XC Meet Preview: 2022 Gans Creek Classic

Friday, September 30

Columbia, Mo.

10 a.m. (EST)

University of North Florida

Gans Creek Classic

9/29/2022 12:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Live Timing

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida cross country prepares to travel north to compete in the Gans Creek Classic hosted by Missouri on Friday, Sept. 30th, in Columbia, Mo.

The men's team will take the course first at 10:00 a.m. ET, while the women will follow at 10:45 a.m. ET, in efforts to increase momentum as they continue their 2022 season.

LAST TIME OUT

The Ospreys defended their home course at the UNF Invitational, capturing a pair of first-place titles at the Hayt Golf Center Sept. 9. Aidan O'Gorman secured the top overall spot, setting the tone in the meet. Shortly behind, Gavin O'Brien, transfer Mac Franks and Robert Pedroza placed within the next three spots. The Ospreys triumphed over crosstown rival, Jacksonville, and other in-state teams, Bethune-Cookman, Saint Leo and FSCJ (Jacksonville).

The women's team earned the top spot in the meet, mirroring the men's performance. Emma Jane Schlageter earned third overall, hitting a personal-best mark of 18:10.3, achieving the highest rank for the team. The women acquired 14 spots in the top 25 to narrowly edge out Stetson by three points. Transfer Gianna Forte earned sixth in her first competition with the Ospreys, hitting a lifetime mark of 18:18.3.

MAKING STRIDES

Last season, the North Florida men took first at the Gans Creek Classic. Lead returner, Aidan O'Gorman was the fourth-fastest Osprey at the competition, placing 22nd in the 8k race. Sophomore Robert Pedroza moved up 40 spots from the 3k checkpoint in a comeback attempt to earn 27th overall. He notched a new personal-best time in last season's invite at 24:41.5.

The women's team placed 10th out of 16 fielded teams in last year's Missouri meet. Mia McLain was the top runner earning 46th in the 6k with a mark of 3:32.6. Billie Castillo set a lifetime best of 22:48.0 in the race as well, moving up 21 slots from the first checkpoint of the meet. The women surpassed Northern Iowa, Saint Louis, Creighton, Murray State, Nebraska-Omaha and Western Illinois with an average speed of 22:39.0.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS

For the men's race, North Florida will take on three opponents from the state of Iowa, with Northern Iowa, Iowa, and Iowa State all competing, as well as close competitors, Wichita State and Bradley. Jed Walker placed eighth for Wichita State, as it placed second overall in last year's classic. Alec Danner and George Watson placed in the top 15 in the 2021 Gans Creek Classic for Bradley. Texas A&M junior Eric Caesar was recognized as the men's cross country SEC Runner of the Week in early September and earned first place in the 2021 Gans Creek Classic.

The women's race will include the same teams as the men's meet with the additions of Northwestern and Omaha. Last season, the Aggies finished sixth at the NCAA South Regional Cross Country Championship.

EVENT SCHEDULE

The men's 8k race starts at 10:00 a.m. with the women's 5k race following right afterwards at 10:45 a.m. Both teams will be racing south of Gans Road at the Gans Creek Recreation Area. The 2k and 3k loops are three minutes from Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

UP NEXT

After the meet on Friday, the Ospreys will head up to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to run in the Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama on Friday, Oct. 14, at 8 a.m. ET.

PIGG'S POINTS

"It's a very exciting opportunity for both teams. Missouri runs such a high quality meet. They will be hosting the 2022 NCAA Championships and their new course is amazing.

Last year, the men won the meet. It is an even stronger field this year with a number of top-level Power Five teams. It will be out first big test after Nathan Jubran and Noah Perkins have graduated. We have also decided to redshirt Jake [Turner] and Seth [Martinez], so it's a great opportunity to see some new guys step up. Mac [Franks], Aiden [Arnold] and Gavin [O'Brien] are going to a new level. Aiden [O'Gorman], as well as Tim [Doyle], Robert [Pedroza] and Jared [Vazquez], have also been strong runners and good leaders so far this year.
Mia [McLain], Camryn [Cooney], Billie [Castillo] and Raquel [Lespasio] are all running well. EJ [Schlageter] has vastly improved as well. We are not running transfer Gianna [Forte] or Erica [Fisher], but they too are looking very strong."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg