ORLANDO - The UCF cross country team returns to action Friday morning, making the trip to Tallahassee to race in the FSU Cross Country Invite/Pre-Nationals meet.
The Knights are one of 36 Division I programs that will race in a stacked Garnet 6K at 8:30 a.m. in Apalachee Regional Park. All 36 teams are ranked in the top 15 in their respective regions. Ten of the teams that UCF will race against are ranked in the latest USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll, with eight additional teams receiving votes.
In the last outing, the Black and Gold captured the team title at the UCF Invite on Oct. 1, marking the third straight season that UCF defended its home course. Five Knights finished in the top 15, and eight placed in the top 25 of the 2.9 mile race.
Valerie Lastra led the Knights, taking fifth in 16:57.1. Kambry Smith finished just behind her in sixth with a time of 16:57.9.
Lillian Holtery and Charlotte Crook came in 11th and 12th, respectively. Mariana Rodriguez led a trio of Knights across the line as she finished 14th, followed by Alexandra Del Re in 15th, and Isabella Babilonia in 16th.
The Knights checked in at 15th in the USTFCCCA South Region Week 4 rankings. The Black and Gold made their debut in the first week of regional rankings, landing at No. 13 on Sept. 13 and have stayed in the top 15 in all four weeks of polls.
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