Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks ready for PL Championships
2/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
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“We are really excited to see how our team stacks up against the rest of the league,” said head coach Matt Utesch. “Our performance last weekend really gives a boost to our coaching staff, and shows that we are peaking at the right time.”
Army is the defending champions on the men’s side, while Bucknell took the women’s title last year. The Brown and White men and women finished sixth and tied for fifth respectively in last year’s championship. Lehigh hopes to get more strong performances from Serwo and sophomore pole vaulter Kahlil Uqdah. Uqdah broke the school record in the pole vault twice this season, clearing 5.03 meters then 5.05 meters a week later.
While Lehigh is facing against Army, Colgate, Holy Cross and Navy for the first time this season, the Mountain Hawks face a couple of familiar foes in American, Bucknell and Lafayette. The Brown and White saw the Eagles at the New Balance Inivte, where runners from both schools faced off in the men’s 500 meter dash and the men’s 3,000 meter run. The Mountain Hawks’ top runner finished ahead of American’s top runner in both of those races.
Lehigh and Bucknell saw each other at the Bucknell Heptagonal. The Bison’s men’s and women’s teams placed first, while Lehigh’s men’s and women’s teams placed third and sixth respectively.
Against
“Track and field is not like basketball or football,” added Utesch. “Other teams can’t throw a trick play or different defense at you. If we do what we have to do, we’ll come out of the meet happy.”
Competition beings on Friday at 12 p.m., with the men’s heptathlon and women’s pentathlon. On Saturday, field events start at 11 a.m., with the men’s and women’s weight throw, long jump and high jump, and the women’s pole vault.
Track events for Saturday include the preliminary races of the 60 meter dash, 5,000 meter run, 60 meter hurdles and 200 meter dash. The meet ends Sunday, with the final races for all events and an awards ceremony scheduled for 5 p.m.
