University of North Florida
NCAA South Regional Championship
11/13/2026 10:50:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - North Florida Women's Cross Country earned its best NCAA South Regional Championship finish since 2017, placing 16th overall at Apalachee Regional Park on Friday morning.
The Ospreys totaled 474 points in the women's 6K race, improving one spot from their 17th-place finish at the 2025 regional championship. North Florida finished ahead of 14 teams in the 30-team field, including in-state opponents Miami (Fla.), Florida Gulf Coast, Florida Atlantic and FIU.
The Ospreys totaled 474 points in the women's 6K race, improving one spot from their 17th-place finish at the 2025 regional championship. North Florida finished ahead of 14 teams in the 30-team field, including in-state opponents Miami (Fla.), Florida Gulf Coast, Florida Atlantic and FIU.
Freshman Katelyn O'Brien led North Florida with a 79th-place finish in 21:29.0, followed closely by junior Madeline Castillo in 81st with a time of 21:29.7. Freshman Sophia Aldridge rounded out three Ospreys inside the top 85, crossing the line 83rd overall in 21:32.1.
Junior Cohen Kooker finished fourth for the Ospreys, placing 113th in 21:55.9, while senior Annika Buser rounded out North Florida's scoring five in 122nd with a time of 22:11.0.
Senior Mei Chiang followed in 137th with a time of 22:29.8, while junior Ava Wyant completed North Florida's seven finishers in 173rd with a time of 23:05.1.
North Florida closed out its 2026 campaign following a runner-up finish at the ASUN Cross Country Championship, where O'Brien and Aldridge earned Second Team All-ASUN honors. O'Brien also received ASUN All-Freshman Team recognition.
"The women did a nice job staying locked in and finishing the season strong," said associate cross country head coach Tyler Stahl. "We fell just short of our goal of being in the top 15 teams, but still improved from last year's regional meet. I can't say enough about Katelyn and Sophia. They continued to come through for the team time and time again and finished off a great freshman year of cross country. They showed no fear today against a very deep and competitive field."
"Annika also did a nice job of battling through illness to come through as our fifth runner," Stahl said. "Maddie and Cohen were solid as always and both played a big role in our team's improvement from last year."
UNF RESULTS
79. Katelyn O'Brien – 21:29.0
81. Madeline Castillo – 21:29.7
83. Sophia Aldridge – 21:32.1
113. Cohen Kooker – 21:55.9
122. Annika Buser – 22:11.0
137. Mei Chiang – 22:29.8
173. Ava Wyant – 23:05.1
TEAM FINISH RESULTS
1. Alabama – 21 points
2. Florida – 74 points
3. Vanderbilt – 115 points
4. Florida State – 115 points
5. Middle Tennessee – 133 points
6. Tennessee – 192 points
7. Lipscomb – 196 points
8. Auburn – 230 points
9. Georgia – 275 points
10. Ole Miss – 333 points
11. Georgia Tech – 359 points
12. Mississippi State – 361 points
13. Jacksonville State – 401 points
14. UCF – 402 points
15. Kennesaw State – 438 points
16. North Florida – 474 points
17. Mercer – 475 points
18. Miami – 518 points
19. Southern Miss – 534 points
20. Belmont – 566 points
21. Samford – 567 points
22. Tennessee Tech – 593 points
23. East Tennessee State – 613 points
24. Florida Gulf Coast – 621 points
25. Florida Atlantic – 703 points
26. Chattanooga – 717 points
27. Alabama A&M – 802 points
28. FIU – 805 points
29. Georgia Southern – 845 points
30. North Alabama – 914 points
