TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Over their lifetime, individuals of the 2021 Cross Country team will experience challenges or adversity. Everyone does. Chances are they will overcome that difficult situation and their experiences as Student-Athletes will be a contributing factor. On the way to the FCSAA Championships on Thursday, the Raider Express Bus blew a tire. After a three hour delay and another 30 minute stop to due to an oil leak, the Raiders reached Tally too late to run the course. In fact, SSC didn't get much of a run in at all.

On Friday, the members of the team arrived at course and prepared to run the FCSAA Championships without a complaint (or much of one). The Raiders were not expected to win, but they did expect to run well. They ran their best.

Seminole State men finished fourth with Jacob Fritz (near right) and Joe Royston (mid right) the two highest placing Raiders (15th and 18th respectively). The ladies (running with only three individuals) did not receive a team score.

"This is definitely not the way we planned the trip," stated interim Coach Kurt Esser. "I'm glad that the incident wasn't more serious and that we did get a chance to run. The kids showed great character and perseverance during the delay and since. They knew the could only control what they could. And it was nice to see Lyra (Winn, far right) run (15th place). Overall everyone has done all we could as for."

In the next several days, Seminole State will be naming a permanent replacement for Esser, who will continue on as Athletic Director.

RAIDER NOTES:

• 19 Raider Student-Athletes were Academic All-NJCAA in 2020-21
• The Men's Team finished 3rd in the FCSAA Region VIII in 2020, there was not a Women's team in 2020
• During the 2019 season, the men's team finished 16th at the NJCAA National meet
• Sponsorship and facility rental opportunities are available, for information send an email to esserk@seminolestate.edu 
• To donate to the Cross Country program follow this link: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E342907&id=72

The Raider Athletics Department of Seminole State College was established in 1965 and initially led by Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Joe Sterling. Seminole State sponsors five sports all competing in the NJCAA Division I.  Both Baseball and Softball facilities are located on College Drive on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus.

For more about Raider Athletics, visit SeminoleStateRaiders.com, follow us on Twitter: @buildingRaiders and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/buildingRaiders/. 

Media contact: Kurt Esser, Director of Athletics, 407.708.2092, esserk@seminolestate.edu