Video By gatorzone.com

Both University of Florida cross country teams took advantage of a sunny Gainesville morning, a race on their home turf and hundreds of Orange and Blue-clad fans at UF’s Mark Bostick Golf Course Saturday as the Gators secured team victories at Florida’s 24th Annual Mountain Dew Invitational on both the men’s and women’s sides. Florida’s women turned in a perfect 15-point team score, claiming the top five finishes in the collegiate women’s/open race, while the Gator men’s team packed five scorers into the top 10 for the men’s overall title (28 points).

The women made it eight consecutive Mountain Dew Invite team titles, while the men took their seventh team victory in the last eight years at the home-hosted invitational. Following both collegiate/open races, nearly 50 local high school varsity and junior varsity squads took to the course for the boys and girls 5K events.

“It’s always great having the opportunity to compete at home,” assistant track and cross country coach Paul Spangler said. “It’s a chance for parents to come to Gainesville, for all fans to come out and support the Gators – and it’s also a chance for the Gators to show what we can do and what we’re capable of, while showcasing the high school races at the event as well. I have to thank Brian Barton, Andy Klock, Frank Caraway, Scott Hampton and their staffs for helping make today a success. Big thanks also to the Florida track and field staff, our student-athletes that came out for support, the officials and all staffers that collaborated to put on a first-class event.”  

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