Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, August 31
10 am
Lehigh University
vs
Lehigh Invitational
Mountain Hawks prepare to defend their title
8/30/2013 9:28:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's cross country team will seek to defend its titles as the Mountain Hawks host the Lehigh Invitational this Saturday on the Goodman Campus course. The team has won the event for the past three years, and is also coming off of a 2012 Patriot League Championship win.
"I think we see a much higher level of confidence out of our guys," said Head Coach Todd Etters. "Last year we came in with the goal of being able to contend for a Patriot League Championship. This season they're coming in expecting to win a Patriot League Championship, so that's just a different level of confidence that comes with winning."
Lehigh has been ranked ninth regionally, and projected to finish second in the Patriot League in the preseason polls.
The team recently finished preseason camp, a time that Etters used to build team chemistry and have the men log a lot of mileage.
"The guys are in great shape," said Etters. "They're relaxed and loose which is what I was hoping for. In terms of where we are race fitness wise, we haven't done that yet so that will be determined later in the season."
The Mountain Hawks only lost one senior, and will return every runner. One of those returners will be Tyler Mueller, last year's Lehigh Invitational champion. Last year, the team finished with four runners in the top ten, and ten runners in the top 20. The 2013 squad features six seniors who are ready to use their leadership skills to help the team.
"We really just have to work together," said senior Russell Vignali. "By knowing each other's strengths and each other's weaknesses, we'll be able to really bond with the rest of the team and get everybody focused on what we want to do."
The team will compete in many meets in the Lehigh Valley this year, with the addition of this weekend's Lehigh Invitational. The Mountain Hawks will host the Lehigh Paul Short Run, as well as the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional competition. The squad travels to Lafayette for a dual race, the Lafayette Invitational and the Patriot League Championships. The only race that will have the team traveling out of state will be Pre-Nationals and NCAA Championships, both hosted by Indiana State.
"We host Paul Short which is going to be the biggest one we've probably ever had, and there will be national level competition," said Etters. "Two weeks after that, we're heading out to Indiana State to preview the national course and again we're going to get some national level competition. Other than that, the dual meet is at Lafayette so we're previewing our Patriot League course and our regional course throughout the season so you can't get better than that."
The Lehigh Invitational will feature a men's 6k starting at 10 a.m. and a women's 6k beginning at 10:30 a.m. Visiting teams will include DeSales, Grove City, King's, Lafayette, La Salle, Messiah, Moravian, Muhlenberg, Scranton, St. Francis (Pa.), Temple, Ursinus, York and West Virginia.
"Our goal is to achieve new heights," said Etters. "Last year, we won the Patriot League title, and we want to be able to repeat for the first time in history. We're looking at Regionals as being a meet where we can go in and potentially go to Nationals. That's really our long term goal on the season."
Full results will be available on Lehighsports.com at the conclusion of the Lehigh Invitational.
"I think we see a much higher level of confidence out of our guys," said Head Coach Todd Etters. "Last year we came in with the goal of being able to contend for a Patriot League Championship. This season they're coming in expecting to win a Patriot League Championship, so that's just a different level of confidence that comes with winning."
Lehigh has been ranked ninth regionally, and projected to finish second in the Patriot League in the preseason polls.
The team recently finished preseason camp, a time that Etters used to build team chemistry and have the men log a lot of mileage.
"The guys are in great shape," said Etters. "They're relaxed and loose which is what I was hoping for. In terms of where we are race fitness wise, we haven't done that yet so that will be determined later in the season."
The Mountain Hawks only lost one senior, and will return every runner. One of those returners will be Tyler Mueller, last year's Lehigh Invitational champion. Last year, the team finished with four runners in the top ten, and ten runners in the top 20. The 2013 squad features six seniors who are ready to use their leadership skills to help the team.
"We really just have to work together," said senior Russell Vignali. "By knowing each other's strengths and each other's weaknesses, we'll be able to really bond with the rest of the team and get everybody focused on what we want to do."
The team will compete in many meets in the Lehigh Valley this year, with the addition of this weekend's Lehigh Invitational. The Mountain Hawks will host the Lehigh Paul Short Run, as well as the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional competition. The squad travels to Lafayette for a dual race, the Lafayette Invitational and the Patriot League Championships. The only race that will have the team traveling out of state will be Pre-Nationals and NCAA Championships, both hosted by Indiana State.
"We host Paul Short which is going to be the biggest one we've probably ever had, and there will be national level competition," said Etters. "Two weeks after that, we're heading out to Indiana State to preview the national course and again we're going to get some national level competition. Other than that, the dual meet is at Lafayette so we're previewing our Patriot League course and our regional course throughout the season so you can't get better than that."
The Lehigh Invitational will feature a men's 6k starting at 10 a.m. and a women's 6k beginning at 10:30 a.m. Visiting teams will include DeSales, Grove City, King's, Lafayette, La Salle, Messiah, Moravian, Muhlenberg, Scranton, St. Francis (Pa.), Temple, Ursinus, York and West Virginia.
"Our goal is to achieve new heights," said Etters. "Last year, we won the Patriot League title, and we want to be able to repeat for the first time in history. We're looking at Regionals as being a meet where we can go in and potentially go to Nationals. That's really our long term goal on the season."
Full results will be available on Lehighsports.com at the conclusion of the Lehigh Invitational.
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Cross Country
Wednesday, October 01
2025 Lehigh Men's Cross Country Season Preview
Thursday, August 28
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Cross Country
Wednesday, October 02
2024 Men's Cross Country season preview
Thursday, August 29
