Preview: ASUN Men's Cross Country Championship

Friday, March 5

Macon, Ga.

12 p.m.

University of North Florida

2020 ASUN Championship

Men's XC ASUN Championship preview with posed shots of Nathan Jubran and Jake Turner

3/4/2021 12:21:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

Live Results Season Results

JACKSONVILLE - The North Florida men's cross country team heads to Macon, Ga., for the ASUN Men's Cross Country Championship.

"Both of our squads have ran a lot miles and put many hours of work in anticipation of competing in an ASUN Championship," said Head coach Jeff Pigg. "After opting out of indoor track we are very excited to head to a meaningful championship. Opting out of indoor made the most sense for our team and now it is finally time to race. When things were first shut down we began to talk about how we would emerge."

Coach Pigg added, "This group of runners have put in the work. It was up to each individual to do their part for the team even though they were quarantined and training alone. They met the challenge as we have seen since being back on campus. They have grown in many ways throughout the pandemic and there is a greater appreciation for the opportunity to line up and race!"

LAST TIME OUT
Junior Nathan Jubran and freshman Jake Turner led the North Florida men's cross country team with 27th and 61st place finishes respectively in the Garneet 8K at the FSU Winter Classic in Tallahassee, Fla. The Ospreys finished 13th in a 20-team field with seven nationally ranked programs. Freshman Justin Tackling led North Florida in the Gold 8K with a 30th place finish. UNF placed fifth in a field of 10, defeating crosstown rival Jacksonville.

MAKING STRIDES
The North Florida men's lineup features four-time ASUN runner of the week Nathan Jubran. Jubran picked up two weekly honors this season after placing first in the CSU Invitational and 27th in the FSU Winter Classic. Freshman Jake Turner earned two ASUN Freshman of the Week honors after placing second in the CSU Invitational and his strong performance in Tallahassee. In the CSU Invitational, the Ospreys had five runners in the top-10. Aidan O'Gorman, Leo Queyrou, and Robert Pedroza joined Jubran and Turner in the top-10.

THE FIELD
The meet includes USTFCCCA Regionally Ranked Lipscomb, Liberty, and North Florida. Lipscomb ranks fifth in the south region along with North Florida following close behind at seventh. Liberty ranks 11th in the southeast region polls. Both Lipscomb and Liberty received first-place votes in the ASUN Preseason Coaches polls, ranking first and second respectively.

EVENT SCHEDULE
11:00 a.m. – Women's 5K
12:00 p.m. – Men's 8K
*Awards to follow

PIGG'S POINTS
"Nathan Jubran has continued to lead the pack during the regular season. He has stacked months of 80 mile weeks together and is ready to race. Veterans Leo Queyrou, Timothy Doyle and Aidan O'Gorman have looked good in regular-season races and look to be joined by Andrew Stivers and Anderson Bobo who were top-five runners for us last year."

"Our freshmen led by Jake Turner and Robert Pedroza have really made an impact. There are talented guys who are thriving in their first season. Justing Tackling, Thomas Weiler, Jack Anderton and Onix Ortiz have also had many good weeks of preparation and look to impact our top seven." -- Head coach Jeff Pigg