ORLANDO, Fla. - Following their first team title of the 2011 season, the NAIA No. 14 Embry-Riddle Women's Cross Country team traveled to nearby Orlando to take part in the UCF Black and Gold Challenge on Friday evening, placing fifth out of 16 total teams.

The race, which was a 6K (the only collegiate 6K race in Florida), was a UKNIGHT in Pink event meant to raise awareness for Breast Cancer research. All of the approximately 300 runners wore pink shoelaces on the sandy course.

Sophomore Ellie Staker once again paced the ERAU harriers, taking a fourth-place finish in 22:41.78. Staker has finished first for the Eagles at each of the team's five meets of 2011, and following close behind in each of those five has been junior Karina Coelho. Coelho's 23:58.00 showing was good for 22nd overall, while teammate Julie Mayfield (24:05.53) finished in 25th place.

Baleigh Hyatt (24:24.43) and Nicole Bonk (24:35.07) rounded out the Eagle scorers, and Kira Ball (24:55.28), Aleiyah Ross (26:36.14), Brittany Cross (27:57.47), and Jaena Smith (28:36.15) also competed in the meet.

Central Florida won the meet with 88 points thanks to a tiebreaker, Jacksonville (88), Florida A&M (103), Florida Gulf Coast (110) and Embry-Riddle (118) finished two through five respectively.

"We ran a fairly decent race tonight," Eagle Head Coach Mike Rosolino said. "Ellie (Staker) ran exceptionally well, and Baleigh (Hyatt) and Nicole (Bonk) also had good races."

Rosolin added, "This was probably the first time many of the girls ran a 6K race, and I thought they did a good job. It was definitely the nicest weather we've run in all fall long."

The Blue and Gold has its' final regular season tune-up on Oct. 22 in Rome, Ga. when they run in the Southeast Classic hosted by Berry University before The Sun Conference Championships on Nov. 5 in Ave Maria, Fla.