Gators Split for Virginia, UCF Invitationals on Friday

Friday, September 27

Charlottesville, VA

9:30 AM

Florida Gators

Virginia Invitational

Gators Split for Virginia, UCF Invitationals on Friday

Thursday, September 26, 2019 | Cross Country

By: Carroll Rich

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men's and women's cross country team is back in action on Friday, as the team will split up in sending runners to compete at the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational in Charlottesville, Va. and UCF Knights Invitational in Orlando. The Gators look to build upon their success at the Mountain Dew Invitational in facing a plethora of regionally-ranked programs from various regions.

Additionally, the Gators moved up in the USTFCCCA South Regional rankings announced on Tuesday (Sept. 24), as the Florida men jumped up two spots to No. 8 while the women moved to No. 3 in the region.

Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational
Florida will be sending their top runners to compete in Charlottesville, Va. on Friday, as the Gators go up against a solid group of regionally-ranked competition, including a couple nationally-ranked programs such as host No. 22 Virginia (men) and No. 11 Michigan State (women). The event will consist of the men's 8k race and women's 6k race.

The men's field of competition is highlighted by No. 22 Virginia, with the addition of several regionally-ranked teams in Michigan State, Wake Forest, Charlotte, Yale, William & Mary, Bucknell, Liberty and Kentucky. The men's 8k race will feature Nick Deal, Jack Guyton, Matt Clark, Colin Schaefer, Blake Lowery, Trevor Foley, Marshall Dillon and Hugh Brittenham for the Gators. Florida looks to up the ante after tallying five top-five finishers and two additional in the top-15 at the Mountain Dew Invitational two weeks ago. Sophomore Nick Deal, Florida's top-finisher in both meets this season, looks to continue his strong start to the year, as Brittenham and Clark will look to build off their personal-record performances at the MDI.

On the women's side, No. 11 Michigan State and Florida highlight the field of competition, in addition to regionally-ranked Virginia, Yale, Kentucky, Bucknell and High Point. The women's 6k race will feature Jessica Pascoe, Elisabeth Bergh, Payton Capes-Davis, Imogen Barrett, Grace Blair, Maria Fernandez, Pamela O'Brien and Emily Culley. The Gators dominated last at the MDI, seeing five runners in the top-five, an additional three in the top-25 and six total personal records. Pascoe looks to follow up her MDI title run with a strong performance, as Florida also receives a pair of key runners back in the lineup in redshirt senior Elisabeth Bergh and sophomore Imogen Barrett. Freshmen Maria Fernandez, Pamela O'Brien and Emily Culley prepare to build off personal-best performances two weeks ago, while Peyton Capes-Davis and Grace Blair continually look to contribute for the Gators.

UCF Invitational
The Gators will also send a handful of runners to compete at the UCF Knights Invitational in Orlando, as Florida will be joined by Bethune-Cookman, FIU, FAU, Jacksonville and UCF. The event will consist of the men's 8k race and women's 6k race.

The men's 8k race will feature Matt Bomkamp, Carson Lyttle, Jesse Millson, Caden Monk, Dominic Williams and Cavan Wilson. Wilson is coming off a personal-best performance at the Mountain Dew Invitational, while freshman Caden Monk will make his debut for the Gators on Friday.

The women's 6k race will feature Jackie Addy, Autumn Bartlett, Gianna Forte, Madison Morse and Sophie Piniella. Forte, Morse and Piniella all notched personal-bests at the MDI and look to continue to improve, as Jackie Addy will compete in her first race for the Gators on Friday.

UVA INVITATIONAL MEET INFORMATION:

Live Results: https://flashresults.com/2020_Meets/xc/Panorama/
Men's 8k Race: 9:30 a.m.
Women's 8k Race: 10:15 a.m.
Venue: Panorama Farms
Competing Teams: Bucknell, Butler, Charlotte, Elon, Florida, High point, Kentucky, Liberty, Michigan State, Norfolk State, Radford, Richmond, Virginia, Wake Forest, William & Mary, Winthrop, Wofford, Yale
UF Men Competing: Hugh Brittenham, Matt Clark, Nick Deal, Marshall Dillon, Trevor Foley, Jack Guyton, Blake Lowery, Colin Schaefer
UF Women Competing: Imogen Barrett, Elisabeth Bergh, Grace Blair, Payton Capes-Davis, Emily Culley, Maria Fernandez, Pamela O'Brien, Jessica Pascoe

UCF KNIGHTS INVITATIONAL MEET INFORMATION:

Women's 6k Race: 6 p.m.
Men's 8k Race: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: UCF Softball Complex
Competing Teams: Bethune-Cookman, FIU, Florida, FAU, Jacksonville, UCF
UF Women Competing: Jackie Addy, Autumn Bartlett, Gianna Forte, Madison Morse, Sophie Piniella
UF Men Competing: Matt Bomkamp, Carson Lyttle, Jesse Millson, Caden Monk, Dominic Williams, Cavan Wilson