Men's Cross Country Goes For Fourth at Crimson Classic

Friday, October 18

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

9:30 a.m.

University of North Florida

Crimson Classic

10/18/2024 9:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

Final Results

All 15 Osprey Runners Finished Among Top 100 Individuals

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - North Florida men's cross country impressed with a fourth-place finish in its showing during their regular-season finale at the Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama on Friday morning.

The field featured five Power Four teams in which the Ospreys had three runners among those athletes in the top 25 and seven runners in the top 32. In its team performance, UNF finished over Georgia and Clemson, as well as ASUN opponent, North Alabama.

Robert Pedroza was the leader of the team once again with a 16th overall placement among the individual field of 152 runners. Both Pedroza and Seth Martinez were outstanding in their 8k runs to finish in the top 20 overall, while also etching their names among the top 10 times in program history.

FINISH LINE

Both Pedroza and Martinez once again cracked the top-10 XC times in program history.
Pedroza matched his time from the Gans Creek Classic at 23:55.8 for the fourth-best UNF 8k time.
Martinez joined Pedroza in the top 10 as well to clock in at 24:02.5 for the ninth-best time in the 8k.
Both runners finished in the top 20 overall at Alabama to now hold six combined times in the top 10 for the 8k race in program history.
Cole Perry never dropped out of the top 30 in his race to finish with a career-best 24:13.0 for 25th overall.
Onix Ortiz Vazquez lead a pack of Ospreys that featured Sebastian Hernandez, Aaron Schimke and Ilias El Khattabi as well among the top 32 runners.
The latter three each clocked in times that surpassed their previous-best 8k performances.
Paul Lespasio was the eighth UNF member to cross the finish line in the top 50 with another personal-best mark at 24:38.2.
A total of 10 Ospreys either surpassed or matched their previous career-best times in the 8k race.

PIGG'S POINTS

"For the men, we had a really good day. We beat a number of Power Four programs that are good cross country programs. I think today was probably the most complete, deep meet that we've had in the last 13 years. From our first runner down to our 12th, it was very good. That's just direct correlation with the work that these guys have done. It was a really stellar day for them with a lot of compliments from different coaches about how deep our team is. Really proud of the effort, preparation and the way they executed today. Robert [Pedroza] was our top guy again and he ran really solid. We had Seth [Martinez] up there, as well as the same guys with Cole [Perry] and Onix [Ortiz Vazquez]. It was great to see Sebastian [Hernandez] among the top five on our team. Sebastian and Aaron [Schimke] were two guys that really stepped up and did a fantastic job today. It was a very competitive and very well-ran meet with beautiful weather. Competing here in Tuscaloosa is always fun and they put on a great meet, so we're very pleased with how today went."
-- head coach Jeff Pigg