New Smyrna Beach, FL – (FPCSports.com) 

The Flagler Palm Coast (FPC) girls’ cross country team delivered an impressive performance at the Five Star Conference Championship, securing a strong third-place finish in a fiercely contested battle where only 21 points separated the top three teams. The meet, held in New Smyrna Beach, showcased the Bulldogs’ powerful frontrunning ability and set a high benchmark for the upcoming postseason.

Slaughter Claims Individual Gold

Senior Arianna Slaughter cemented her status as the conference’s top runner, absolutely dominating the girls’ 5K race to win the individual title. Slaughter crossed the finish line with a commanding time of 19:37.9, making her the only athlete in the girls’ field to break the critical 20-minute barrier. Her performance was a crucial highlight for FPC and provided a strong foundation for the team’s scoring.

The Bulldogs’ success didn’t stop with Slaughter. FPC runners claimed three of the top four finishing positions, demonstrating exceptional speed at the front of the pack:

• Anna Grigoruk took 3rd place with a time of 20:10.2.
• Audrey Bowman finished in 4th place at 20:35.3.

This 1-3-4 punch (scoring 1, 3, and 4 points, respectively) positioned FPC as a major contender for the team title.

Close Race for the Team Podium

Ultimately, the FPC girls finished third overall with 59 points. Spruce Creek claimed the conference title with 38 points, while New Smyrna Beach took second with 55 points. The key difference came down to the overall team depth. While FPC had superior individual times at the front, Spruce Creek won the title by placing their scoring five runners in the top 12, securing a tighter, lower score.

Rounding out the scoring five for the Bulldogs were freshmen Seraphina Morris (24th, 26:16.9) and Everly Mucciolo (27th, 26:28.0), who fought hard against large fields of competitors.

FPC Girls’ Varsity 5K Individual Results

Girls’ Varsity 5K Team Standings (Top 3)

Individual Champion: Arianna Slaughter (FPC) – 19:37.9

The Bulldogs will now carry the momentum from Slaughter’s spectacular performance into the upcoming District meet, where the girls will aim to punch their ticket to the Regional tournament.