Lehigh University Athletics
Bates earns pentathlon title as Mountain Hawks shine in multi events on day one of PLC
2/20/2015 6:04:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Results
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Lehigh women's track and field senior Natalie Bates won the pentathlon while junior Gabrielle Wardle finished right behind in second place on the first day of the indoor Patriot League Championships at Navy's Wesley A. Brown Field House. Sophomore Sarah Cassidy finished seventh in the event as the three women combined to give the Mountain Hawks 20 team points and put Lehigh in first place at the end of day one. On the men's side, freshman Trevor Knowles wrapped up the first day of the heptathlon in third place.
"Natalie and Elly were in control the whole way," said head coach Matt Utesch. "They had it going all day long and it came down to the 800 and they both turned out great performances. Sarah entered the last event of the day in ninth place, but ran her way right into seventh so she could score points for us, which is exactly the type of performances we're looking for this weekend. I couldn't be happier with the efforts today."
Bates claimed the pentathlon title thanks to her ECAC-qualifying mark of 3,458 points, which set a new personal record and earned ten team points for the Mountain Hawks. Bates finished second in the high jump with a new personal-best leap of 1.64 meters in addition to second-place finishes in the shot put (10.60m) and 800 meter dash (2:22.90) She also finished sixth in the 60 meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 9.57 seconds and ninth in the long jump (4.88m).
Wardle wrapped up her effort with a new personal-best and ECAC-qualifying mark of 3,454 points, finishing just three points shy of Bates and earning eight team points for the Mountain Hawks. Wardle earned a first-place finish in the high jump with a leap of 1.67 meters before grabbing the top spot in the long jump with a mark of 5.33 meters. She grabbed a third-place finish in the 60 meter hurdles after racing to the finish line in 9.44 seconds before wrapping up the pentathlon with a seventh-place finish in the shot put (9.85m) and eighth-place finish in the 800 meter dash (2:33.91).
Cassidy also set a new personal record with 3,126 points and earned two team points. Cassidy claimed third in the 800 meter dash with a new personal-best mark of 2:26.39, fourth in the shot put (10.13m), eighth in the long jump (4.89m) and ninth in the 60 meter hurdles (9.84) and high jump (1.46m).
The Lehigh women lead the way in the team race with 20 points and are followed by Holy Cross (11), defending champ Boston University (4), Navy (3) and Bucknell (1).
Knowles finished the first day of the heptathlon, which will wrap up Saturday with the final three events, with 2,598 points. The point total currently puts the rookie in third place. Knowles began the day with a third-place finish in the 60 meter dash with a new personal-best time of 7.35 seconds. He followed with a 6.21 meter long jump that was good for fourth place. The freshman turned out a new personal record in the shot put with a heave of 10.80 meters to grab sixth place before finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the high jump with a leap of 1.85 meters.
"Trevor is putting together a great meet and probably has his stronger events tomorrow," said Utesch. "I like his chances based on where he is right now. He is a vicious competitor and the kid really wants to win, which is a defining trait of our Lehigh multi athletes."
Patriot League Championship action resumes Saturday and concludes Sunday afternoon at Navy. Live results are available here.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Lehigh women's track and field senior Natalie Bates won the pentathlon while junior Gabrielle Wardle finished right behind in second place on the first day of the indoor Patriot League Championships at Navy's Wesley A. Brown Field House. Sophomore Sarah Cassidy finished seventh in the event as the three women combined to give the Mountain Hawks 20 team points and put Lehigh in first place at the end of day one. On the men's side, freshman Trevor Knowles wrapped up the first day of the heptathlon in third place.
"Natalie and Elly were in control the whole way," said head coach Matt Utesch. "They had it going all day long and it came down to the 800 and they both turned out great performances. Sarah entered the last event of the day in ninth place, but ran her way right into seventh so she could score points for us, which is exactly the type of performances we're looking for this weekend. I couldn't be happier with the efforts today."
Bates claimed the pentathlon title thanks to her ECAC-qualifying mark of 3,458 points, which set a new personal record and earned ten team points for the Mountain Hawks. Bates finished second in the high jump with a new personal-best leap of 1.64 meters in addition to second-place finishes in the shot put (10.60m) and 800 meter dash (2:22.90) She also finished sixth in the 60 meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 9.57 seconds and ninth in the long jump (4.88m).
Wardle wrapped up her effort with a new personal-best and ECAC-qualifying mark of 3,454 points, finishing just three points shy of Bates and earning eight team points for the Mountain Hawks. Wardle earned a first-place finish in the high jump with a leap of 1.67 meters before grabbing the top spot in the long jump with a mark of 5.33 meters. She grabbed a third-place finish in the 60 meter hurdles after racing to the finish line in 9.44 seconds before wrapping up the pentathlon with a seventh-place finish in the shot put (9.85m) and eighth-place finish in the 800 meter dash (2:33.91).
Cassidy also set a new personal record with 3,126 points and earned two team points. Cassidy claimed third in the 800 meter dash with a new personal-best mark of 2:26.39, fourth in the shot put (10.13m), eighth in the long jump (4.89m) and ninth in the 60 meter hurdles (9.84) and high jump (1.46m).
The Lehigh women lead the way in the team race with 20 points and are followed by Holy Cross (11), defending champ Boston University (4), Navy (3) and Bucknell (1).
Knowles finished the first day of the heptathlon, which will wrap up Saturday with the final three events, with 2,598 points. The point total currently puts the rookie in third place. Knowles began the day with a third-place finish in the 60 meter dash with a new personal-best time of 7.35 seconds. He followed with a 6.21 meter long jump that was good for fourth place. The freshman turned out a new personal record in the shot put with a heave of 10.80 meters to grab sixth place before finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the high jump with a leap of 1.85 meters.
"Trevor is putting together a great meet and probably has his stronger events tomorrow," said Utesch. "I like his chances based on where he is right now. He is a vicious competitor and the kid really wants to win, which is a defining trait of our Lehigh multi athletes."
Patriot League Championship action resumes Saturday and concludes Sunday afternoon at Navy. Live results are available here.
Players Mentioned
Multi
/ Women's Track and Field
Multis
/ Women's Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track and Field
Multi/Jumps
/ Women's Track and FieldUndergraduate Commencement
Sunday, May 17
Graduate Commencement and Doctoral Hooding
Saturday, May 16
2026 Convocation Awards Ceremony
Thursday, May 07
2025-2026 Top Moments
Thursday, May 07
