Cougars Compete at Season Opener, Women Finish Ninth, Men Sixteenth
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The University of south Florida cross country teams launched their 2024 season at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis on Friday, with the women securing a ninth-place finish and the men placing sixteenth. The meet, held at Les bolstad Golf Course, provided a first look at the teams’ progress and sets the stage for continued competition throughout the fall.
The USF women’s team navigated the 5,000-meter course with strong performances led by senior Evie Tate, who finished 33rd with a time of 22:18.88. On the men’s side, the 4-mile race saw Bryson Canton clocking in at 20:48.37, leading the Bulls. The event offered valuable racing experience for both veteran athletes and promising newcomers as they build toward championship contention.Tate’s performance anchored the women’s scoring, followed closely by sophomore Julia DeCaro (22:28.39) and freshman Paige Scruggs (22:34.44). Additional personal bests were achieved by Guta buta (22:38.43) and Dylan Saur (22:41.26), showcasing the team’s depth and potential. For the men, parker Hahn finished alongside canton at 20:49.53, achieving a personal record. Hunter Hart (20:56.03) and Jace Cofer (21:13.75) completed the scoring for the men’s team.
The Cougars will continue their season on Friday, september 19, returning to action at the Roy Griak Invitational in St.Paul, Minnesota. Both the men’s and women’s teams will compete at Les Bolstad Golf Course. Fans can stay connected with USF Cross Country by downloading the USF Cougars app and following the team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or by subscribing to the Weekly Newsletter on the USF Athletics website.
