Lehigh University Athletics
Photo by: Meghan Reilly
Lehigh Continues Relationship with Celtic Classic/Highland Games
10/13/2016 2:44:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Features
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Every September since 1998, thousands of people flock to downtown Bethlehem for the annual Celtic Classic and Highland Games. This weekend-long festival serves as a celebration of all things Celtic – including food, music, dancing and of course, the Highland Games.
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Since 2009, the Lehigh track and field programs have been volunteering their time at the Highland Games and have developed long-standing relationships with many of the athletes, as well as members of the Celtic Classic committee.
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As part of their volunteering duties, the Lehigh athletes serve on the games' field crew, retrieving throwing implements during events like the light hammer throw and caber toss, and return them to the competing athletes. The caber (a 15-20-foot-long wooden object similar to a telephone pole), requires several athletes to pick up and return. With the nature of the events, Lehigh's throwers in particular have developed a strong connection to those involved with the games, however a number of runners have volunteered as well.
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"I have been honored to be associated with the Lehigh track and field team for the better part of six years," said Chip Montgomery, the Field Marshall for the Highland Games and a member of the Celtic Cultural Alliance's Board of Directors. "We have been blessed by this association. They get to tote the heavy things that the athletes throw, back to the next competitor. We have a great time at the Celtic Classic with them and they seem to enjoy it as well."
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The Games attract many well-known Highland Games athletes who travel all around the nation, and Bethlehem's games have served as the national championship event in past years.
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"I know that part of that enjoyment is discussing their particular sport with the professional athletes who compete at the event," Montgomery said. "We had a real treat for them in 2015 when Joe Novacs (silver medal winner in the Rio Olympics) showed up and shook everyone's hand."
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"Working the Highland Games gives us an awesome opportunity to get involved in the Bethlehem community," said Lehigh senior Meghan Reilly. "We are really able to embrace the arts and culture community Bethlehem is so well known for. We also get to maintain connections year to year with the Highland Games athletes, a lot of whom were track and field athletes themselves in college because the events are so closely related. Being involved in the Celtic Classic has truly been one of the highlights of my time at Lehigh as an athlete and a resident of Bethlehem."
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Chip and several other members of the Highland Field Crew return the favor each spring, making appearances at Lehigh track meets, donning their kilts and cheering on the Lehigh athletes.
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"Six years ago we were invited to the Lehigh-Lafayette indoor meet, so I requested the guys of the Highland Field Crew to come and support the team. We showed up in our kilts and have been doing it ever since. We love these kids and plan on continuing this relationship as long as possible."
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Reilly blogged about her and her teammates volunteering at this year's event and the relationship between the Lehigh program and the Celtic Classic. The full blog and photos can be found here.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Every September since 1998, thousands of people flock to downtown Bethlehem for the annual Celtic Classic and Highland Games. This weekend-long festival serves as a celebration of all things Celtic – including food, music, dancing and of course, the Highland Games.
Â
Since 2009, the Lehigh track and field programs have been volunteering their time at the Highland Games and have developed long-standing relationships with many of the athletes, as well as members of the Celtic Classic committee.
Â
As part of their volunteering duties, the Lehigh athletes serve on the games' field crew, retrieving throwing implements during events like the light hammer throw and caber toss, and return them to the competing athletes. The caber (a 15-20-foot-long wooden object similar to a telephone pole), requires several athletes to pick up and return. With the nature of the events, Lehigh's throwers in particular have developed a strong connection to those involved with the games, however a number of runners have volunteered as well.
Â
"I have been honored to be associated with the Lehigh track and field team for the better part of six years," said Chip Montgomery, the Field Marshall for the Highland Games and a member of the Celtic Cultural Alliance's Board of Directors. "We have been blessed by this association. They get to tote the heavy things that the athletes throw, back to the next competitor. We have a great time at the Celtic Classic with them and they seem to enjoy it as well."
Â
The Games attract many well-known Highland Games athletes who travel all around the nation, and Bethlehem's games have served as the national championship event in past years.
Â
"I know that part of that enjoyment is discussing their particular sport with the professional athletes who compete at the event," Montgomery said. "We had a real treat for them in 2015 when Joe Novacs (silver medal winner in the Rio Olympics) showed up and shook everyone's hand."
Â
"Working the Highland Games gives us an awesome opportunity to get involved in the Bethlehem community," said Lehigh senior Meghan Reilly. "We are really able to embrace the arts and culture community Bethlehem is so well known for. We also get to maintain connections year to year with the Highland Games athletes, a lot of whom were track and field athletes themselves in college because the events are so closely related. Being involved in the Celtic Classic has truly been one of the highlights of my time at Lehigh as an athlete and a resident of Bethlehem."
Â
Chip and several other members of the Highland Field Crew return the favor each spring, making appearances at Lehigh track meets, donning their kilts and cheering on the Lehigh athletes.
Â
"Six years ago we were invited to the Lehigh-Lafayette indoor meet, so I requested the guys of the Highland Field Crew to come and support the team. We showed up in our kilts and have been doing it ever since. We love these kids and plan on continuing this relationship as long as possible."
Â
Reilly blogged about her and her teammates volunteering at this year's event and the relationship between the Lehigh program and the Celtic Classic. The full blog and photos can be found here.
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