Gators Start Season Strong in Florida Intercollegiate Invitational
Friday, August 29, 2025

Gators Start Season Strong in Florida Intercollegiate Invitational

Maleah Morales
Florida Cross Country kicks off season with standout individual performances and solid team results.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Florida Gators Men's and Women's Cross Country opened their season in a successful stint at the Florida Intercollegiate Invitational in Jacksonville on Friday. The Gator women clinched a first place finish in the 5k, as the men took home second place overall in the 8k. 

Desma Chepkoech marked an impressive collegiate debut, taking first place in the women's 5k with a time of 17:00.2. Reagan Gilmore followed closely in second at 17:00.4, while Caroline Wells rounded out the top three with a time of 17:03.1, giving the Gators a sweep of the top three spots. Breanna Stuart (9) and Kate Drummond (11) completed Florida's top five, contributing to a total of just 26 team points. 

Jonathan Leon led the Florida men's team, finishing first for the Gators in the men's 8k with a time of 24:55.7, earning him fourth place overall. Josh Ruiz followed closely behind, taking fifth at 24:55.8. Florida's men finished with a total of 54 team points, aided by strong performances from Riley Novack (7), Graham Myers (16), Gavin Nelson (33), and Alejandro de Bastos (34), securing a second-place team finish overall.

NEXT UP
The Gators return to action in Columbia, Mo. on Sept, 26th to take on the Gans Creek Classic for their second meet of the regular season. 

RESULTS
 
Men - 2nd (54 points) Women - 1st (26 points)
Place Name Time Place Name Time
4 (4) Jonathan Leon 24:55.7 1 (1) Desma Chepkoech 17:00.2
5 (5) Josh Ruiz 24:55.8 2 (2) Reagan Gilmore 17:00.4
7 (7) Riley Novack 25:02.8 3 (3) Caroline Wells 17:03.1
16 (13) Graham Myers 25:19.1 9 (9) Breanna Stuart 17:53.9
33 (25) Gavin Nelson 25:55.5 11 (11) Kate Drummond 18:04.1
34 (26) Alejandro de Bastos 26:00.7














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