Grace Reed was named the Sunshine State Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week after leading Florida Southern College Women’s Cross Country to a season-opening victory in the Uncle Nick’s Swan City Bagel Run.
The announcement, made Sept. 9, marks the first Sunshine State Conference weekly award of Reed’s career and the first Sunshine State Conference Runner of the Week award for Florida Southern College. Reed, a senior from Fort Pierce, Florida, was the top runner at the Sept. 5 meet and completed the 4.2k race in 14:45.7.
Florida Southern wins season opener
Florida Southern College won the meet with 23 points, ahead of the University of Tampa, which finished with 40 points. Southeastern University, Eastern Florida, South Florida State College and Warner also participated.
Reed was one of Florida Southern College’s strongest returning athletes for the 2026 season after a record-setting 2025-26 season in cross country and track. She was Florida Southern College’s first NCAA Outdoor Track National Championship qualifier and earned three USTFCCCA All-South Region selections for track.
Reed competed in six cross country meets during the previous season and was named USTFCCCA All-South Region in fall 2025. She also received SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, USTFCCCA All-Academic and CSC Academic honors.
Florida Southern’s next race
Florida Southern College Women’s Cross Country will race in the FSU Invite on Friday, Sept. 18, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida. The meet will be the program’s next race after the season-opening victory.
Source: Original report