Babson Park, FL. – The Webber International Men's and Women's Cross Country teams are preparing for another successful fall season in the SUN Conference. Both the Men's and Women's teams have experienced shakeups on most of the rosters, but are still looking to improve on the marks from last season.
After a slow start last season, which saw the men compete against NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 teams in addition to NAIA competition, the men's team was able to finish strong and defeat Warner at the SUN Conference meet.  

This season, the men will be led by youth, including two freshmen and one sophomore. Cameron Gonzalez will be the number one for the team, with Head Coach Mike Mangan noting that Gonzalez will compete well in the conference.

For the women, freshman Gracie Norman hailing from Palmer, Alaska, will lead the team this season, along with multiple dual sport athletes from the women's lacrosse team, including Raelynn Bellamy, Courtnie Couch, Reyanna Troupe, and Hailey Leavines as they look to finish and score at the Sun Conference championship race.

Coach Mangan noted that both teams' goals this season will be to improve on their finishes from last season and set them up to compete with the top half of SUN Conference teams in 2024.

The Warriors will compete in four different races before the conference meets. The first race is the Fire Invitational hosted by Southeastern on September 2^nd followed by the Embry-Riddle Invite on September 16^th. The Ave Maria Invite on October 7^th will be a great look into conference competition for Coach Mangan and his teams. The Warriors will finish up their pre-conference meet at the SSC Preview at Holloway Park in Lakeland on October 13^th. The Sun Conference Championships will take place in Daytona Beach on November 4^th.

In the SUN Conference preseason poll, the men's team was picked to finish tied for 6^th place with Warner, accumulating nine points. The men are eager to prove this rating wrong throughout the season and at the conference meet.