XC MEET PREVIEW: ALABAMA CRIMSON CLASSIC

Friday, October 14

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

9:30 a.m. (EST)

University of North Florida

Crimson Classic

10/13/2022 2:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Live Stats M | Season Stats W | Season Stats

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida's cross country program heads up to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to compete in the Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama on Friday, October 14th. The men's team will make the first strides at 9:30 a.m., while the women finish off the contest at 10:20 a.m.

LAST TIME OUT

The North Florida men's cross country team achieved a notable rank at the Missouri Gans Creek Classic, earning a top-three team finish in its second meet of the season. The Ospreys secured a big lead over ASUN-rival, Lipscomb, as well as Drake, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Baylor. Aidan O'Gorman achieved a personal-best 8k time and program record of 23:51.1 that contested eighth overall among 231 runners. Robert Pedroza also joined him inside of the top 25 with his lifetime best mark of 24:41.5.

The women's team triumphed over South Dakota, Omaha and Southern Illinois, as well as Creighton and Murray State, to place 14th in the Missouri meet. Emma Jane Schlageter placed 62nd after moving up 32 slots from the 3k checkpoint to clinch a top spot for the Ospreys and beat her personal-best 6k time by just under two minutes at 21:46.1. Mia McLain crossed the finish line with a time of 22:05.4 earning the second overall spot on the team.

MAKING STRIDES

O'Gorman was named ASUN Men's XC Runner of the Week on Wednesday, Oct. 12, after his recording-breaking performance at Missouri. His new program record of 23:51.1 in the 8k surpassed Nathan Jubran's time from the same meet last season to set the bar high for future Ospreys.

The Ospreys had one of their most successful meets at Missouri with 16 total UNF runners recording personal-best times in their perspective races, with 10 men and six women achieving lifetime best marks earlier this month. Three women made their collegiate 6k debuts at the Gans Creek Classic as well with Jada Williams headlining the trio at 22:25.1.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS

For the men's race, North Florida will take on a field of 17 total teams with 176 runners scheduled to compete on Friday morning. Five Power Five teams will be running this meet, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia. No teams from the ASUN will be at this meet, but Middle Tennessee and Belmont are competitors in this race that the Ospreys will see again in NCAA Regionals.

The women's race will include 21 total scoring teams with just over 200 athletes competing in Tuscaloosa. This field will also have the same Power Five teams from the men's side with the additions of Mississippi State and South Carolina. This will be the first meet that Alabama has hosted on their home course since the 2017 season.

EVENT SCHEDULE

The men's 8k race starts at 9:30 a.m. (EST) with the women's 6k race following right afterwards at 10:20 a.m (EST). Both teams will be racing at the Harry Pritchett Running Park on the 2.5-mile loop.

UP NEXT

After the meet on Friday, the Ospreys will prepare for the next two weeks to compete in the 2022 ASUN Conference Championship on Saturday, Oct. 29, in Huntsville, Ala. The men's squad will be in search of their third consecutive conference title at the ASUN meet, as well as their fourth in five years and fifth in seven years.

PIGG'S POINTS

"Both squads are looking forward to getting back on the course. Alabama is a powerhouse team and they put on a great event, so it will be a high-quality race. We're dealing with a cold/flu that has impacted a number of our runners, so there are a few unknowns. I do know everyone will line up and compete hard." - head coach Jeff Pigg