BOCA RATON, Fla. – FThe Florida Atlantic men’s and women’s cross country contingent returns for another race in Tallahassee Friday morning, taking part in the FSU XC Invitational to wrap up the regular season portion of the 2026 season.
 
The Owls competed last on Sept. 18 on this very same course, Apalachee Regional Park, in the same distances and start times as are scheduled for Friday: the men’s 8K at 7:40 a.m. and women’s 6K at 8:20 a.m. Both that previous meet and Friday’s are in preparation for the upcoming 2026 NCAA South Regionals, set for Nov. 13 again in Tallahassee.
 
LAST TIME OUT
At the aforementioned meet, the Pre-Regionals, Kate Drummond crossed the line first for the women, 10th overall with a new personal best time of 21:39.2. That ranks sixth all-time in program history. The women’s team finished fourth, just 11 points out of third place. Coming in behind Drummond were Teegan Anderson and Ellis Vaughan, just a second apart – 22:40.6 and 22:41.9, respectively.
 
The men were paced for the second time in as many races by freshman Carter Dieterich, coming across the line in his first 8K in a time of 26.25.8. Noah Highsmith (27:18.8) and Noah Curfman (27:42.8) rounded out the men’s top three.
 
THIS TIME OUT
There will be 16 Owls set to toe the start line on Friday morning:
 
Women’s runners (9) – Reese Anderson (Jr.), Madison Brown (Jr.), Gaby Castro (Fr.), Sophie Dethier (So.), Drummond (Gr.), Evie Lebrun (Fr.), Morgan Pennington (So.), Anabell Reumann (Gr.), Vaughan (So.)
 
Men’s runners (7) – Timothy Brannon (Fr.), Joseph Coyle (Sr.), Curfman (Jr.), Dieterich (Fr.), Highsmith (Sr.), Zachary Loftis (Fr.), Donovan Petty (Jr.)
 
Teams scheduled to race on Friday are:




Men’s and Women’s


Alabama State
Valdosta State


Daytona State College
West Florida


Eastern Florida



Embry-Riddle
Men’s only


Flagler
Florida College


Florida Atlantic
Troy


Florida State
USSU


Jacksonville State



Lake-Sumter State
Women’s only


Loyola-New Orleans
Albany State


Mobile
Florida A&M


North Alabama
Gulf Coast State College


Tampa
Jacksonville


Thomas (Ga.)
Troy



UCF

NEXT TIME OUT
In between Friday’s trip to Tallahassee and the NCAA South Regionals on Nov. 13 is the 2026 American Conference Cross Country Championships, hosted by Tulane at Lake Oaks Park in New Orleans, on Oct. 31.
 
FOLLOW THE OWLS

For complete coverage of FAU cross country and track & field, follow the program on social media @FAUXCTF.
 
#WIP