LAKELAND, Fla. — The Florida Southern College men's track team won two events including sweeping the podium in the 1,500m on the opening night of the Fire Invitational in Lakeland, Fla. The Moccasins competed in four events and tallied 11 top-10 finishes including eight in the top-five. Senior Chris Colavita and freshman Jack Girard led the way with individual victories. Colavita captured the 1,500m crown while Girard won the longest event of the weekend, the 10,000m.

Sprints  
Senior Luke Reeves opened the action for the Moccasins on Friday as he took 37^th overall in the 200m. The Mesa, Ariz., native posted the fifth-fastest time in program history as he crossed the line in 23.53.
 
Mid-Distance  
Colavita led the way Friday as the Moccasins swept the podium and placed six in the top-10 of the 1,500m. Colavita bested the field with a time of 3:52.99. Junior Cole Summers claimed second overall as he stopped the clock at 3:53.88 while sophomore Eli Zuppa rounded out the top-three with a mark of 3:54.33.
 
The next three Mocs across the line earned top-10 finishes as freshman Skyler Jensen claimed sixth after crossing the line in 4:03.04. Junior Cameron Raney came in two spots back in eighth after completing the distance in 4:05.04. The final member of the top-10 was sophomore Daniel Welling who took 10^th with a time of 4:08.41.
 
The final four Mocs in the event ranged from 12^th to 28^th. Sophomore Tyler Gaines led the group in 12^th at 4:08.96 while junior Declan Ziomek claimed 14^th at 4:10.63. Freshman Denny Olsen finished just inside the top-20 in 20^th after stopping the clock at 4:14.29. The final Moc on the track was freshman Zack Gunderson who placed 28^th in 4:23.47.

Distance  
Sophomore Joshua White and junior Nathan Holmes represented the Mocs in the 5,000m. White earned a podium finish with a second-place showing at 16:23.60. Holmes was just three spots back in fifth after crossing the line in 17:38.63.
 
Girard led a trio of Mocs in the 10,000m as he topped the field with a time of 31:22.72. Juniors William Canales and Trevor Cross finished back-to-back in fourth and fifth, respectively. Canales clocked in at 32:16.40 while Cross posted a time of 32:48.54.

Podiums Finishes
- 1500 Meters — Chris Colavita, 3:52.99; Cole Summers, 3:53.88; Eli Zuppa, 3:54.33.
- 5000 Meters — Joshua White, 16:32.60.
- 10000 Meters — Jack Girard, 31:22.72.
 
Florida Southern Results Summary
- 200 Meters — 37th: Luke Reeves, 23.53
- 1500 Meters — 1st: Chris Colavita, 3:52.99; 2nd: Cole Summers, 3:53.88; 3rd: Eli Zuppa, 3:54.33; 6th: Skyler Jensen, 4:03.04; 8th: Cameron Raney, 4:05.04; 10th: Daniel Welling, 4:08.41; 12th: Tyler Gaines, 4:08.96; 14th: Declan Ziomek, 4:10.63; 20th: Denny Olsen, 4:14.29; 28th: Zack Gunderson, 4:23.47
- 5000 Meters — 2nd: Joshua White, 16:23.60; 5th: Nathan Holmes, 17:38.63
- 10000 Meters — 1st: Jack Girard, 31:22.72; 4th: William Canales, 32:16.40; 5th: Trevor Cross, 32:48.54

Up Next
Florida Southern will return to action tomorrow, March 14 on the final day of the Fire Invitational.