ORLANDO - The UCF cross country team is preparing for action as they await the start of the 2024 season. The Knights are heading into their second season in the Big 12 with assistant coach Bryan Harmon set for his second year leading the distance squad. The Knights are looking to build upon their 11th-place conference finish in 2023, a feat that appears feasible with the efforts of several returning athletes from last season's accomplished team.
Among the returning athletes is junior Isabella Richardson, a force last season who put up a personal best in the 6k and the program's 6th fastest time (20:38.9) at the NCAA South Regional Championships. The New Zealand native is back for her third year with the team and represented UCF in all five meets during the 2023 cross country season.
Joining Richardson for a third season is fellow junior Penelope Sosa. Sosa clocked a personal-best 21:08.5 last season in the 6k (11th fastest in program history) at the NCAA South Regional Championships. Sosa notably competed in all five meets alongside Richardson during the 2023 season.
Bringing the competition even closer to home are teammates Paige and Riley Jaszczak. Coming back for their third season, the twins are looking to have a strong start to the season, reminiscent of their opening performances last year. Jaszczak opened last season with a 17th-place finish at the Florida Atlantic Invitational with an 18:54.9. Her sister Riley was just ahead of her finishing 16th overall with an 18:54.8.
Sophomores Abby Clements and Karin Dobiasch are preparing for their second season with the team after giving respectable performances in their debut season. Clements gave a stand-out performance at the program’s inaugural Big 12 Cross Country Championships, placing 89th. German native Karin Dobiasch had a personal-best 22:20.6 in the 6k at the Arturo Barrios Invitational (10/13) in her singular appearance during the 2023 cross country season.
Like Dobiasch, junior Kendall Hughes similarly secured a personal best (22:51.2) at the Arturo Barrios Invitational. After competing in three out of five meets last season, Hughes is back for her third year with the Knights. Junior Andrea Ballestero competed in the Florida Atlantic Invitational last year, placing 66th, and is back for a third year hoping to break her personal best of 18:28 in the 5k.
The team as a unit had a strong start for their premier year in the Big 12 Conference. The Knights cross country team had an impressive finish at the 2023 Florida Atlantic Invitational, placing 2nd overall. Furthermore, the team had an impressive finish to the 2023 season with three returning athletes running personal bests in the NCAA South Regional Championships. The Knights are looking to continue this momentum into the 2024 season.
The season-opener will see the Knights on their home turf for the first time since 2022 with the UCF Cross Country Invitational on Friday, August 30. The women’s 5k will begin at 6:15 p.m.