Interview with Coach Smolka

Sept. 25, 2006

The Florida Atlantic University cross country team will participate in the FLRunners.com Invitational on Friday.

The meet, which will be held in Dade City, is the first for the Owls since a surprisingly strong showing in the Gator Invitational. The women placed fifth and the men finished 14th at the event.

Freshman Friederike Feil finished third in the women's event and was named Sun Belt Conference Runner of the Week for her efforts. Junior Trisha Doyle finished fifth at the meet. Those two performances were key in helping the Owls finish one point in front of both UNF and UCF, who tied for sixth.

Head cross country coach Alex Smolka has his team ready for the meet.

"For the women, it's a preparation race, We're going to work hard throughout the week and run as hard as we can on Friday. It's more of a speed session for the men because it's only a 5K race and the men usually run an 8K race."

The men finished 14th at the Gator Invitational, a good showing in spite of the fact that it was the first competitive 8K ever for three members of the team. Earl Barlow was the high finisher for the Owls, completing the race in 28:06.18, good for 71st among eligible competitors.

The collegiate portion of the FLrunners.com Invitational begins at 5:40 p.m. with the women's race followed by the men's race at 6:00 p.m.