GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Southern College men's track opened the Alachua County Sports and Event Center Invitational with strong performances in the mile and 3,000m. Senior Chris Colavita took first in the 3,000m while classmate Anthony Matthew placed second in the mile, but was the top NCAA Division II runner in the field.

Distance  
Colavita opened the action Friday as he and three others competed in the 3,000m. Colavita out-paced the field as he ran the second-fastest time in program history after crossing the line in 8:21.23. Just behind Colavita was sophomore Eli Zuppa who picked up a podium finish in second while posting the third-best time in program history at 8:21.44. Senior Christian Giller was the final member of the group to etch his name once again in the record book as he turned in the 10^th fastest time in program history at 8:28.15 while just missing out on the podium in fourth.
Matthew led the way in the mile as he was joined by four other Moccasins. The senior only fell to a runner from UNF as he placed second overall with the second-best time in program history at 4:07.38. He was just one-tenth of a second off the program record. Sophomore Andrew Nyland picked up the sixth-best mile time in program history as he placed fifth overall in 4:09.63.

Podium Finishes
- 3,000m — Chris Colavita, 8:21.23; Eli Zuppa, 8:21.44
- Mile — Anthony Matthew, 4:07.38

Florida Southern Results Summary
- 3,000m — Chris Colavita, 1st, 8:21.23; Eli Zuppa, 2nd, 8:21.44; Christian Giller, 4th, 8:28.15; Dillon Mantei, 12th, 9:06.84
- Mile — Anthony Matthew, 2nd, 4:07.38; Andrew Nyland, 5th, 4:09.63; Parker Graham, 17th, 4:26.02; Christian Giller, 18th, 4:31.54; Dillon Mantei, 24th, 4:39.41

Up Next
Florida Southern will return to action tomorrow, Jan. 24 on the final day of the ACSEC Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.