Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks to open season at home this weekend
12/3/2010 2:08:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's track and field team will kick off its season on Friday when it hosts the Lehigh Valley Season Opener at Rauch Field House on the Goodman Campus. The Mountain Hawks will welcome various schools around the Lehigh Valley for the two-day event which begins on Friday afternoon and concludes on Saturday morning.
Along with Lehigh, seven other schools are scheduled to participate - East Stroudsburg, Millersville, Moravian, Muhlenberg, Penn State-Berks, Shippensburg and SUNY Cobleskill.
“It's nice that the [Lehigh Valley Opener] is here,” said head coach Matt Utesch. We have the best indoor facility in the valley, so it's good to have schools come in. The other coaches are all friends, so it's always good to see how they're doing and catch up with them. It's an exciting season opener for a lot of reasons.”
The Mountain Hawks - predicted fifth in the preseason Patriot League poll released on Thursday - have high hopes for the 2010-11 season.
“We've had great leadership on the men's side,” said Utesch. “We've got some really good guys out in front and some excellent freshmen who are pushing them. The upper classmen are open to being pushed; they're not stressed about the fact that there are freshmen who will make a big impact.”
One of the top returning players is junior Kyle Forrest, who competes in the decathlon and heptathlon and has a chance to score in both the heptathlon and the open high jump.
Another key returnee is sophomore Chris Buck, who looks to continue the success he began as a freshman.
“Chris scored as a freshman in the throws, which is really quite remarkable,” said Utesch. “I'm really excited; he should come in and really make an impact in the league and I think really dominate for the next three years.”
Junior Ifeanyi Edochie will also be counted on as a key sprinter for the Mountain Hawks.
“I think he'll come in and do really well,” said Utesch. “He has really only been running for three years. He's going to be very good. He's matured a bunch and just really ready to go.”
What's unique about the Mountain Hawks is the mix of key returnees along with a plethora of eager freshmen. Utesch realizes that the potential is endless and expectations are always high.
“We always expect to win the dual meets,” said Utesch. “That's always a major goal for the program. I think we have a great shot of doing that. We're continuing on from cross country, which did it, with the men and the women. It's always good to have the Mundy Trophies come back home to Lehigh where they belong.
“We hope to do that and I think we have a good shot at that,” he continued. “With the Patriot League Championships, we always expect to finish in the top half; it's always our goal.”
Catch the Mountain Hawks this weekend, beginning on Friday at 5 p.m. (complete schedule below).
Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. Army 95 (11)
2. Bucknell 82 (3)
3. Navy 81 (2)
4. Lafayette 60
5. LEHIGH 51
6. American 38
7. Colgate 21
8. Holy Cross 20
2. Bucknell 82 (3)
3. Navy 81 (2)
4. Lafayette 60
5. LEHIGH 51
6. American 38
7. Colgate 21
8. Holy Cross 20
Field Events (Friday, 6:00 p.m.)
Men's Pole Vault (Women's PV to follow)
Women's 20lb WT (Men's 35lb WT to follow)
Women's High Jump (Men HJ to follow)
Women's Shot Put (Following 35lb WT)
Men's Shot Put (Following Women's SP)
Men's Long Jump (Following Multi EST 8:00 PM)
Women's Long Jump (Following Men LJ)
Men's Triple Jump (After Women LJ)
Women's Triple Jump (After Men TJ)
Track Events (Friday, 6:30 p.m.)
Men's 60m Hurdles
Women's 60m Hurdles
Men's 1000m
Women's 1000m
Men's 60m
Women's 60m
Men's 400m
Women's 400m
Men's 800m
Women's 800m
Men's 200m
Women's 200m
Men's 4X800m relay
Women's 4X800m relay
Men's 4X400m relay
Women's 4X400m relay
Multi Events (Friday, 5:00 p.m.)
Women's 60m Hurdles
Men's 60m
Women's High Jump
Men's Long Jump
Women's Shot Put
Men's Shot Put
Women's Long Jump
Men's High Jump
Women's 800m
Multi Events (Saturday, 9:00 a.m.)
Men's 60m Hurdles
Men's Pole Vault
Men's 1000m
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