WATCH: Eastern Florida State Cross Country Runner Adem Boudjaj Wins Holloway Collegiate XC Opener
By Space Coast Daily // September 8, 2024
Boudjaj won the title with a time of 18 mins, 18 secs
ABOVE VIDEO: Eastern Florida State College men’s cross country runner Adem Boudjaj talks about winning the Holloway Collegiate XC Opener in Lakeland on Friday morning.
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida State College cross country runner Adem Boudjaj made history on Friday, becoming the first Titans runner to win the overall title at a race.
Boudjaj won the title in the Holloway Collegiate XC Opener hosted by Florida Southern in Lakeland with a time of 18 minutes, 18 seconds.
The sophomore from Jijel, Algeria beat the field by seven seconds as Florida Southern’s Christian Giller finished second at 18:25.
“It is actually best birthday gift you can give yourself, a win in the season opener,” Boudjaj said.
“The race was slightly tough, the last mile was a bit tough, but I got a lead over the second place guy and went for the line. It feels good, you are suffering and you see you have one more turn to the win, it is an amazing feeling.”
Nick Hernandez finished 43rd for the Titans, finishing the 6K in 20:34 while Olmar Bartolon also finished in the top 50, finishing in 20:51.
Morgan Vici was 56th at 21:12 with teammate Miguel Perez-Santiz 57th eight seconds behind Vici. Brandon Faris finished 61st at 21:27 while Ivan Floresta and Colin McAdams finished 65th and 66nd overall at 21:44 and 21:49 respectively.
Joey Coyle was 72nd at 22:01 with Wyatt Pittman 74th at 22:20 and Noah McMann was 76th at 22:24.
Joshua Torres ran a 23:55 while Toby Grissom finished in 26:00.
Eastern Florida State College, who is ranked 14th in the NJCAA Division I preseason poll, will run at the North Florida Invitational next Friday morning.
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