TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Fresh off a positive showing at the Embry-Riddle Cross Country Classic two weeks ago, Bethune-Cookman Cross Country travels to Tallahassee, Florida this weekend for the FSU Cross Country Invite taking place at Apalachee Regional Park on Friday, September 26. The men's 8K race begins at 7:40 a.m., with the women's 6K happening at 8:20 a.m.
 
Parking and admission will be free for the FSU XC Invite. There will also be live timing available by clicking here. All fans can also access live video through the FSU Seminoles YouTube Channel by clicking here.
 
FSU XC Invite Preview
 
Friday, September 26
 
Men's 8K | 7:40 a.m. | Course Map
 
Women's 6K | 8:20 a.m. | Course Map
 
Live Results | Live Video
 
Last Time Out
 
Bethune-Cookman Men's Cross Country gathered a fourth place finish, while the women's team ran strong in the only local race of the 2025 campaign, with the Wildcats taking part in the Embry-Riddle Cross Country Classic held on the campus of ERAU in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Andrew Kiplagat scored his second win of the fall Saturday, as the native of Chenara, Kenya crossed the finish line in a winning time of 25:34.2. For the sophomore, he was almost 30 seconds ahead of second place finisher Nick Scarangelli (26:06.8) of the host Embry-Riddle Eagles. Crossing in a top five finish for the Wildcats was senior Victor Kibet with a time of 26:46.4, allowing him to take home fifth overall in the race. Kibet, the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) individual champion from a season ago, claimed his first top five time of the young season in the process.
 
As a team, B-CU finished with 114 points, and tallied a fourth place finish.
 
Also competing on the men's side for the Maroon and Gold were Majet Bethely (29:56.1) and Gerrard Griffin (29:59.4) going back-to-back in 37th and 38th, respectfully. Andre Sewell finished with a time of 31:03.5, while teammate Dashon Gill (31:22.3) was just two runners behind Sewell. Dashawn Buist (32:06.8), Jalen Jackson (32:45.1) and Cristian Mitchell (32:59.9) rounded out the participating Wildcats on the men's side.
 
In the women's event, just four Wildcats took part Saturday morning in the 5K race, with the Wildcats not factoring into the team points in the end. It was Valencia Butler, a senior from Augusta, Georgia, leading the group with a mark of 22:01.8 overall, and allowing her to finish 21st in the field of 63, respectfully.
 
Shelvany Goin was the second-fastest Wildcat with a time of 24:14.9. Meanwhile, senior runner Morgan Middleton (24:35.8) and sophomore Jamariya Robinson (25:27.8) closed out the four Maroon and Gold student-athletes on the day.
 
The Field at the FSU XC Invite
 
The field for this year's FSU XC Invite will feature over 20 schools from the following: Alabama State, Albany State, Auburn-Montgomery, Ave Maria, Barry, Bethune-Cookman, Dalton State, Daytona State, Eastern Florida, FIU, Flagler, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Gulf Coast State, Jacksonville, LSU, Lake-Sumter State, Miami (Fla.), Mobile, New College of Florida, North Florida, Nova Southeastern, Pasco-Hernando State, SCAD-Savannah, Samford, Seminole State, South Florida, South Florida State College, Southeastern University, Southern Miss, St. Thomas (Fla.), Stetson, Tallahassee CC, Tampa, Taylor, UT Southern, Valdosta State and West Florida.
 
The Course
 
Apalachee Regional Park will host the World Cross Country Athletic Championships in 2026, marking the first time an American city has hosted the event since 1992, when the championships were held in Boston. his multi-use park includes one of the nation's few sites designed specifically for cross country running. This trail is a pristine, multi-surface course that hosts small and large running events. The facility features numerous course and distance options through the rolling hills, lowlands, and pine forests. The trail was designed to give runners the opportunity to run on several types of surfaces.
 
Last Time at the FSU XC Invite
 
The Wildcats wrap up the FSU XC Invitational, Friday morning in Tallahassee. The men finished ninth overall.

Victor Kibet once again led the Wildcats with a 23rd place finish out 107 runners. He has shown impressive performances for the Cats throughout the season including last week's third place finish at the Ave Maria Invitational. The hosts of Florida State took first place on the men's side finishing with 41 points, followed by LSU with 49, Jacksonville State with 49, South Florida with 119, Troy with 144, West Georgia with 167, Auburn Montgomery with 171, Florida Atlantic with 216, Bethune-Cookman with 256, Alabama State with 306, and Tuskegee with 330. 

On the women's side, Valencia Butler finished 94th out of 162 runners and led the Cats with a 20:44.9 finish. Louisiana State took first place with 17 points, followed by hosts Florida State with 52, Florida Atlantic with 81, South Florida with 122, Jacksonville State with 134, Troy with 186, Alabama State with 218, Florida A&M with 244, West Georgia with 246, Auburn Montgomery with 292, Tuskegee with 346, Albany State with 360, Gulf Coast State College with 383, Tallahassee CC with 465, and Chipola College with 500.
 
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