On Friday, Oct 29th, the Daytona State College cross country program had a record setting day.  First, Andy Martinez broke his Region 8 record by 10 seconds with a time of 25:50 for 8,000 meters, leading the Falcon men to their third Region 8 Championship in four years.  The men's team placed seven runners in the top ten to score 21 points.  Lake Sumter was second with 57 points, Tallahassee Community College was third with 81 points, Seminole State College was fourth with 102 and Florida State College - Jacksonville was fifth with 110 points.   Falcons making the All Region team with Martinez was freshman Sebastian Hernandez, placing third in 26:33,  sophmore  Adolfo Castro who placed fourth with a time of 26:56,  freshman Christian Ruocco crossed the line 27:05 and Jerdary Ayala grabbed the last All Region spot placing seventh with a time of 27:11.   The men's team is ranked third nationally and their tight running pack could be a useful tool at the national meet on November 13th.  

 

On the women's side, Harleigh (Bilz) Crist repeated her title performance from 2020.  Crist ran the course in 19:37, almost 40 seconds faster than her 2020 outing.  Her time established a new Region 8 record puts her into contention for a top ten finish at the National Championships.   The Falcons placed two in the All Region category as freshman Juliet St Angelo joined Crist in the honor of All Region.  The Falcons were looking to repeat the team title from 2020, but Pasco Hernando proved to run stronger and took home to team award.  Falcons finishing out the squad were freshman Ayanna Fulton (16th, 22:28),  freshman Kennedy Arterburn (25th, 22:52), freshman Audrey Moros (27th,  22:52),  freshman Makayla Shores (30th, 23:01) sophomore Nathaly Abastida (32nd, 23:09)  and sophomore Angel Khrino (33rd, 23:09).

 

The Falcons final meet of the season is the NJCAA Division II National Championships, set Richmond, VA, at Pole Green Park on November 13th.