New College of Florida Men's and Women's Cross Country continued its season Friday evening at the Ed Holloway Classic, hosted by Florida Southern College at Holloway Park.
The Mighty Banyan men placed 11th in the 14-team field, finishing ahead of Florida Polytechnic University, Lake-Sumter State and Edward Waters. NCF recorded 281 points and an average time of 30:42 in the 8K.
NCF had four women complete the 6K and did not record a team score.
The meet featured NCAA Division I programs Florida Gulf Coast and Bethune-Cookman, along with NCAA Division II opponents Florida Southern, Tampa, Florida Tech, Flagler, Saint Leo, Eckerd and Barry.
MEN'S RECAP
Junior Cole Fleming led the Mighty Banyan men for the fourth consecutive race, placing 50th overall with a time of 29:49.47.
Fellow junior Bryce Blalock was NCF's second finisher, crossing the line in 30:20.49 to place 59th.
Freshman Keith Smith Jr. followed in 66th with a time of 30:54.38, while freshman Jaxon Alonso finished just over eight seconds later in 31:02.50 to place 67th.
Sophomore Alex Llanos completed NCF's five-runner scoring lineup, placing 71st in 31:19.62.
Sophomore Pierce Mihailoff finished 92nd with a time of 34:00.60, while freshman Jackson Smith rounded out the Mighty Banyan lineup in 36:29.41.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Freshman Rylie Yoachum led the NCF women for the first time this season, placing 56th overall with a time of 27:24.47. Yoachum lowered her previous 6K time by more than 31 seconds.
Sophomore Arianna Childs followed in 65th, completing the course in 28:35.39.
Sophomore Abigail Retberg finished 76th with a time of 31:55.97, while freshman Eliza Larramendi-Cruz rounded out the NCF contingent in 82nd at 33:05.09.
BY THE NUMBERS
11: Mighty Banyans completed Friday's races.
7: NCF men contributed to the team's 11th-place finish.
1:30.15: Time separating the five scoring runners in the men's race.
31.13: Seconds Yoachum cut from her previous 6K time.
8.12: Seconds separating Smith Jr. and Alonso at the finish line.
UP NEXT: New College of Florida will conclude its regular season next Friday, Oct. 23, at the Coker Cobras XC Invitational hosted by Coker University.
