Cassidy Named Outstanding Field Performer as Lehigh Places Third at Patriot League Championships

Friday, May 5

Bethlehem, Pa.

All Day

Lehigh University

Patriot League Championships

Photo by: Don Paul

Cassidy Named Outstanding Field Performer as Lehigh Places Third at Patriot League Championships

5/6/2017 9:21:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Complete Results: TFRRS | PDF
Photo Gallery

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's track and field team took home a third place finish on Saturday after the final day of the Patriot League Championships at the Goodman Campus Track and Field Complex. The Mountain Hawks won four individual championships on the women's side, including two from sophomore Maura Henderson in the 5,000m run, plus a school and Patriot League record in the 3,000m steeplechase. Senior high jumper Courtney Avery won her third straight outdoor title (seventh overall), and senior Sarah Cassidy became just the second female in school history to eclipse the 5,000-point plateau in her heptathlon victory. Cassidy also finished runner-up in the high jump and placed seventh in the javelin and shot put en route to being voted the Outstanding Female Field Performer of the Meet.

Senior Katie Hatler also landed on the podium in second place in the 100m hurdles. Freshman Ashleigh Crawford (steeplechase), junior Laura Barnes (1500m), junior Amanda Youngblood (shot put) and senior Brittany Le Jouan (high jump) all tallied third place finishes on Saturday. As a team, Lehigh finished with 166 points, Boston U. took second with 171.5 points, and Bucknell pulled away late to take home the team title with 194.5 points.

Including competition from Friday, Lehigh's women finished the championships with 14 podium finishes, 11 all-league performers, four individual championships, two school records and one Patriot League record.

"We threw everything we had at them," said head coach Matt Utesch. "It's so good to see such hard work come to fruition and see the reward of that. I would have loved to have come away with the trophy, be in the top two or even win it here at home, but we scored a lot of points from all over the place."

(5/6/2017) 2017 PL Track & Field Championships

In the heptathlon, Cassidy set personal bests in three events; the high jump, long jump and 200m dash. A Lehigh multi has now won the event five times in the last six years. Sophomore Tyler Bannister also had a strong showing in the heptathlon, finishing just off the podium in fourth place overall with a personal record 4,426 points.

"Sarah basically did a decathlon today," Utesch said. "She did 10 events including those outside of the hep. She continued a long tradition in what has been here for a while now with our multi event athletes. I'm so proud to see how far she's come."

In Saturday's track events, sophomore Clare Severe (PR-2:09.90) placed fourth in the 800m run and Marissa Karl (2:12.93) also scored team points by finishing sixth overall. In the 1500m, Barnes (4:34.03) cracked the podium in third place, senior Brenna Clark (4:37.30) finished fourth and freshman Hannah Bonaguidi scored in eighth place.

On Saturday morning, the 3,000m steeplechase saw Henderson (10:16.93) break her own school record by 1.75 seconds and smash the PL Championship meet record of 10:41.09, previously held by Lehigh's Lucinda Hull (2002). She was joined on the podium by Crawford (10:46.76). Henderson kept the momentum rolling into the afternoon, winning her second distance event of the day by taking home the 5K title in 16:37.34.

"What a machine," Utesch said of Henderson. "Anybody who missed those races missed watching a finely tuned machine. I have to give credit to Debbie Utesch for coaching her. She still has some work to do, but man she can run."

Hatler added to Lehigh's medal count by taking silver in the 100m hurdles, crossing the line 14.12 seconds. In the 400m hurdles, sophomore Noreen Byrne (1:03.09) took home points in sixth place.

In the field, Lehigh dominated the high jump by taking six of the top eight spots, with Avery completing the three-peat at the top, tying the PLC record at 1.79 meters. Cassidy (1.70m) took second, Le Jouan (1.65m) tied for third, sophomore Tyler Bannister took fifth, freshman Alexis Wintle (1.60m) placed sixth and sophomore Olivia Reinold (1.55m) tied for eighth. Lehigh collected 31 points in the event, which at the time moved them to within two points of first place behind Bucknell.

"Courtney doesn't do anything but win," Utesch said. "It is so nice to know that you have that win. But, if you take a look at that event and the number of girls who scored…that's a lot of points."

Senior Kiana Wright (11.53m) notched points for her seventh place triple jump. Youngblood set PRs with her third place finish in the shot put (13.87m) and eighth place tally in the hammer (47.20m).

PATRIOT LEAGUE WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
Final Standings
1. Bucknell - 194.5
2. Boston U. - 171.5
3. Lehigh - 166
4. Army West Point - 125
5. Navy - 85.5
6. Holy Cross - 70.5
7. Loyola (Md.) - 21
8. Lafayette - 17

Most Outstanding Track Athlete: Toria Levy, Boston University
Most Outstanding Field Athlete: Sarah Cassidy, Lehigh
Most Outstanding Rookie: Calli McMullen, Army West Point
Coach of the Year: Kevin Donner, Bucknell

First Team All-Patriot League (first place finishers)
Lehigh: Maura Henderson (3,000m Steeplechase, 5,000m), Sarah Cassidy (Heptathlon), Courtney Avery (High Jump)

Second Team All-Patriot League (second place finishers)
Lehigh: Amanda Youngblood (Discus), Brooke Schaeffer (4x800m relay), Marissa Karl (4x800m relay), Hanna Brosky (4x800m relay), Clare Severe (4x800m relay), Katie Hatler (100m hurdles), Sarah Cassidy (High Jump)

Follow Lehigh Track and Field on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.