Saturday, September 14
Bethlehem, Pa.
10:00 A.M.
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Photo by: Don Paul
Women's Cross Country Races Rival Lafayette On Saturday
9/13/2019 9:31:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Looking to capture its 15th straight win over Lafayette, the Lehigh women's cross country team will be at the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course on Saturday as they host Lafayette. The women's race is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.
Last weekend, the women's team previewed the Patriot League Championship course as they ran in the Harry Lang Invitational. Racing only a 4.8K, the Mountain Hawks finished fifth among the seven teams that competed. Leading the Brown and White was senior Ashleigh Crawford who finished 15th overall with a time of 18:06.90. Crawford ran with the front runners out of the start, while Jade Sessions, Elyse Barkstrom and Madison Zaun started off under control and finished the race strong.
The first two races of the season saw Lehigh compete with a split squad. Saturday's race with Lehigh will be the first time the Mountain hawks will compete with a full squad.
"I think one of the most exciting things about our squad is even though we raced split squads the past two weekends, we've been really running well as a pack," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "Now we're going to put everyone at the line together. I'm very excited to see how it shakes out and who emerges as our front runners.
This will be the second time that Lehigh races at its home course as they hosted the Lehigh Invitational two weeks ago. With the Brown and White already racing at Goodman, does home field advantage come into play? "Our freshman are getting more familiar with the course. Racing the Lehigh Invitational or working out on a couple parts of the course," stated Utesch. "For our upperclassmen, it's always great for them because it's a basis of comparison over their home course from year to year. Even though the dual meet is very strategic, it's nice to be familiar with the terrain you're going to be crossing.
Senior Diana Hammerstone, one of Lehigh's top runners is expected to make her 2019 debut on Saturday. Hammerstone missed the first two fall competitions. With Hammerstone back, Utesch will bring her full team to the starting line on Saturday looking to continue the trend of topping the Leopards.
Lehigh fans can also expect to see the top runners from the Lehigh Invitational in action in Susie Poore, Nicole Abbondandelo, Andrea Miller, Hannah Bonaguidi, Martina Sell and Kara Bonner.
"We are trying for our 15th straight win against Lafayette, but we will not overlook them," stated Utesch. "They are a much-improved team and have a phenomenal front runner (Autumn Sands). Lafayette has a lot of young athletes in their program that gives them more depth than they have had in the past.
Sands, Lafayette's top runner, will lead the Leopards on Saturday. The sophomore finished fifth in the Towson Invitational (2.49 miles) as Lafayette won the day, coming ahead of Delaware, Towson, Loyola and Coppin State.
Check back Saturday afternoon to see if the women's cross country team kicked-off the 2019-20 "The Rivalry" with a win.
Last weekend, the women's team previewed the Patriot League Championship course as they ran in the Harry Lang Invitational. Racing only a 4.8K, the Mountain Hawks finished fifth among the seven teams that competed. Leading the Brown and White was senior Ashleigh Crawford who finished 15th overall with a time of 18:06.90. Crawford ran with the front runners out of the start, while Jade Sessions, Elyse Barkstrom and Madison Zaun started off under control and finished the race strong.
The first two races of the season saw Lehigh compete with a split squad. Saturday's race with Lehigh will be the first time the Mountain hawks will compete with a full squad.
"I think one of the most exciting things about our squad is even though we raced split squads the past two weekends, we've been really running well as a pack," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "Now we're going to put everyone at the line together. I'm very excited to see how it shakes out and who emerges as our front runners.
This will be the second time that Lehigh races at its home course as they hosted the Lehigh Invitational two weeks ago. With the Brown and White already racing at Goodman, does home field advantage come into play? "Our freshman are getting more familiar with the course. Racing the Lehigh Invitational or working out on a couple parts of the course," stated Utesch. "For our upperclassmen, it's always great for them because it's a basis of comparison over their home course from year to year. Even though the dual meet is very strategic, it's nice to be familiar with the terrain you're going to be crossing.
Senior Diana Hammerstone, one of Lehigh's top runners is expected to make her 2019 debut on Saturday. Hammerstone missed the first two fall competitions. With Hammerstone back, Utesch will bring her full team to the starting line on Saturday looking to continue the trend of topping the Leopards.
Lehigh fans can also expect to see the top runners from the Lehigh Invitational in action in Susie Poore, Nicole Abbondandelo, Andrea Miller, Hannah Bonaguidi, Martina Sell and Kara Bonner.
"We are trying for our 15th straight win against Lafayette, but we will not overlook them," stated Utesch. "They are a much-improved team and have a phenomenal front runner (Autumn Sands). Lafayette has a lot of young athletes in their program that gives them more depth than they have had in the past.
Sands, Lafayette's top runner, will lead the Leopards on Saturday. The sophomore finished fifth in the Towson Invitational (2.49 miles) as Lafayette won the day, coming ahead of Delaware, Towson, Loyola and Coppin State.
Check back Saturday afternoon to see if the women's cross country team kicked-off the 2019-20 "The Rivalry" with a win.
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
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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