TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The duo of sophomore Ellie Fluman and freshman Emma Mussante led the Florida Southern College women's cross country team to a 20th-place finish at Friday's Florida State University XC Open six-kilometer race.

In her first race of the 2021 fall season, Fluman recorded a personal-record 6K time of 23.31.5, good enough for 106th place in a field of 290 total competitors. Mussante, who made her collegiate debut at Valdosta State's Border Clash on September 3, was only 15.6 seconds behind. The Middleburg, Florida, native came in 118th place with a time of 23:47.1.

Senior Sarah Zamot also logged a sub-24-minute 6K, as the former Sunshine State All-Conference honoree climbed the pack in the second half of the race. She improved at every 1,000-meter marker, jumping up 20 spots to 131st place between the 4K marker and the finish line.

As a team, the Mocs were sixth among the Division II teams in attendance behind No. 6-ranked Lee (Tenn.) (6th), Tampa (12th), Flagler (14th), Lynn (15th), and Alabama-Huntsville (19th). With 586 total points, Florida Southern edged SSC foes Nova Southeastern (21st) by seven points and Palm Beach Atlantic (23rd) by 26 points. The field also featured the top Division I team in the country, No. 1 BYU, and third-ranked Stanford.

Florida Southern Individual Results
106. Ellie Fluman – 23:31.5
118. Emma Mussante – 23:47.1
131. Sarah Zamot – 23:59.1
176. Marisa Kortright – 24:46.6
180. Alayna Goll – 24:53.8
192. Emery Roth – 25:11.7
197. Madison Santore – 25:16.0
202. Julia Svartstrom – 25:23.7
204. Carolina Titus – 25:25.4
207. Mya Stam – 25:31.7
213. Kaylee Padar – 25:44.3
233. Karah McElhone – 26:28.0
235. Emily Opalinski – 26:35.0
259. Sophie Barth – 27:48.4

Team Results
1. BYU – 24
2. Florida State – 51
3. Furman – 83
4. Southern Utah – 105
5. Stanford – 171
6. Lee (Tenn.) – 172
7. Clemson – 228
8. Miami (Fla.) – 252
9. Eastern Michigan – 283
10. Charleston Southern – 292
11. Auburn – 317
12. Tampa – 356
13. North Florida – 396
14. Flagler – 437
15. Lynn – 530
16. FIU – 536
17. Stetson – 548
18. South Florida – 560
19. Alabama-Huntsville – 579
20. Florida Southern – 586
21. Nova Southeastern – 594
22. Florida Atlantic – 602
23. Palm Beach Atlantic – 612
24. Florida Gulf Coast – 630
25. Valdosta State – 737
26. Georgia Southern – 745
27. West Florida – 825
28. Pasco-Hernando State – 908
29. Florida A&M – 969

Up Next
Saint Leo hosts the Division II National Preview on Saturday, October 2, at the Abbey Golf Course. The race is the first glimpse of the South Region and NCAA Championships, both of which will be hosted by the Lions in November.