FSU XC Open: North Florida Women’s Cross Country Team Shines
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of North Florida (UNF) women’s cross country team showcased a strong performance at the FSU XC Open, securing a fourth-place finish out of 36 teams. This notable achievement included surpassing local rivals Miami and FIU during the event held at Apalachee Regional Park.
Key Performers
Leading the Ospreys was junior Annika Buser, who clocked in a personal best of 21:59.6 in the 6k race, placing her 20th overall. Buser demonstrated remarkable speed, making a significant leap from 28th to the top 20 after a strong 3k split of 3:14.3.
Ana Markovina, who also had an impressive showing earlier this season at the Florida Intercollegiate Cross Country Invitational, finished closely behind, taking 25th place with a time of 22:05.7. Markovina consistently maintained her position within the top 25 throughout the race.
Melissa Bentayeb contributed to the team’s strong showing as well, placing 28th overall with a time of 22:08.9. Other notable performances included Madeline Castillo in 38th at 22:29.9, and Ella Chandler finishing in 44th with a time of 22:37.3. Cohen Kooker and Jada Williams recorded times of 22:57.5 and 23:03.3, respectively.
Team Insights
Reflecting on the race, Director of Cross Country, Jeff Pigg, commented, “Overall, we had a tremendous weekend. We’ve been training hard for a month, and this meet was an opportunity to see where we’re at. Coach [Tyler] Stahl and I are very pleased with how we performed as a team.” He acknowledged that while the team is in good shape, there is ample time left in the season for further improvement.
Coach’s Perspective
Associate Head Cross Country Coach Tyler Stahl expressed satisfaction with the team dynamics: “The women did a nice job of establishing themselves towards the front of the pack early on and staying there.” He praised the performances of the top three finishers—Buser, Markovina, and Bentayeb—and acknowledged that the team collectively demonstrated strong cooperation throughout the race. “It’s encouraging to see how we have progressed over the past month,” Stahl added.
Official Results
- 20. Annika Buser – 21:59.6
- 25. Ana Markovina – 22:05.7
- 28. Melissa Bentayeb – 22:08.9
- 38. Madeline Castillo – 22:29.9
- 44. Ella Chandler – 22:37.3
- 63. Cohen Kooker – 22:57.5
- 74. Jada Williams – 23:03.3
- 90. Brooke Yates – 23:16.1
- 103. Lilly Schuster – 23:22.0
- 118. Laci Watford – 23:34.3
- 128. Ava Wyant – 23:48.7
- 140. Abigail Williams – 24:07.0
- 143. Sierra Barrera – 24:09.9
