Friday, October 12
University Park, PA
10:45 a.m.
Lehigh University
at
Penn State National Open
Photo by: Don Paul
Mountain Hawks Finish 25th At Penn State National Open
10/12/2018 3:55:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Lehigh women's cross country team competed in the Penn State National Open Friday, as they went up against the likes of regionally ranked Penn State, Michigan State, Princeton, Dartmouth and Iona to name a few of the other schools competing in the event.
A race that featured nationally and regionally ranked squads, the Mountain Hawks placed 25th overall. Penn State took home the win with a team score of 62 points. Bucknell (20) and Loyola (Md.) (28) were the other two Patriot League schools competing.
"I felt that we underperformed, we had a great opportunity to run up against some national and regional competition, and we didn't capitalize the opportunity. We're running tremendously as a pack, but today it made us hesitant to take chances and break out of our comfort zone," said head coach Debbie Utesch.
Junior Diana Hammerstone was the fastest runner for the Mountain Hawks with a 123rd place finish with a time of 22:11. Fellow juniors Ashleigh Crawford and Hannah Bonaguidi were the next two runners to finish for the Brown and White, with Crawford finishing 125th with a time of 22:13 and Bonaguidi finishing 147th with a time of 22:28. Among the top-five finishers for the Mountain Hawks, only 20 seconds separated them.
"I honestly think the biggest difference with Diana this year is her confidence. We talk about making decisions in a race and if they're good or bad, and one of the things she's been able to do is get in the mindset of making good decisions. When you hit your pain threshold as a distance runner, the decision to push through or pullback is the most pertinent one you make. Instead of being afraid of that threshold and not being confident that she could push through, Diana has decided to push through," said Utesch.
Lehigh isn't done this week, as it will send another squad to compete in the Lafayette Invitational Saturday in preparation for the Patriot League Championship on October 27.
Follow Lehigh Cross Country/Track and Field on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
A race that featured nationally and regionally ranked squads, the Mountain Hawks placed 25th overall. Penn State took home the win with a team score of 62 points. Bucknell (20) and Loyola (Md.) (28) were the other two Patriot League schools competing.
"I felt that we underperformed, we had a great opportunity to run up against some national and regional competition, and we didn't capitalize the opportunity. We're running tremendously as a pack, but today it made us hesitant to take chances and break out of our comfort zone," said head coach Debbie Utesch.
Junior Diana Hammerstone was the fastest runner for the Mountain Hawks with a 123rd place finish with a time of 22:11. Fellow juniors Ashleigh Crawford and Hannah Bonaguidi were the next two runners to finish for the Brown and White, with Crawford finishing 125th with a time of 22:13 and Bonaguidi finishing 147th with a time of 22:28. Among the top-five finishers for the Mountain Hawks, only 20 seconds separated them.
"I honestly think the biggest difference with Diana this year is her confidence. We talk about making decisions in a race and if they're good or bad, and one of the things she's been able to do is get in the mindset of making good decisions. When you hit your pain threshold as a distance runner, the decision to push through or pullback is the most pertinent one you make. Instead of being afraid of that threshold and not being confident that she could push through, Diana has decided to push through," said Utesch.
Lehigh isn't done this week, as it will send another squad to compete in the Lafayette Invitational Saturday in preparation for the Patriot League Championship on October 27.
Follow Lehigh Cross Country/Track and Field on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
MHT EP5 - Women's Cross Country
Thursday, November 13
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Cross Country
Wednesday, October 15
2025 Lehigh Women's Cross Country Season Preview
Thursday, August 28
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Cross Country
Wednesday, October 09
