New College of Florida Men's and Women's Cross Country will return to competition Friday at the Ed Holloway Classic, hosted by Florida Southern College at Holloway Park in Lakeland, Florida.
The women's 6K will begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by the men's race at 6:15 p.m. The field will feature NCAA Division II Florida Southern, Barry and Eckerd, NCAA Division I Florida Gulf Coast and several other programs.
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RACE NOTES
BACK IN ACTION: The Mighty Banyans will compete for the first time since the Florida State XC Invitational on Sept. 18 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.
RETURN TO HOLLOWAY PARK: NCF returns to the Ed Holloway Classic after competing in the event during its inaugural 2025 season. Natheer Suied and Arianna Childs led the Mighty Banyans at last year's meet.
PROGRAM-BEST PACE: Both NCF teams recorded the fastest average team times in program history at the Florida State XC Invitational while competing against a field featuring several high-level NCAA Division I programs.
FLEMING OUT FRONT: Junior Cole Fleming has led the Mighty Banyan men throughout the season. Fleming won the Panther XC Invitational in his NCF debut, placed 12th in his first collegiate 8K at the Bobcat Invitational and helped NCF establish a program-best average team time at Florida State.
STRONG MEN'S PACK: Suied, Alex Llanos and Bryce Blalock have helped anchor NCF's scoring group this season. Suied placed third at the Panther XC Invitational before the trio finished 19th, 20th and 21st, respectively, at the Bobcat Invitational.
GOMEZ SETS THE PACE: Freshman Mireille Gomez has been the first Mighty Banyan woman across the finish line in each of her first three collegiate races. Gomez opened her career with a runner-up finish at the Panther XC Invitational, placed 13th in her first collegiate 6K at the Bobcat Invitational and helped NCF record its fastest average team time at Florida State.
CONSISTENT CONTRIBUTORS: Freshman Rylie Yoachum and sophomore Childs have provided depth for the NCF women throughout the season. Childs placed ninth at the Panther XC Invitational and 30th at the Bobcat Invitational, while Yoachum finished 24th and 26th, respectively.
PAST SUCCESS IN LAKELAND: Suied completed the 8K in 28:03 at last year's Ed Holloway Classic, finishing as the top NAIA runner in the field. Childs led the NCF women with a 6K time of 27:12. Both runners earned Sun Conference Runner of the Week honors following the meet.
UP NEXT: NCF will conclude its regular season Friday, Oct. 23, at the Coker Cobras XC Invitational hosted by Coker University.
