Alise Petrova sets the pace for FGCU women in Tallahassee cross country meet
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- Late charges by Alise Petrova and Rhyen Foley helped the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles to a sixth-place finish at the FSU Pre-Regional in Tallahassee on Sept. 18.
The Eagles put together a consistent effort, starting the race in seventh after the first 1000m and moving up into the top five after 2000m, before seeing themselves sixth at the midway point and holding that spot for the final half of the race to turn in a sixth-place finish.
“I felt like we crushed the first 6k of the season” FGCU head coach Argeo Cruz said. “Alise led the pack, with the team close behind to secure 6th out of 28 teams. Rhyen stepped up big to help us score. It was a great day and gives us plenty of momentum to build on.”
Alise Petrova led the Eagles for the second straight race, finishing 17th overall. She sat 21st after 2000m before turning it on with her best split of the morning with a 3:11.8 to the 3000m mark to get into the top 20 before making one final push to finish 17th with a 22:05.2.
Freshman Rhyen Foley was next to the line for the Eagles with a blazing finish. She sat 50th after 2000m before turning on the afterburners and moving up 15 spots over the next 2000m before picking off four more competitors in the final sector to finish in the top 30 with a 22:28.5.
Addison Torres was third for FGCU, finishing 41st overall with a 22:51.2 with her best stretch coming between the 1000m and 2000m marks where she gained 16 places for the Eagles.
Tess Shultz and Juliana Courville were the final two point scorers for the Eagles, running close together most of the race before Shultz crossed the finish line in 64th with a 23:16.2 and Courville 70th with a 23:24.2.
Florida State dominated the field, taking home five of the top six places in the race to finish with just 17 points to win the event. Southern Miss was second, more than 100 points off the pace with 112, followed by Miami with 139, Florida Atlantic with 150, and Embry-Riddle with 155 ahead of the Eagles with 195.
Next up for the Eagles is the Nike Cross Country Town Twilight in Terre Haute, Ind. on Oct. 2 before returning to the Sunshine State for the Ed Holloway Classic in mid-October.
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