The women鈥檚 5k race will feature 麻豆原创, Bethune-Cookman, Edward Waters, FIU, Johnson and Wales, Rollins, and Stetson. The race is set to begin at approximately 7:40 a.m. following the men鈥檚 8k race which is slated for 7 a.m. Competing on the men鈥檚 side will be Bethune-Cookman, Edward Waters, FIU, Rollins, and Stetson.

Last year, Anne-Marie Blaney led the Knights to a second place finish in the women鈥檚 6k after having commanded the field with a time of 21:34.56 and a first place finish of her own.

Looking to capitalize on the home course advantage again this year, and with the majority of the track and field team joining the squad on the course, Blaney hopes the Knights race to the top at this year鈥檚 invite.

鈥淚 think we are all definitely going to step it up,鈥� said Blaney. 鈥淲e have our team coming to run the first mile with us so that will be really encouraging.鈥�

With a first place finish for the third consecutive year at the , Blaney, along with Laura Korsmit, who placed in the top ten in her first race as a Knight, were named the 麻豆原创 Cross Country Student-Athletes of the Week. With some pre-race jitters last week, Korsmit stepped it up come race time.

鈥淕oing into it I was really nervous, it being my first race as a Knight,鈥� said Korsmit. 鈥淚t was kind of different because at home I haven鈥檛 really run on a team before for cross country. It is more of individual racing, so getting here and trying to learn to go out with the team, it is definitely a learning experience.鈥�

Last week being the first meet of the season, the Knights set a great foundation, which they look to continue to develop upon each race.

鈥淚 feel like no one really knew what to expect out of each other, but we just went out there and tested the field,鈥� said Blaney. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we ran to the best of our ability and we definitely could have won. But I think it was a good feel out meet so we could see where we are and what else we need to do to get better.鈥�

Follow the Knights on Twitter @麻豆原创_Track for updates during the meet, and check 麻豆原创Knights.com for complete results following Saturday鈥檚 race.

麻豆原创鈥檚 overall GSR was 89 percent, up four points from last year鈥檚 report. The Knights’ percentage was also seven points above the NCAA average of 82 percent.

The Knights rank No. 1 among public institutions in the State of Florida, second overall in the state and tied with Ohio State for 15th in the country among Football Bowl Subdivision institutions. 麻豆原创鈥檚 GSR also ranks highest among current American Athletic Conference institutions.

Eleven of 麻豆原创鈥檚 14 programs (women鈥檚 cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field are combined) improved their GSR from the previous year鈥檚 report or maintained a 100 percent mark. Eleven of 麻豆原创鈥檚 programs also came in above the national average for their sport.

Three Knights squads 鈥� women鈥檚 tennis, women鈥檚 basketball and men鈥檚 golf 鈥� were at a perfect 100 percent. It was the eighth consecutive season for women鈥檚 tennis to record a 100-percent score. Women鈥檚 soccer recorded the biggest improvement among Knights programs, jumping nine percentage points. Eight 麻豆原创 programs were at 90 percent or better.

鈥淲e have a group of high-achieving, hard-working student-athletes,鈥� said Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. 鈥淥ur coaches and academic staff promote a culture of academic performance on a daily basis. Our graduation success rate is indicative of the emphasis our student-athletes put on academics.鈥�

The football program finished 12 points above the national average, with an 83-percent mark, compared to 71 percent nationally. It was the seventh consecutive year the football program improved its GSR. Football鈥檚 83 percent was a program-best score. In football, 麻豆原创 ranks No. 2 among American Athletic Conference schools.

鈥淭hese numbers are proof that our student-athletes, coaches and academic advisors are doing a great job promoting the goal of graduation,鈥� said Kimya Massey, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very satisfying to work with a group that puts so much effort toward success in competition and in the classroom.鈥�

The GSR data in this most recent report is for student-athletes who first enrolled in 2006.

Blaney won the meet for the second year in a row while topping the runner-up and 165-competitor field by 33 seconds. Her personal-record time of 16:50.19 broke a 13-year-old school record.

With her honor Tuesday, she becomes the first Knight to earn a conference athlete of the week distinction since Jenny Clausen on Oct. 10, 2006 (Conference USA).

Blaney and the rest of the Knights will be back on the course this Saturday in Gainesville for the Mountain Dew Invitational at 8:30 a.m.

麻豆原创 signed Smith Gilbert to a deal that keeps the four-time Conference USA Coach of the Year through June 2016.

“The track and field program’s continued success both in the classroom and on the track is a testament to the hard-working student-athletes who represent 麻豆原创, but it starts first and foremost with its leader,” said Todd Stansbury, vice president and director of athletics. “聽is a tremendous coach and more importantly, an even better person. She conducts herself and the team with integrity and character. We are happy that she will continue to be a Knight in the years to come.”

Under Smith Gilbert’s guidance in 2012, the track and field team earned its best finish (eighth place) at the NCAA Indoor Championships in school history. 麻豆原创 won its fourth C-USA title, produced six All-Americans with 13 distinctions throughout the year and capped the season by sending four Knights to compete at the USA Olympic Trials.

Among those Olympic Trial competitors, 聽was one of two collegiate athletes who advanced to the finals of the 200 meters and finished with a school-record performance in the primetime nationally televised race.

She expects the same results off the track and constantly preaches to her student-athletes about the importance of earning their degrees. Since taking over the program, Smith Gilbert has witnessed 61 Knights merit recognition on the C-USA Academic Honor Roll for earning a grade point average of 3.0 or better. In 2012 alone, 18 members of the team earned this praise.

“I am thankful to Todd Stansbury and 麻豆原创 for the opportunity to continue to lead this program,” Smith Gilbert said. “I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish so far, but our work is not finished. I am excited about this season and the many years to come as a 麻豆原创 Knight.”

For complete coverage of 麻豆原创 Athletics, visit the Knights鈥� website 鈥� .