With both teams having wins under their belts, UF's men's and women's cross country squads are hoping to finish strong against nationally ranked teams at the Notre Dame Invitational, which begins today at 4:15 p.m.
The No. 15 women's team will face the defending national champions, No. 1 Washington, along with No. 3 Florida State and seven other ranked teams during the 5K run.
"Washington is going to be there, and they have a lot of returners," junior Charlotte Browning said. "It will be very exciting to see how we will finish compared to all of the great teams who will be there this year."
Browning, who finished first in UF's meet on Sept. 18, said she is more fit this season, and the women's team has been training hard for the tough competition it will face.
The unranked men's team, which finished tied for sixth last year at this event, will be facing eight ranked teams at the invitational on a five-mile course. The five teams that finished ahead of the Gators last year, along with Notre Dame, which tied with UF, advanced to the NCAA Championship. Florida did not.
Justin Taylor, who finished in 15th place last season at Notre Dame, said he hopes for the men's team to end up in the top three.
"We have a solid team who can get the job done," Taylor said. "I don't think finishing top-three is unreasonable. I think it is pretty doable."
Taylor did not compete in the Mountain Dew Invitational due to an Achilles tendon injury from last season that flared up a few days beforehand. He will compete in the five-mile course in South Bend, Ind.
Anthony Morales, who finished second at the Mountain Dew Invitational, said he was sick with the flu following the race. Morales credits the nasal-spray flu vaccine given to both teams for keeping the majority of the runners from becoming ill.
