The 2013 Wisconsin adidas Invitational marked the worst regular-season finish for both the Florida men’s and women’s cross country teams.
The Florida men and women both finished 22nd last year. The Gators will now head north to Wisconsin this weekend looking to improve on a disappointing 2013 finish.
Florida is going into Friday’s meet with a substantial amount of momentum. The men are coming off a second place finish at the Disney Cross Country Classic.
As for the women, they last ran on Oct. 4 where they finished eighth against a tough field at the Paul Short Invitational. Coach Paul Spangler knows that this will be one of the toughest tests of the season.
"For the athletes that have been there before, they know what it’s like," Spangler said.
"They know the amount of runners and amount of elite runners that will be there. It gives them an advantage going in, they know what to expect. So for the athletes that have been there it will be up to them to help out the younger athletes who have never been there before"
With seniors Jimmy Clark and Eddie Garcia officially being redshirted, the men’s team will look to fresh faces to lead the way this weekend. Freshmen Thomas Howell and William Decker will both run on Friday.
Thomas has been one of Florida’s most consistent runners, finishing no worse than 12th individually this season. After struggling earlier this year, sophomore Carlos Miranda may have found his stride following a fourth place individual finish at the Disney Classic this past weekend.
David Kilgore also will look to build off of his best finish of the year at Disney as he moves forward into Wisconsin and the postseason meets that are ahead.
As the women travel to Wisconsin, a freshman will be the story for Florida.
Lauren Brasure has been the top Gator in her last two meets. The team will look to her to lead the way at the race in Madison, Wis., just 200 miles from her home in Michigan.
"It’s been an incredible experience so far," she said. "I really enjoy my teammates and my coach. I came in with a hard work ethic and a pretty good background with my high school coach just teaching me to work hard."
Follow Ben Murphy on Twitter @B_murph4
David Kilgore races in the 2013 Pac-12 Cross Country Cahmpionships in Louisville, Colo.
