FSCJ Cross Country’s 2025 Season Recap: A Milestone Year for the Program
After a breakout year that saw record-setting performances, program-first milestones, and national recognition, the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Manta Rays wrapped up one of the most memorable cross-country seasons in school history. After last week's popular interview with head coach Jody Hale, we sat back down with him to talk about what made this season special, the rise of standout athletes like Mei Chiang and Benjamin Hale, and what's next for the growing program.
Q: Coach Hale, how would you sum up this season for the Manta Rays?
Hale: It was our best season ever. We broke multiple school records this fall. Mei Chiang ran faster than the previous women's school record in all eight meets, and her 8th-place finish at nationals earned NJCAA All-American honors. That's a big deal. She was also voted FCSAA Region 8 Athlete of the Week six times and named USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year. On the men's side, Benjamin Hale was voted FCSAA Runner of the Week the same week as Mei — the first time in program history we've had both a male and female runner win that honor in the same week.
It was our best season yet, without a doubt. The men's team finished 11th and the women 12th at the Florida Intercollegiate Cross Country Invitational — and that's a meet that includes NCAA Division I and II programs like UF, FSU, UNF, UCF, and USF, along with NAIA and JUCO schools.
The men went on to win again at the Alligator Lake Invitational, and the women placed third in a large NCAA invitational meet — both huge achievements for our program. Over the course of the season, our runners combined for 22 personal records, and the men set both the fastest average time and lowest total time in program history.
Q: What moment or meet do you think defined this team's character?
Hale: The FCSAA Region 8 Championships at Apalachee Regional Park — that's when everything came together. Mei Chiang tied the event record, and the men's team outperformed several ranked programs with their fastest average time ever. It was the kind of day that validated all the work they'd put in since August.
Q: The women's team has been led all year by Mei Chiang. How would you describe her impact?
Hale: If I could adequately describe her impact I'd write for living. Mei's one of those rare athletes who changes the standard for everyone around her — not just the women's team but the men's team, and me too. She's not only our top runner, she's one of the fastest in the country. What's just as impressive is how she leads by example and with quiet confidence.
Q: The men's team had a historic year too, with multiple runners entering the all-time top 10 list. What was the key there?
Hale: This team races really well. Benjamin Hale set a new school record at 26:54, but the entire squad stepped up. Having Ben, Cole and Blake all on the top 10 list in the same year is huge. Cole Fleming, Blake Looney, Aiden Taggart, Edward Julian, Spencer Middleton, David Beasley, Anthony Ress, Matt Leitheiser, and Alexander Grant — they all hit personal records this season. When your fourth and fifth guys are running their best times of the year in championship races, that's a complete team.
Q: What's the team culture like within FSCJ Cross Country right now?
Hale: All local athletes — mostly from Duval, St. Johns, and Clay Counties — and that's something we're proud of. There's a strong Clay County connection that runs through this program. Fleming Island, Ridgeview, Clay high, Middleburg, and Orange Park High, all excellent programs. We are blessed that they send these runners to us. A lot of our athletes grew up competing against each other in high school, and now they're pushing each other as teammates. That chemistry shows on the course every weekend.
Q: How did it feel lining up against some of the top programs at nationals?
Hale: An honor. It's what you work for. It validates this program and all our hard work. I said before the race it would be epic — and it was. Thirty-two degrees, windy, and so much snow they couldn't even find the starting line. Most of our runners had never seen snow before, and here we are racing at nationals with it coming down in buckets.
Our Athletic Director always says our athletes should have a positive and memorable experience while competing at FSCJ — and I think this one will stick with them for a very long time.
Q: Any big surprises this season?
Hale: David Beasley! He's a great story. He was a high school football player, not a runner. We had recruited his good friend Edward Julian, and David started running with him over the summer. He called me one day and asked if he could train with the team. I said yes, never thinking he'd make our regional or national squad. Now he's one of our top guys — and I think he's going to be a big part of this program going forward.
Q:What's next for the Manta Rays as you look toward 2026?
Hale: We want to build on this foundation. That means developing our returners, bringing in strong recruits, and setting our sights on XC 2026. The bar's been raised — now it's about sustaining it. I tell our athletes all the time: Go out and make yourself proud. I also say run fast it more fun.
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