Florida State's veteran men's cross country team will try and defend its NCAA South Region title and secure a 10th consecutive NCAA Championships appearance Friday morning at Apalachee Regional Park.

Karen Harvey's No. 1 Florida State women's cross country team is unbeaten during the regular season and undaunted in pursuit of a bigger prize entering the NCAA South Region Championship race.

Four years after FSU coach Bob Braman and Brian Corbin of the Gulf Winds Track Club began cutting a cross country course with machetes, Apalachee Regional Park will host Friday's NCAA South Region Championships.

The Florida State men's cross country team and the women's golf team were notified by NCAA President Mark Emmert that they have been recognized with an NCAA Public Recognition Award.

Violah Lagat delivered on her promise, capturing the ACC individual title while leading the Florida State women to their fifth cross country crown. Breandan O Neill was the runner-up for the third-place Seminole men.

Championship season is at hand as the nationally-ranked Florida State cross country teams begin their quest for excellence at the ACC Championships, Saturday at Virginia Tech.

The Florida State women's cross country team retained its No. 1 national ranking for the second consecutive poll, extending a streak of 32 polls in the top 10. The men are holding strong at No. 14.

Violah Lagat and Colleen Quigley led the top-ranked FSU women's cross country team to the NCAA Pre-National team title, while Jakub Zivec's 10th-place finish led the men to a solid fourth.

For 22 years now, the golden torch gala has been one of few events nationwide which solely recognizes the success of student athletes' off the playing fields. The student-athletes recognized bring distinction and honor to The Florida State University.

FSU's nationally-ranked cross country teams will get their first look at the new NCAA Championship course in Louisville, Ky. Saturday morning at the loaded Pre-National meet.