Lehigh University Athletics
Women's Cross Country Prepares for NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals
11/13/2014 2:52:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Since the Patriot League Championships, the Lehigh women's cross country team has been preparing to run at the NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship. This year's Mid-Atlantic Regional will be held at Penn State on Friday beginning at 12 p.m. The Mid-Atlantic Regional's top 15 poll includes four top 30 nationally ranked teams; Georgetown is ranked second in the nation, West Virginia seventh, Princeton 28th and Villanova 30th. Lehigh is now ranked 12th in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Last year, the Mountain Hawks hosted the regional on the Goodman Campus cross country course. Lehigh finished in ninth place, securing its third top ten finish at regionals. Junior Jennifer Markham finished in 28th place with a personal best time of 21:01, followed by junior Elizabeth Weiler in 39th place (21:14) and senior Ingrid Simon in 53rd place (21:29).
Lehigh recently finished in sixth place at the 2014 Patriot League Championship on November 1.
"We were disappointed at the Patriot League Championships," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "But we're trying to use that experience as something that will motivate us moving forward. As a team we're looking to maintain our regional ranking. If we really hit a good race, we could finish close to the top ten."
Weiler led the Mountain Hawks at the Patriot League Championship, finishing in second place. The junior earned four Patriot League Runner of the Week awards and also made history this season, running the fastest time a Lehigh woman has ever run on the Goodman Campus cross country course.
"Elizabeth Weiler has obviously had a tremendous season and is looking to hopefully cap that off with an individual bid to nationals," said Utesch.
Five other teams from the Patriot League (Bucknell, Navy, American, Lafayette and Loyola) will be present at the Mid-Atlantic Regional this Friday. Bucknell was this year's Patriot League runner up and is ranked ninth in the region, while Navy finished in fourth at the league championship and is ranked tenth in the region.
"There are five teams in the region that are traditionally the powerhouses, Georgetown, Villanova, Princeton, Penn State, and West Virginia," said Utesch. "Georgetown is currently ranked second in the country, and I expect the other four teams from the powerhouse group to battle it out to earn an automatic bid to nationals. There are some Patriot League teams in the mix at regionals that we will be targeting, such as Bucnkell and Navy, and also non-Patriot League teams such as La Salle, Duquesne, Pitt, Maryland and UMBC."
The women's Mid-Atlantic Regional race will begin at 12 p.m. at Penn State, followed by the men's race at 1 p.m. Results will be posted on LehighSports.com at the conclusion of the events.
Mid-Atlantic Top 15
Last year, the Mountain Hawks hosted the regional on the Goodman Campus cross country course. Lehigh finished in ninth place, securing its third top ten finish at regionals. Junior Jennifer Markham finished in 28th place with a personal best time of 21:01, followed by junior Elizabeth Weiler in 39th place (21:14) and senior Ingrid Simon in 53rd place (21:29).
Lehigh recently finished in sixth place at the 2014 Patriot League Championship on November 1.
"We were disappointed at the Patriot League Championships," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "But we're trying to use that experience as something that will motivate us moving forward. As a team we're looking to maintain our regional ranking. If we really hit a good race, we could finish close to the top ten."
Weiler led the Mountain Hawks at the Patriot League Championship, finishing in second place. The junior earned four Patriot League Runner of the Week awards and also made history this season, running the fastest time a Lehigh woman has ever run on the Goodman Campus cross country course.
"Elizabeth Weiler has obviously had a tremendous season and is looking to hopefully cap that off with an individual bid to nationals," said Utesch.
Five other teams from the Patriot League (Bucknell, Navy, American, Lafayette and Loyola) will be present at the Mid-Atlantic Regional this Friday. Bucknell was this year's Patriot League runner up and is ranked ninth in the region, while Navy finished in fourth at the league championship and is ranked tenth in the region.
"There are five teams in the region that are traditionally the powerhouses, Georgetown, Villanova, Princeton, Penn State, and West Virginia," said Utesch. "Georgetown is currently ranked second in the country, and I expect the other four teams from the powerhouse group to battle it out to earn an automatic bid to nationals. There are some Patriot League teams in the mix at regionals that we will be targeting, such as Bucnkell and Navy, and also non-Patriot League teams such as La Salle, Duquesne, Pitt, Maryland and UMBC."
The women's Mid-Atlantic Regional race will begin at 12 p.m. at Penn State, followed by the men's race at 1 p.m. Results will be posted on LehighSports.com at the conclusion of the events.
Mid-Atlantic Top 15
- Georgetown
- West Virginia
- Villanova
- Princeton
- Penn State
- Penn
- Duquesne
- La Salle
- Bucknell
- Navy
- Pitt
- Lehigh
- UMBC
- Maryland
- Monmouth
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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