg