Three Conquistadors qualify for NAIA Nationals following CAC Championship. (Nov. 03, 2023)
(Results)
LAWRENCE, Kan. ( Nov. 3, 2023) – Florida National University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams ended the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Championship third out of six teams with three runners qualifying for NAIA Nationals on Nov. 17.
The women’s 6K started at 9:30 a.m. CST and FNU’s Christina Adams had a top ten finish to lead all FNU runners and secure her spot at the NAIA Championship. Adams placed sixth with a time of 24:08.9. Notably, Daryl Quichimbo punched her ticket to Nationals with a tenth-place finish and a time of 25:38.1. Quichimbo ran the third fastest 6K time in program history and Adams set the individual 6K record.
Seniors Hassell Zeledon and Heather Castro ended their meet 20th and 21st, respectively. As a team, FNU’s women set a new 6K team average en route to a third-place finish behind the College of the Ozarks and Haskell Indian Nations University.
The men’s 8K commenced at around 10:45 a.m. and FNU’s Kristian Bodden ran a top ten individual 8K performance and was the Conquistador’s lone qualifier for national with a fourth-place finish and a time of 27:59.8. Freshman Mario Martinez ended his breakout rookie season in 11th place after posting a time of 29:21.3. FNU’s men ended the Championships setting a new team average in the men’s 8K at 2:29:26.
Men’s Time:
Kristian Bodden- 4th (27:59.8)
Mario Martinez- 11th (29:21.3)
Leon Kipkoech- 20th (30:25.4)
Alessandro Herrera- 23rd (30:42.8)
Gabriel Rodriguez- 25th (30:57.6)
Michael Kipchumba- 30th (31:35.2)
Austin Phanitdasack- 35th (32:44.8)
Roger Guardiola- 38th (33:49.6)
Cristopher Carmenate- 46th (37:05.6)
Women’s Time:
Christina Adams- 6th (24:08.9)
Daryl Quichimbo- 10th (25:38.1)
Karol Padilla- 13th (26:16.8)
Hassell Zeledon- 20th (27:52.1)
Heather Castro- 21st (27:54.8)
Prisilla Gonzalez- 41st (31:50.6)
Up Next: FNU’s three qualifiers head to Vancouver, Wash., on November 17.
