ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Southern College women's track team traveled to Orlando, Fla. Friday night for the opening day of the Black and Gold Challenge hosted by UCF. Junior Grace Reed led the way as she posted the second-fastest 1,500m time in program history as she was the lone non-Division I runner to finish inside the top-25 Friday.

Mid-Distance  
Reed had an outstanding race Friday night as she placed 20^th overall with a time of 4:34.90. Sophomore Nika Gividen finished 10 spots back in 30^th as she was the third non-DI runner to cross the finish. Her time of 4:45.80 ranks as the eighth-fastest in program history. The final Moccasin in the 1,500m Invite was senior Caitlin Beery who placed 40^th after completing the distance in 4:56.57.

Distance  
A quartet of Mocs competed in the 5,000m as senior Rachel Hockenberry led the way with a third-place finish. She only fell to a runner from Louisville and another from Stetson. Hockenberry posted a time of 17:45.39, her best this season. Freshman Reagan Chambless and sophomore Heloise Pinto finished back-to-back in seventh and eighth, respectively. Chambless crossed the line in 18:04.34 while Pinto was right on her heels at 18:04.60. The final Moc in the event was junior Emma Pfeiffer who took 10^th while posting a time of 18:09.19.

Podiums Finishes
- 5000 Meters — Rachel Hockenberry, 17:45.39

Florida Southern Results Summary
- 1500 Meters — 20th: Grace Reed, 4:34.90; 30th: Nika Gividen, 4:45.80; 40th: Caitlin Beery, 4:56.57
- 5000 Meters — 3rd: Rachel Hockenberry, 17:45.39; 7th: Reagan Chambless, 18:04.34; 8th: Heloise Pinto, 18:04.60; 10th: Emma Pfeiffer, 18:09.19

Up Next
Florida Southern will return to action tomorrow, March 21 on the final day of the Black and Gold Challenge.