Friday, October 18
University Park, Pa.
Lehigh University
at
Penn State National Open
WXC finishes Penn State National Open with three top-50 finishers
10/18/2019 4:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three Lehigh runners recorded top-50 finishes at the 6K Penn State National Open on Friday. The Mountain Hawks finished 10th among the 16-team field.
"It was a solid race for us," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "I was happy that some of our runners went out there and took some risks in running out front."
When the gun sounded, Diana Hammerstone, Susie Poore, Hannah Bonaguidi and Jade Sessions raced out with other top runners around the field. As the race progressed, runners from other schools caught up and raced steady with the Brown and White throughout the middle of the race. Thanks to a strong finish, Lehigh's top-5 runners pushed hard in the final stretch to help gain position.
"Our team definitely will learn from the risks they took today," Utesch said. "We started out great, but sort of fell asleep in the middle, while then waking back up in the final stretch. They learned that we're still going to have a good finish, we just have to keep pushing throughout the middle of the race."
For the third time this year, Poore was the first finisher to cross the line for Lehigh at 21:51.7, which was good enough for 45th place. Not far behind her was Bonaguidi, as the senior finished 48th with a time of 21:53.7. The third Mountain Hawk to cross the line was Hammerstone, as the senior finished 49th at 21:55.8.
"Susie has been solidly consistent the entire year for us," stated Utesch. "She races pretty even, and she remains very poised. One thing that I've been seeing from her is that she is now kicking it in at the finish line and that's key for her."
Freshman Andrea Miller finished fourth for Lehigh in 65th place with a time of 22:14.10, while Jade Sessions rounded out the scorecard for the Mountain Hawks in 70th place with a time of 22:18.1. Friday was Miller's best performance since the opening Lehigh Invitational in which she was the second Lehigh runner to finish.
"Today proved that Andrea can go race in our top half," Utesch added. "One of the most common statements I say about freshman is that they consistently inconsistent, but now Andrea has found her role and I'm excited for her. "
Nicole Abbondandelo finished sixth for Lehigh with a time of 22:27.0, as she placed 78th, while senior Ashleigh Crawford was 84th with a time of 22:29.10.
The host school Penn State took first with a score of 31 points. The Yellow jackets of Georgia Tech finished second with 63 points. Patriot League foe Bucknell finished one spot ahead of Lehigh in ninth.
"We weren't happy that Bucknell got by us today. We're right on them and we'll be ready for them at the Patriot League Championships." concluded Utesch.
Up next, a few Lehigh runners will compete at the Leopard Invitational tomorrow morning at Lafayette.
"It was a solid race for us," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "I was happy that some of our runners went out there and took some risks in running out front."
When the gun sounded, Diana Hammerstone, Susie Poore, Hannah Bonaguidi and Jade Sessions raced out with other top runners around the field. As the race progressed, runners from other schools caught up and raced steady with the Brown and White throughout the middle of the race. Thanks to a strong finish, Lehigh's top-5 runners pushed hard in the final stretch to help gain position.
"Our team definitely will learn from the risks they took today," Utesch said. "We started out great, but sort of fell asleep in the middle, while then waking back up in the final stretch. They learned that we're still going to have a good finish, we just have to keep pushing throughout the middle of the race."
For the third time this year, Poore was the first finisher to cross the line for Lehigh at 21:51.7, which was good enough for 45th place. Not far behind her was Bonaguidi, as the senior finished 48th with a time of 21:53.7. The third Mountain Hawk to cross the line was Hammerstone, as the senior finished 49th at 21:55.8.
"Susie has been solidly consistent the entire year for us," stated Utesch. "She races pretty even, and she remains very poised. One thing that I've been seeing from her is that she is now kicking it in at the finish line and that's key for her."
Freshman Andrea Miller finished fourth for Lehigh in 65th place with a time of 22:14.10, while Jade Sessions rounded out the scorecard for the Mountain Hawks in 70th place with a time of 22:18.1. Friday was Miller's best performance since the opening Lehigh Invitational in which she was the second Lehigh runner to finish.
"Today proved that Andrea can go race in our top half," Utesch added. "One of the most common statements I say about freshman is that they consistently inconsistent, but now Andrea has found her role and I'm excited for her. "
Nicole Abbondandelo finished sixth for Lehigh with a time of 22:27.0, as she placed 78th, while senior Ashleigh Crawford was 84th with a time of 22:29.10.
The host school Penn State took first with a score of 31 points. The Yellow jackets of Georgia Tech finished second with 63 points. Patriot League foe Bucknell finished one spot ahead of Lehigh in ninth.
"We weren't happy that Bucknell got by us today. We're right on them and we'll be ready for them at the Patriot League Championships." concluded Utesch.
Up next, a few Lehigh runners will compete at the Leopard Invitational tomorrow morning at Lafayette.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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