Friday, September 11
Charlotte, N.C. / McAlpine Creek Park
6:45 p.m.
University of North Florida
at
Queen City Invite
Men's Cross Country Posts Three In Top-Six, Places Runner-Up At Queens City Invite
9/11/2026 8:35:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Men's Cross Country placed second in the Men's 8K at the Queens City Invite at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday night.
The Ospreys totaled 44 points to finish second in the 25-team field, only three points behind first-place Charlotte. North Florida placed three runners among the top-10 overall and nine inside the top-50.
"The men did a great job, " Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Jeff Pigg said. "It was hot and dusty, and the conditions were tough, but the guys didn't budge. It was a huge field with a lot of teams, so it was good experience, and they handled it well."
Junior Alejandro Romagosa led the Ospreys with a third-place finish in a time of 24:47.5, while junior Paul Lespasio followed right behind in fourth at 24:51.8. Sophomore Parker Banzhaf rounded out three Ospreys in the top-10 when he crossed the line in sixth with a time of 24:58.0. It marks back-to-back top-10 finishes for Lespasio and Banzhaf to open the season.
Junior Andrew Mahorner recorded an 8K personal-best time of 25:23.9 to place 17th, while freshman Oliver Dempsey followed in 19th at 25:26.7. Senior Colton Lawson crossed the line in 22nd with a time of 25:30.7, followed by freshman Samuel Freas in 28th at 25:43.6.
Freshman Landon Johnson placed 43rd with a time of 26:23.1, while freshman Jackson McLaughlin followed closely behind in 45th at 26:26.5. Freshman Demetrie Meyers crossed the line 54th at 26:43.7, while sophomore Joshua Gammage finished 128th with a time of 28:37.6.
"Alejandro, Paul and Parker are having really great starts to the season," Pigg added. "Andrew had his best cross country race with a personal best. The freshmen had never run an 8K, so I thought they did a really great job, especially Oliver and Samuel. We're looking forward to getting back to work."
UNF RESULTS
3. Alejandro Romagosa – 24:47.5
4. Paul Lespasio – 24:51.8
6. Parker Banzhaf – 24:58.0
17. Andrew Mahorner – 25:23.9
19. Oliver Dempsey – 25:26.7
22. Colton Lawson – 25:30.7
28. Samuel Freas – 25:43.6
43. Landon Johnson – 26:23.1
45. Jackson McLaughlin – 26:26.5
54. Demetrie Meyers – 26:43.7
128. Joshua Gammage – 28:37.6
TEAM FINISH RESULTS
1. Charlotte – 41
2. North Florida – 44
3. Marshall – 138
4. Elon – 149
5. Lenoir-Rhyne – 154
6. Fayetteville St. – 171
7. Queens (NC) – 202
8. Augusta – 243
9. Georgia College – 273
10. Citadel – 314
11. Virginia Union – 335
12. UVA-Wise – 361
13. USC Aiken – 370
14. Belmont Abbey – 377
15. Mount Olive – 399
16. Wingate – 413
17. USC-Beaufort – 425
18. South Carolina State - 523
19. Lees-McRae – 529
20. Pellissippi State CC – 556
21. Cleveland CC – 680
22. Shaw – 707
23. Warren Wilson – 711
24. Johnson C. Smith – 734
25. Voorhees – 762
UP NEXT
North Florida continues its season at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational on Oct. 2 in Atlanta, Ga.
The Ospreys totaled 44 points to finish second in the 25-team field, only three points behind first-place Charlotte. North Florida placed three runners among the top-10 overall and nine inside the top-50.
"The men did a great job, " Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Jeff Pigg said. "It was hot and dusty, and the conditions were tough, but the guys didn't budge. It was a huge field with a lot of teams, so it was good experience, and they handled it well."
Junior Alejandro Romagosa led the Ospreys with a third-place finish in a time of 24:47.5, while junior Paul Lespasio followed right behind in fourth at 24:51.8. Sophomore Parker Banzhaf rounded out three Ospreys in the top-10 when he crossed the line in sixth with a time of 24:58.0. It marks back-to-back top-10 finishes for Lespasio and Banzhaf to open the season.
Junior Andrew Mahorner recorded an 8K personal-best time of 25:23.9 to place 17th, while freshman Oliver Dempsey followed in 19th at 25:26.7. Senior Colton Lawson crossed the line in 22nd with a time of 25:30.7, followed by freshman Samuel Freas in 28th at 25:43.6.
Freshman Landon Johnson placed 43rd with a time of 26:23.1, while freshman Jackson McLaughlin followed closely behind in 45th at 26:26.5. Freshman Demetrie Meyers crossed the line 54th at 26:43.7, while sophomore Joshua Gammage finished 128th with a time of 28:37.6.
"Alejandro, Paul and Parker are having really great starts to the season," Pigg added. "Andrew had his best cross country race with a personal best. The freshmen had never run an 8K, so I thought they did a really great job, especially Oliver and Samuel. We're looking forward to getting back to work."
UNF RESULTS
3. Alejandro Romagosa – 24:47.5
4. Paul Lespasio – 24:51.8
6. Parker Banzhaf – 24:58.0
17. Andrew Mahorner – 25:23.9
19. Oliver Dempsey – 25:26.7
22. Colton Lawson – 25:30.7
28. Samuel Freas – 25:43.6
43. Landon Johnson – 26:23.1
45. Jackson McLaughlin – 26:26.5
54. Demetrie Meyers – 26:43.7
128. Joshua Gammage – 28:37.6
TEAM FINISH RESULTS
1. Charlotte – 41
2. North Florida – 44
3. Marshall – 138
4. Elon – 149
5. Lenoir-Rhyne – 154
6. Fayetteville St. – 171
7. Queens (NC) – 202
8. Augusta – 243
9. Georgia College – 273
10. Citadel – 314
11. Virginia Union – 335
12. UVA-Wise – 361
13. USC Aiken – 370
14. Belmont Abbey – 377
15. Mount Olive – 399
16. Wingate – 413
17. USC-Beaufort – 425
18. South Carolina State - 523
19. Lees-McRae – 529
20. Pellissippi State CC – 556
21. Cleveland CC – 680
22. Shaw – 707
23. Warren Wilson – 711
24. Johnson C. Smith – 734
25. Voorhees – 762
UP NEXT
North Florida continues its season at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational on Oct. 2 in Atlanta, Ga.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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