Friday, September 26
Tallahassee, Fla. / Apalachee Regional Park
8:20 a.m.
University of North Florida
at
FSU XC Open
Women's Cross Country Places Fourth Over Miami, FIU in FSU XC Open
9/26/2025 12:30:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - North Florida women's cross country finished fourth overall among 36 teams at the FSU XC Open, placing over Miami and FIU on Friday morning at Apalachee Regional Park.
Junior Annika Buser led the Ospreys with the top team mark in the 6k race for the first time in her career at 21:59.6 to place 20th overall. Her 3:14.3 split at the 3k checkpoint helped her jump up from 28th into the top 20 of a 6k for the first time in her career.
"Overall, we had a tremendous weekend," Director of Cross Country Jeff Pigg stated. "We've been training hard for a month, and this meet was an opportunity to see where we're at. Coach [Tyler] Stahl and I are very please with where we're are as a team."
Ana Markovina, who led UNF in its season debut at the Florida Intercollegiate Cross Country Invitational, joined Buser in the top 25 overall with a time of 22:05.7. She maintained a great pace staying in the top 25 through the entirety of the competition.
Melissa Bentayeb was the third Osprey runner in the top 30 finishing 28th overall at 22:08.9. Ella Chandler placed 44th with a time of 22:37.3, while Cohen Kooker and Jada Williams recorded marks of 22:57.5 and 23:03.3 respectively.
"There's a lot of running left to be done this season, but at this point, we're excited and proud of how we did," continued Pigg. "We certainly understand that there's a lot of work to be done and a lot of running left to be done and we know we're going to trend in the right direction. We know we can keep getting better."
"The women did a nice job of establishing themselves towards the front of the pack early on and staying there. We had a great top three of Annika [Buser], Ana [Markovina], and Melissa [Bentayeb]. Madeline [Castillo] and Ella [Chandler] rounded out the top five in some really solid performances. Overall, we had a great pack close together. We competed well and beat some solid teams. It's encouraging to see how we have progressed over the past month. We are in a great spot and we will keep this momentum and continue to get better moving forward. It was a very solid team effort today."
-- Tyler Stahl, Associate Head Cross Country Coach
20. Annika Buser - 21:59.6
25. Ana Markovina - 22:05.7
28. Melissa Bentayeb - 22:08.9
38. Madeline Castillo - 22:29.9
44. Ella Chandler - 22:37.3
63. Cohen Kooker - 22:57.5
74. Jada Williams - 23:03.3
90. Brooke Yates - 23:16.1
103. Lilly Schuster - 23:22.0
118. Laci Watford - 23:34.3
128. Ava Wyant - 23:48.7
140. Abigail Williams - 24:07.0
143. Sierra Barrera - 24:09.9
Junior Annika Buser led the Ospreys with the top team mark in the 6k race for the first time in her career at 21:59.6 to place 20th overall. Her 3:14.3 split at the 3k checkpoint helped her jump up from 28th into the top 20 of a 6k for the first time in her career.
"Overall, we had a tremendous weekend," Director of Cross Country Jeff Pigg stated. "We've been training hard for a month, and this meet was an opportunity to see where we're at. Coach [Tyler] Stahl and I are very please with where we're are as a team."
Ana Markovina, who led UNF in its season debut at the Florida Intercollegiate Cross Country Invitational, joined Buser in the top 25 overall with a time of 22:05.7. She maintained a great pace staying in the top 25 through the entirety of the competition.
Melissa Bentayeb was the third Osprey runner in the top 30 finishing 28th overall at 22:08.9. Ella Chandler placed 44th with a time of 22:37.3, while Cohen Kooker and Jada Williams recorded marks of 22:57.5 and 23:03.3 respectively.
"There's a lot of running left to be done this season, but at this point, we're excited and proud of how we did," continued Pigg. "We certainly understand that there's a lot of work to be done and a lot of running left to be done and we know we're going to trend in the right direction. We know we can keep getting better."
STAHL'S STATEMENT
"The women did a nice job of establishing themselves towards the front of the pack early on and staying there. We had a great top three of Annika [Buser], Ana [Markovina], and Melissa [Bentayeb]. Madeline [Castillo] and Ella [Chandler] rounded out the top five in some really solid performances. Overall, we had a great pack close together. We competed well and beat some solid teams. It's encouraging to see how we have progressed over the past month. We are in a great spot and we will keep this momentum and continue to get better moving forward. It was a very solid team effort today."-- Tyler Stahl, Associate Head Cross Country Coach
UNF RESULTS
20. Annika Buser - 21:59.625. Ana Markovina - 22:05.7
28. Melissa Bentayeb - 22:08.9
38. Madeline Castillo - 22:29.9
44. Ella Chandler - 22:37.3
63. Cohen Kooker - 22:57.5
74. Jada Williams - 23:03.3
90. Brooke Yates - 23:16.1
103. Lilly Schuster - 23:22.0
118. Laci Watford - 23:34.3
128. Ava Wyant - 23:48.7
140. Abigail Williams - 24:07.0
143. Sierra Barrera - 24:09.9
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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