CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Florida Southern men's cross country team continued its strong start to the 2022 season with a fifth place finish at the Royals Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte, N.C. The Mocs defeated nine NCAA Division I programs in the race and were third among NCAA Division II programs. Eight of the 10 Moccasins harriers posted personal bests in the race as junior Owen Allen led the way for the second time this season.
 
Allen, who had not competed since 2019 entering this season, posted his second-straight personal best as he shaved nearly 50 seconds off his previous best. The Key West, Fla. product finished 13^th overall in the crowded field with a time of 24:50.3.
 
Junior Bryson Yamnitz finished just outside the top-25 as he took 26^th overall after crossing the line in a personal best time of 25:13.0. He shaved 35 seconds off his previous best. Senior Alex Guy and freshman Anthony Matthew crossed the line 34^th and 35^th, respectively. Guy lowered his PR by nearly 23 seconds to 25:20.9. Matthew, who now has three collegiate races under his belt, crossed the line in 25:21.3, 49 seconds faster than his previous top time.
 
Rounding out the scoring five was freshman Caleb Brady who finished 50^th overall after taking nearly a minute and a half off his previous best time. He stopped the clock at 25:40.0. Senior Brady Zimmerman was the next Moc to cross the line as he turned in a time of 25:59.9 to place 66^th overall.
 
Freshman Nekhi Perry was another Moc who earned a new PR in the race as he took over 24 seconds off his previous best time with a mark of 26:17.1. The time earned Perry 80^th overall. Sophomore Caden Kwiatkowski was the final Moccasin in the top-100 as he placed 85^th with a new PR of 26:21.7, 10 seconds better than his previous best.
 
The final two Mocs to cross the line were freshmen Chris Colavita (103^rd, 26:37.8) and Christian Giller (129^th, 27:08.5). Colavita took 11 seconds off his previous best time this season.
 
The Mocs finished with 128 total points to take fifth. Augusta took the overall team champiuonship with 74 points followed by NAIA member Milligan with 94 points. NCAA Division I program UNC Greensboro rounded out the top-three with 100 points. Fellow NCAA DII member Concord took fourth just ahead of the Mocs with 104 points.
 
FSC finished ahead of NCAA Division I programs Queens (226), Charlotte (336), College of Charleston (433), Winthrop (504), N.C. Central (646), N.C. A&T (647), Gardner-Webb (747), Presbyterian (769) and S.C. State (828).
 
Florida Southern will be back in action a week from today, Friday, Oct. 14, at the USF Invite in Tampa, Fla.