JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- The Jacksonville University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams competed at the Royals Cross Country Challenge on Friday evening. Both teams embraced the challenge of racing in a highly competitive field, using the event to fine-tune their preparation for the upcoming championship meets.

Women's 5K Recap:

Leading the way for the JU women's team was Madeline Weiler, who crossed the line in 19:01.27, earning 65th place. Alexis Holmes and Jordan Dix followed closely, finishing 72nd and 78th, respectively. The Dolphins packed well together, setting a strong foundation as they head toward their conference meet.

Men's 8K Recap:

For the men's team, Thomas Hellenbrand had a standout performance, finishing 71st with a time of 25:49.01, which places him #5 on JU's all-time 8K list. Victor Farfan finished second for JU in 94th place. The men finished 11th overall, showing strong depth with a tight pack of runners finishing behind Hellenbrand.

Coach's Perspective:

Reflecting on the day, head coach said, "It was a good day overall. This season has been very hectic, but the team fought through adversity well and came away rewarded. The women's team ran as a strong pack, and took a big step in the right direction before conference. The men also ran great. Thomas Hellenbrand is now #5 on the JU 8k all-time list. It was great to see a flood of Dolphins behind him. Our most important race is in 3 weeks, and there is still a good bit of work to do, but the timeline is manageable."

Up Next

With the conference championship just three weeks away, the JU cross country teams are focused on building momentum and fine-tuning their performance. Both teams showed they are heading in the right direction, with room to continue improving in the lead-up to their most critical race of the season. To view results from the race click here.