Women's Cross Country Finishes Fourth at ASUN XC Championships

Saturday, October 28

Nashville, Tenn.

10:15 a.m.

University of North Florida

ASUN XC Championships

Women's Cross Country Finishes Fourth at ASUN XC Championships

10/28/2023 6:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

Team Results Individual Results

Smilla Kolbe Places 17th Overall, Picks Up Third Team All-ASUN Honors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - North Florida women's cross country continues to bring home stellar performances, as it took home a fourth-place finish at the ASUN XC Championship on Saturday afternoon. This is their second annual top-five finish in conference championship play. The women ousted teams from Central Arkansas, Queens, Bellarmine, Stetson, North Alabama, Austin Peay FGCU and cross-town rival Jacksonville.

Junior transfer Smilla Kolbe had a phenomenal 5K performance in her first ASUN Championship with the Ospreys. The Hanover, Germany, native went top- 20 in her debut, punching the clock in at 17:42.04. Kolbe finished 17th overall and earned the top Osprey spot for the female flock. Kolbe was just short of a lifetime mark. Ana Markovina went top 25 taking home the second highest rank for the Ospreys. Gianna Forte, Emma Millson and Laci Watford all recorded lifetime-best marks in the conference meet.

FINISH LINE

Kolbe ranked 17th overall among the ASUN field with a time of 17:42.04 in her Osprey debut.
The Hanover, Germany, native placed 17th overall and garnered Third Team All-ASUN honors.
Markovina joined Kolbe in the top 25, as the two transfer runners led the Ospreys 1-2 at the meet.
She finished with a time of 18:05.22, while Forte was right behind with a personal-best mark of 18:11.90 to squeeze into the top 30.
Erica Fisher and Isa Leen finished back-to-back in 32nd and 33rd overall with times at 18:19.
Millson and Ella Chandler also finished next to each other in 37th and 38th overall, highlighted by Millson's career-best 5k time of 18:26.65.
Jada Williams and Billie Castillo earned top-50 times at the conference race, while Watford finished up the women's race for the Ospreys with her personal record of 19:08.55.
It was also the first 5k meet of the season for the Ospreys in 2023.

PIGG'S POINTS

"Overall, we competed well today and I am proud of the effort. Cross country is strong in the ASUN, and it was quite a battle. Smilla [Kolbe] did a good job in her first XC race of the year. Her passion is track, but she cares about the distance program and wanted to run ASUN. She is a great competitor and I'm proud of her effort. Ana [Markovina] really focused and ran a nice race to be our second runner. It was nice to have Gianna [Forte] finish in the top three with another strong run. She is a veteran and was up for the task today. Isa [Leen] has done a great job this season and continue to run top five. I'm proud of how she ran and all that she does as a leader of this team. Erica [Fisher] is back after missing last XC season and consistently in the top five. I'm proud of what she has done to get us to this point and we know there is more to come. All 10 women finished in the top half of the field." -- head coach Jeff Pigg

UP NEXT

North Florida will continuing postseason running in the NCAA South Regional meet that will be hosted by Florida in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Nov. 10.