Lakehawk Cross Country Takes Eighth at National Championship
The team was led by freshman Caleb Melendez
TALAHASSEE, Fla. (Cross Country) – The No. 8 Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) men's cross country team returned to Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. to compete in the 2022 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Cross Country Championships last weekend. The Lakehawks raced in a field of 226 athletes from 28 Division II schools across the country.
Headed into the weekend, the Lakehawks held a No. 10 national ranking. As a team, they posted an eighth-place finish with 237 points just one point shy of Daytona State.
Sophomore Colton Berquist took a strong lead for the Lakehawks to put himself in a competitive position for the race but unfavorable weather conditions took a toll on him and many other athletes on the humid November morning.
Freshman Caleb Melendez fought the elements well earning a 20th place finish with a 26:51.9, good for a 19 second personal record (PR). Melendez was the highest finishing Lakehawk, followed by sophomore Cooper Krug with a 24th place finish at 26:57.0.
Berquist was right behind his teammates posting a time of 27.47.0. Nikolas Gibson also ran a very strategic race moving up in the field consistently throughout with a strong 28.23.8 finish.
Head Coach Cristy Snellgroves reflected on the 2022 season saying, "I am very proud of these young men and how they have built a culture of success at LSSC. They have established core values of perseverance, dedication, and aspirations for success, inspiring each other to achieve unrealized potential.
"They continually lift each other up and hold each other to a high standard. Teams like these are what inspire coaches to coach," said Coach Snellgroves.
