DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Florida Southern College men's track team sits in first place after day one of the 2026 Sunshine State Conference Outdoor Track Championships. The Moccasins competed in three of the eight events contested on Friday including the pair of finals, the 3,000m steeplechase and 10,000m. The Moccasins collected 10 points in the steeplechase after third, sixth and eighth-place finishes. The big point maker came in the 10K as the Moccasins swept the podium an took five of the top six spots for a total of 32 points.  

Mid-Distance  
Senior Anthony Matthew was the lone Moccasin to compete in the 800m prelims as he took fifth overall to earn a spot in the Saturday final. He turned in the fourth-best time this season for FSC at 1:53.47.

Distance  
The Moccasins picked up their first points of the day in the 3,000m steeplechase. Freshman Parker Graham set a new Freshman Record for FSC as he took third overall Friday earning six points for the Mocs. The rookie crossed the finish in 9:28.11 which is the eighth-best all-time performance at FSC and the best by a freshman. Senior Caleb Brady was the next Moc across the finish as he placed sixth to score three points for FSC. He posted the 10^th-best time in program history at 9:34.52. The final scorer for FSC was junior Dillon Mantei who claimed the final scoring spot in eighth to secure a point for the team total. He was able to stop the clock at 9:47.89. Sophomore Tyler Gaines (10^th, 9:49.90) and junior Declan Ziomek (11^th, 10:02.55) just missed out on the top eight.
After not competing in the 10,000m at last year's championship, senior Chris Colavita is the 2026 SSC 10K Champion after besting the field in 30:45.74. The performance earned 10 points toward the team total. Junior Cole Summers, who took third last season, moved up one spot into second as he finished just under five seconds later at 30:50.07 to score eight crucial points. Sophomore Eli Zuppa, who just missed the podium last season in fourth, also moved up one spot as he claimed third in 30:52.59 and six team points. Junior Michael Toppi, who is competing in his first SSC Championship, just missed the podium in fourth after completing the distance in 30:53.71. Freshman Jack Girard came in two spots back in sixth to round out the Moccasin entrants. Girard stopped the clock at 31:37.47. The pair of Toppi and Girard scored a total of eight points for the Mocs.
Team Scoring
Florida Southern leads the team race after day one with 42 points. The University of Tampa sits in second with 25 points. Florida Tech rounds out the top three with five points while Palm Beach Atlantic sits one point behind with four. The final team with points is Embry-Riddle in fifth with two.   

Podiums Finishes
- 3000 Meters Steeplechase — Parker Graham, 9:28.11
- 10000 Meters — Chris Colavita, 30:45.74; Cole Summers, 30:50.07; Eli Zuppa, 30:52.59

Florida Southern Results Summary
- 800 Meters (Prelim) — 5th: Anthony Matthew, 1:53.47
- 3000 Meters Steeplechase — 3rd: Parker Graham, 9:28.11; 6th: Caleb Brady, 9:34.52; 8th: Dillon Mantei, 9:47.89; 10th: Tyler Gaines, 9:49.90; 11th: Declan Ziomek, 10:02.55
- 10000 Meters — 1st: Chris Colavita, 30:45.74; 2nd: Cole Summers, 30:50.07; 3rd: Eli Zuppa, 30:52.59; 4th: Michael Toppi, 30:53.71; 6th: Jack Girard, 31:37.47

Up Next
Florida Southern will have entrants in five of the 10 events contested on the final day of the 2026 Sunshine State Conference Outdoor Track Championships including both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, 800m, 1500m, and 5000m.