MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Florida Southern College men's cross country team punched its ticket to the 2023 NCAA Championships with a second place finish at the 2023 NCAA South Region Championship in Montevallo, Ala. The second place finish is the best for the Mocs since 2013 when they won the championship for the second-straight year. The trip to the NCAA Championship is the second under head coach Matt Levassiur and first for the program since 2018.
 
Sophomore Christian Giller led the way for the Moccasins, who placed all five of their scorers in the top-25. Giller took sixth overall after crossing the line in 30:29.7 on the 9.8K course. Senior Owen Allen came across 15^th overall while stopping the clock at 30:54.1 to put two FSC runners in the top-15. Sophomore Anthony Matthew came in four spots back in 19^th with a mark of 31:00.2.
 
The final two Moccasin scorers finished 22^nd and 23^rd, respectively, as sophomore Chris Colavita finished just ahead of junior Bryson Yamnitz. Colavita completed the 9.8K distance in 31:10.3 while Yamnitz came across in 31:12.1.
 
Graduate student Alex Guy finished just outside the scoring five as he placed 30^th overall while crossing the line in 31:32.1. Freshman Declan Ziomek was the final Moccasin finisher as he took 37^th overall with a mark of 31:57.5.
 
Senior Jan Lukas Becker of Mississippi College won the overall individual title while Lee took home the team championship. Lee finished with 45 points to best Florida Southern who compiled 85 points. Mississippi College rounded out the top-three just five points behind the Mocs with 90. UAH placed fourth at 99 points while Embry-Riddle took fifth overall as the second Sunshine State Conference team to complete the race.
 
The Moccasins will now begin preparation for the 2023 NCAA Championship which will take place Saturday, Nov. 18 in Joplin, Mo.