LAKELAND, Fla. — The Florida Southern College women's track team opened up action at the Fire Invitational in Lakeland, Fla. Friday night. The Moccasins competed in two events, including the 1,500m and 5,000m, while posting nine top-10 finishes. Freshman Sindy Moncada led the way with a victory in the 5,000m while sophomore Nika Gividen paced the 1,500m group with a second-place showing.

Mid-Distance  
Gividen led a group of six Moccasins in the 1,500m as she placed second overall after completing the distance in 4:48.61. Just two spots back was the trio of sophomore Heloise Pinto, freshman Reagan Chambless and senior Rachel Hockenberry who went back-to-back-to-back in fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Pinto stopped the clock at 4:49.88 while Chambless came across in 4:50.41. Hockenberry rounded out the group at 4:53.11. The final two Mocs on the track were junior Kira Mothershed and senior Caitlin Beery who took 11^th and 14^th overall, respectively. Mothershed crossed the finish in 5:04.24 while Beery posted a time of 5:08.21.

Distance  
Moncada led the way in 5,000m as she led a group of six Mocs. Moncada topped the field after crossing the finish in 19:17.08. Sophomore Alena Pezzoli picked up a podium finish as she took third in 19:52.57. Junior Ashley Girouard came across two spots back in fifth with a time of 20:12.15 while sophomore Kira Casane came in two spots behind Girouard in seventh. Casane turned in a time of 20:25.79. The final two Moccasins were freshman Addison Sharp and redshirt freshman Mackenzie Toms who placed ninth and 11^th, respectively. Sharp crossed the line in 20:43.24 while Toms stopped the clock at 22:06.45.

Podiums Finishes
- 1500 Meters — Nika Gividen, 4:48.61.
- 5000 Meters — Sindy Moncada, 19:17.08; Alena Pezzoli, 19:52.57.

Florida Southern Results Summary
- 1500 Meters — 2nd: Nika Gividen, 4:48.61; 4th: Heloise Pinto, 4:49.88; 5th: Reagan Chambless, 4:50.41; 6th: Rachel Hockenberry, 4:53.11; 11th: Kira Mothershed, 5:04.24; 14th: Caitlin Beery, 5:08.21
- 5000 Meters — 1st: Sindy Moncada, 19:17.08; 3rd: Alena Pezzoli, 19:52.57; 5th: Ashley Girouard, 20:12.15; 7th: Kira Casane, 20:25.79; 9th: Addison Sharp, 20:43.24; 11th: Mackenzie Toms, 22:06.45

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