Lehigh Runs to 12th Place Finish at NCAA Regionals

Friday, November 11

University Park, Pa.

12 p.m.

Lehigh University

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional

Lehigh Runs to 12th Place Finish at NCAA Regionals

11/11/2016 6:24:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

Complete Results (TFRRS)
Lehigh Women's XC Results Sheet

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Senior Alexander Fitzgerald led the way for the Lehigh men's cross country team on Friday afternoon, as the Mountain Hawks raced to a 12th place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, hosted by Penn State.

Fitzgerald led the way for Lehigh with his 40th place overall finish with a time of 31:37.8. He was followed by junior Patrick Reilly in 52nd place (31:52.3) and freshman Matt Kravitz in 59th place (31:58.6). Sophomore Samuel Layding finished fourth for the Mountain Hawks in 66th place (32:06.9), followed by Ryan Cooney (74th/32:16.3), John Tolbert (78th/32:19.1) and Jeffrey Kirshenbaum (148th/35:59.3) to round out Lehigh's seven competitors.

"Our goal was to finish higher," head coach Todd Etters said after the race. "We did some stuff well, and there were other areas we definitely could've run better. To take the next step with our program, we need to capitalize on a day like today and run to our full potential."

Friday's race marked the team-leading third time this season Fitzgerald led the way for the Mountain Hawks' pack.

"We have a great senior class," Etters said. "Some of the guys have been through a lot. I think Alex (Fitzgerald) is still not where he wants to be, but he's comfortable being a guy in front for us. He wants it and needs to execute a little better, but he is getting closer each race.

"Our guys probably need to have more confidence in themselves and race a little tougher in the bigger moments," Etters said. "We're at the point we have depth, but we have to capitalize on that and our guys have to get more comfortable with taking more chances."

Lehigh will continue its training schedule in anticipation for the upcoming indoor track season, which is scheduled to begin Dec. 2 at Rauch Fieldhouse with the Lehigh Season opener.