Women's Cross Country

FSCJ's Chiang caps season with 8th place finish at NJCAAs

FSCJ's Mei Chiang finished eighth (photo courtesy of Steve Winterling)
FSCJ's Mei Chiang finished eighth (photo courtesy of Steve Winterling)

FORT DODGE, Iowa - Not even Old Man Winter could slow down Florida State College at Jacksonville's Mei Chiang.

Running in conditions that were the polar opposite of what she is accustomed to, the Manta Rays' freshman phenom still managed an eighth place finish to earn NJCAA First-team All-America honors with a time of 19:22.7.

Daytona State College's Brianna Crawford joined Chiang with All-America honors, finishing 24th. 

The NJCAA Cross Country Coaches' Association also awards All-America honors to the top 15 percent of runners, which included three additional FCSAA participants: Daytona State's Emma Turner (34th) and Kennedy Flores (47th) and Gulf Coast State College's Lauren Logue (44th).  

In the team standings, Daytona State earned a spot on the podium, tying Cowley (Kan.) College for third place with 220 points. 

Eastern Florida State College was next up from the FCSAA contingent in 16th. Gulf Coast State finished 19th followed by Pasco-Hernando State College (23rd), Lake-Sumter State College (29th), South Florida State College (36th), FSCJ (39th), Florida Gateway College (40th) and Tallahassee State College (42nd). 

Division I Women

Seminole State College was the FCSAA's lone team running in the DI race, and the Raiders placed 25th. 

Rachel Horsford was the top finisher for Seminole State, completing the 5K race in a time of 22:07.3. 

Half Marathon

Four teams ran the half marathon, paced by Daytona State, who placed 11th. Turner was the top runner, placing 34th with a time of 1:30:21.7. 

Eastern Florida State, South Florida State and Pasco-Hernando State placed 19th through 21st, respectively.