Daytona Beach, Fla. – After taking a week away from the course, both the Lake-Sumter State College men's and women's cross country teams were in action Friday in Daytona Beach.
Region 8 NJCAA has really come down to two teams battling for supremacy between Lake-Sumter and Daytona State College. The top 10 finishers among NJCAA runners in the men's race were made up of nine athletes from LSSC or DSC. Nicholas Atkinson came through the finish line first for the Lakehawks in a time of 28:23.7. Good enough for fourth place. Colton Berquist came in next with teammate Cooper Krug on his heals for eighth and ninth respectively. They were separated by just eight seconds in their time.
Jokyll Davis finished inside the top 15, crossing with a time of 29:32.2 for 13th. Zachary Paladino ended the day 17th in 30:04.9. As a team, the group came in second behind Daytona State among NJCAA programs and fifth among all 15 teams competing.
"Nicholas Atkinson ran a really gutsy race," said Head Coach Cristy Snellgroves. "He went out with the leaders and really persevered. Cooper Krug really had a strong showing at this distance, his strength really benefitting him on this hilly course. I was really happy to see where they have improved since our last meet, but more excited to see where they are going as a group."
The women's team posted one of their best finishes as a group in program history, coming in second among NJCAA competitors and seventh between all 11 institutions. Kyja Williams was the top runner for the Lakehawks, crossing the finish line in third place with a time of 21:33.3. Erica Bunk ran just outside the top 10, coming in 11th, at 23:55.4.
Stacey Clark, Alexis Doll and Meridith Richemond rounded out the top five runners for LSSC and all ended inside the top 20 of NJCAA runners. "The hill training we have been doing paid off in this race," Snellgroves said. "The course was difficult! The girls are making improvements individually and as a team. Our top three finishers have gotten faster every meet, along with Meridith Richemond who knocked four minutes off her time since the first meet! They are putting in the work and I am glad they are seeing the rewards of that."
With only two meets remaining before regionals, the teams will head to Orlando Friday for the UCF Invitational.