Sept. 30, 2006

PENSACOLA, Fla. - In a prelude to the NCAA Division II National Championships on November 18, West Florida and 19 other men's and women's cross country teams got a taste of what the course will look like today at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. Both of West Florida's men's and women's teams made statements, with the women finishing in third out of 10 in the 6K race, and the men finishing in fourth out of 11 in the 10K.

West Florida's men's team is ranked third in the south region. Their team time of 2:55:35 was just behind Florida Southern who finished at 2:54:40. The Mocs are ranked 19th nationally and second in the region. Northern Kentucky collected a time of 2:54:04 for second place. The seventh ranked team in the country, Harding, won the meet with a time of 2:49:24. The Bisons are ranked seventh in the NCAA II. The fourth ranked team in the region, Alabama-Huntsville, landed behind UWF in fifth with a time of 2:57:42. Tampa, who is fifth in the region clocked a time of 2:59:35.

The Argos were led by Michael Padilla (Pensacola, Fla. / Pine Forest HS) who finished fourth with a time of 33:30. Padilla's time is the eighth best 10K time in school history. Jordan Theurkauph (Wausau, Wisc.) ran well and crossed the line in ninth place with a time of 34:23. Brian Gowin (Pensacola, Fla. / Pine Forest HS) was 20th with a time of 35:24. Justin Dickieson (Crawfordville, Fla. / Godby HS) landed in 33rd with a time of 36:07. Eric Mayes (Pensacola, Fla. / South Florida) finished the race in 36th place with his time of 36:11. Craig Henry (Mary Esther, Fla. / Fort Walton Beach HS) broke the tape at 36:24, which was good for 40th, and Martin Vaughn (Lawrenceville, Ga. / Mill Creek HS) was 52nd with a time of 37:17.

West Florida's women's team is ranked third in the south region. Their team time of 1:58:42 edged both Alabama-Huntsville and Florida Southern. Alabama-Huntsville is ranked 25th in the country and third in the region. They finished fifth today with a time of 1:59:38. Florida Southern was fourth today behind a time of 1:59:30. The Mocs are ranked fifth in the region. Northern Kentucky was second with a time of 1:56:13, and Tampa won the meet with a time of 1:56:28. Tampa is ranked 16th in the country and second in the region.

Lauren Brooks (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake HS) paced UWF and crossed the line in 10th place with a time of 23:20. Diana Sitar (Las Vegas, Nev. / The Meadows School) was 19th with a time of 23:45. Jen Pulmano (Orange Park, Fla. / Clay HS) completed the race with a time of 23:46, which was good for 20th. Dawn Kane (Pensacola, Fla. / Pensacola HS) followed Sitar and Pulmano in 21st place with a time of 23:51. Jessica Spurgeon (Fayette, Mo. / Fayette HS) was 24th and crossed the finish line at 24:00. Amy Baird (Graysville, Tenn. / Soddy Daisy) and Rebecca Thielemann rounded out UWF's roster, with Baird finishing in 32nd (24:23) and Thielemann was 42nd (25:28).

West Florida competes at the Florida State Seminole Invitational next Saturday.