Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh University
Lehigh Season Opener
Mountain Hawks host successful first meet
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks kicked off their 2009-10 track and field indoor season Friday night when they hosted the Lehigh Season Opener in the Rauch Fieldhouse. The Brown and White captured 18 of the 30 individual events throughout the evening. Sophomore Kyle Forrest had the most impressive performance of the night setting new personal records in three different events: high jump (1.95 meters), pole vault (3.45 meters) and long jump (6.36 meters).
The meet gave head coach Matt Utesch and his coaching staff their first look at the new student-athletes and to see the progress the retuning ones made during the offseason.
“I’m very pleased with the way the freshmen girls showed up. They showed great potential and their times don’t really reflect how fast they are because we’re still in training mode.”
Utesch continued with his thoughts on the men, “The sophomores made the jump well and did a good job tonight. Kyle had a great meet setting three new personal records and I expect everyone to keep improving.”
In their first collegiate meet several freshman jumped right into the action and made an impact. In the women’s 800 meter run two of Lehigh’s talented freshman came up big as Brittany Pietrosh (2:24) and Julia Perry (2:31) finished first and second. Khaaleedah Smith showed off her sprinting abilities, winning the 60 (8.10) and 400 (1:00.56) meter dashes. Right behind Smith in the 400 was another newcomer, Elizabeth McManus who finished in second with a time of 1:01.
The upperclassmen didn’t let the freshmen outshine them as several put together impressive showings in their first meet of the season. Senior co-captain Jillian Randolph pulled ahead in the last leg of the 1000 meter race to win with a time of 3:08.40. The Lehigh women’s relay team took the 4X400 race in a time of 4:19 to edge out Moravian College.
Junior Emily Settle placed first in the weight throw with a distance of 14.41 meters and second in the shot put (10.61 meters). The Lehigh women took all five spots in the high jump with senior Catherine Bigelow coming in first with a jump of 1.60 meters.
On the men’s side seniors Nick Ray and Khalil Uqdah both finished in first place in their respective events. Ray placed first in the shot put and weight throw, while Uqdah was the top finisher in the pole vault. Freshman Christopher Buck finished second in the shot put with a distance 14.5 meters. Sophomore Stephen Tutunjian showed his jumping abilities taking first in the long and triple jumps. He set a new personal record in the long jump with a distance of 6.88 meters.
On the track, junior Kyle O’Connor won the 1000 meter race with a time of 2:37, and the men swept both of the relays, the 4X800 and 4X400. Freshman Devin Monroe finished second in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.94.
Both teams will have over a month and a half off before they hit the track again and Utesch knows the teams have to stay in shape. “Obviously we have to maintain our fitness level over the next month. It’s also important that we get all healed up to get ready for the rest of the season.”
The Mountain Hawks don’t return to action until January 16, when they head to Navy for a meet with several top teams from around the country.
