Gators Cross Country Faces Competitive Slate at Nuttycombe Invitational
Florida cross country will close out its regular season today at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin.
The meet features competition at the highest level for a sneak peak of championship season. The No. 13 Gators women’s cross country team races alongside 17-ranked teams and the No. 10 Gators men will compete against a slate of 20 other ranked teams, including five in the top 10.
The men’s team sends seven runners to Wisconsin. Both freshman Eliud Muchiri and sophomore Oussama Allaoui make their season debuts for the Gators.
“We don’t need to have an A-plus day. If all seven guys have a B-plus day, we are going to be an extremely successful team,” junior Josh Ruiz said. “Being able to be as consistent as possible at that meet [Nuttycombe Invitational] is what’s going to lead us to amazing things.”
Florida sophomore Kelvin Cheruiyot gets another look at Louisville’s Elsingi Kipruto and BYU’s Tayvon Kitchen. He beat both men in a dramatic late-race surge to claim the title at the John McNichols Invitational on Sept. 19. Cheruiyot held back and let others set the tone of the race before the final push. Rocky Hansen, the 2025 NCAA runner-up, will be added to the mix at Nuttycombe, stirring up the pot. The postseason is on the horizon as Cheruiyot looks to add another accolade to his resume.
The women will send nine to the line spreading across the championship and women’s “B” races. Junior Judy Chepkoech is among the racing squad. She won an SEC Athlete of the Week honor following her third-place finish at the John McNichols Invitational.
Junior Reagan Gilmore and sophomore Claire Stegall race for the first time this season.
Florida cross country has not attended Nuttycombe since 2023, when the women placed fifth overall and Parker Valby claimed the meet title, beating second-place Katelyn Tuohy from NC State by 12 seconds.
The Gators men’s team has never competed at the invitational.
Competition begins at 11:30 a.m. with the Women’s 6K Championship race. The Men’s 8K Championship race is scheduled for 12:50 p.m. The women’s “B” race will trail the men’s race.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Cross Country
