University of North Florida
ASUN XC Championship
10/30/2026 1:30:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
RICHMOND, Ky. -Â North Florida men's cross country placed three runners in the top 15 and seven inside the top 25 in the men's 8K to earn a runner-up finish at the ASUN Cross Country Championship, hosted by Eastern Kentucky at The University Club at Arlington on Friday morning.
The Ospreys totaled 66 points to finish second in the eight-team field, trailing only conference champion Lipscomb (16 points). North Florida finished 28 points ahead of third-place Bellarmine (94 points), while also finishing ahead of Stetson, Florida Gulf Coast, Queens (N.C.), Jacksonville and West Florida.
Redshirt sophomore Tomer Mualem led the Ospreys with a 10th-place finish in a time of 25:15.7. Redshirt sophomore Alejandro Romagosa and freshman Samuel Freas rounded out three Ospreys inside the top 15, placing 14th and 15th with times of 25:23.8 and 25:33.7, respectively.
Redshirt senior Paul Lespasio followed in 16th with a time of 25:34.6 to give North Florida four runners inside the top 20. Senior Colton Lawson crossed the line 21st in 25:48.1, while redshirt junior Andrew Mahorner and freshman Oliver Dempsey finished 23rd and 24th with times of 25:58.3 and 26:02.2, respectively, rounding out seven Ospreys inside the top 25.
Mualem and Romagosa earned Second Team All-ASUN honors following their 10th and 14th-place finishes, respectively. Freshmen Samuel Freas, Oliver Dempsey and Demetrie Meyers also earned ASUN All-Freshman Team honors after placing 15th, 24th and 27th overall, respectively. North Florida totaled five All-ASUN honors across four athletes at the conference championship.
Demetrie Meyers followed in 27th with a time of 26:20.9, while Parker Banzhaf placed 29th in 26:33.2. Joshua Gammage rounded out North Florida's finishers in 44th with a time of 27:14.2.
Mualem and Romagosa earned Second Team All-ASUN honors following their 10th and 14th-place finishes. Freshmen Samuel Freas, Oliver Dempsey and Demetrie Meyers also earned ASUN All-Freshman Team honors after placing 15th, 24th and 27th overall, respectively. North Florida totaled five All-ASUN selections at the conference championship, highlighted by two Second Team honorees and three All-Freshman Team selections.
"Finishing runner-up on both sides is a solid result," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Jeff Pigg. "Both teams are young, and we've gained a lot of valuable experience this season. We competed hard and had some really strong individual performances. Everyone in our program wants to win, so we'll continue to stay focused on improving. We have a lot of potential and athletes who are willing to do what it takes to win."
"Tomer is finally getting healthy, and he stepped up today to lead the team," Pigg said. "Roma continued to run near the front for us, and I thought Sam ran a great race. It was also great to see all three of our freshmen earn ASUN All-Freshman Team honors."
UNF RESULTS
10. Tomer Mualem – 25:15.7
14. Alejandro Romagosa – 25:23.8
15. Samuel Freas – 25:33.7
16. Paul Lespasio – 25:34.6Â
21. Colton Lawson - 25:48.1
23. Andrew Mahorner – 25:58.3
24. Oliver Dempsey – 26:02.2
27. Demetrie Meyers – 26:20.9
29. Parker Banzhaf – 26:33.2Â
44. Joshua Gammage – 27:14.2Â
TEAM FINISH RESULTS
1. Lipscomb – 16 points
2. North Florida – 66 points
3. Bellarmine – 94 points
4. Stetson – 97 points
5. Florida Gulf Coast – 129 points
6. Queens (N.C.) – 149 points
7. Jacksonville – 222 points
8. West Florida – 228 points
ASUN AWARD WINNERS
Tomer Mualem – Second Team All-ASUN
Alejandro Romagosa – Second Team All-ASUN
Samuel Freas – All-ASUN Freshman Team
Oliver Dempsey – All-ASUN Freshman Team
Demetrie Meyers – All-ASUN Freshman Team
UP NEXT
North Florida continues its 2026 season at the NCAA South Regional Championship on Nov. 13 in Tallahassee, Fla.
