HUNTSVILLE, Fla. (Cross Country) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) cross country teams competed at the 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Men's & Women's Cross Country Championships over the weekend in Huntsville, Ala. at John Hunt Park. On a cool, overcast afternoon in northern Alabama, the Lakehawks took advantage with nine of the 14 competing recording new personal records (PR) and two season-bests.
The men ran first at 3:30 p.m. with Caleb Melendez, Dylan Royal, and Lash Bradshaw leading the charge as a pack throughout the race. Melendez picked up 19 spots in the back half the race to be the top-finishing Lakehawk and post season-best 8,000-meter (8K) time of 27:18.7.
Royal and Bradshaw finished close to Melendez both recording PRs under the 28-minute mark after beginning the 2023 season around the 30-minute mark.
Connor Parrish, Logan Shaw, Rosendo Manuel Tovar, and Joshua Cargill finished not far behind the top-three. Parrish, Tovar, and Cargill all with new posted PRs.
The women's race followed at 4:30 p.m. Demaris Soto and Lily Novac led the Lakehawks in the final race as they have the entire season.
Soto crossed the finish line first for the Lakehawks crushing her previous PR by nearly 90 seconds. Novac finished a few steps behind Soto, recording a season-best for her final race as a Lakehawk.
Emma Santiago finished third for the team, just two seconds off of her PR time.
Victoria Silva and Carley Carrol finished one second apart from one another both crushing their previous PR times. Silva and Carrol both posted PR's nearly two minutes faster than their previous times.
Carrol's 27:51.3 finish is the first of the sophomore's two seasons as a Lakehawk to break 30 minutes.
Rubiana Novac and Madeleine McKenna rounded out the Lakehawk's 2023 campaign finishing the race 40 seconds from one another. R. Novac recorded her second consecutive PR to end the season.
Head coach Cristy Snellgroves shared some bittersweet thoughts about 2023 season coming to a close, "This team has become so close and pushed each other all season. We are so honored to coach them and celebrate their achievements with them.
"We had nine PRs and one season best, with the remaining athletes coming within a minute of their best times. We are so happy for each of them and excited for their future on and off the course," said Coach Snellgroves.
Final Results – Men
Caleb Melendez, 27:18.7
Dylan Royal, 27:27.1 (PR)
Lash Bradshaw, 27:31.7 (PR)
Connor Parrish, 28:52.3 (PR)
Logan Shaw, 31:41.8
Rosendo Manuel Tovar, 32:25.1 (PR)
Joshua Cargill, 34:03.5 (PR)
Final Results – Women (5K)
Demaris Soto, 23:24.0 (PR)
Lily Novac, 23:31.6
Emma Santiago, 25:35.2
Victoria Silva, 27:50.8 (PR)
Carley Carrol, 27:51.3 (PR)
Rubianna Novac, 28:16.0 (PR)
Madeleine McKenna, 29:26.8
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