Men's Cross Country Takes on the Nation

The Falcon men's cross country team competes at the NJCAA Division II national championship this Saturday in Richmond, Virginia.  The 8000 meter race will be held at Pole Green Park, site of the 2021 NJCAA national race, where the Falcon men took runner-up, only 20 points out of the title.  That year, the Falcon line up included seven men from the state of Florida competing against international runners.  This year's men's team is ranked sixth in the latest national poll, but are in the hunt for a top three podium spot.

The squad is coming off an impressive Region 8 win where they took the top four spots and finished with a score of 18 points.  Evan Casterline took the individual title and was honored with FCSAA Runner of the Year.  He will be searching for one of the coveted top 15 All American slots.  He has been followed closely by sophomore Joel Jean who finished 12th at last year's national championship and earned All American.  Jean is primed and ready and could become Daytona State's third ever two time All American, behind Andy Martinez in 2020 and 2021 and Shannon Jones in 2022 and 2023.  

Casterline and Jean will be joined by sophomores Pedro Zapata and Zeniel Lizardo and freshmen Nick Pugh, Nathan Henning and Hayden Herndon to make up the squad of seven.  "I think any of the top six teams in this race could make the podium and we are not done yet. We have had a really solid season of training and if each guy goes out and gives it everything they have, we will bring home some hardware", commented Coach Judy Wilson. 

Results for the Men's 8k race at 10:30am is at https://blueridgetiming.live/meets/41820