Mountain Hawks continue prep for Patriot League Championships with Monmouth Invitational this weekend

Friday, February 14

West Long Branch, NJ

Lehigh University

Monmouth Winter College Invite

Mountain Hawks continue prep for Patriot League Championships with Monmouth Invitational this weekend

2/13/2020 12:35:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Last Time Out Live Results for Monmouth

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With its most important event coming up in roughly two weeks, the Lehigh women's track and field team will take another step towards preparing for the Patriot League Championship. This weekend, the Mountain Hawks will participate in the two-day Monmouth Winter College Invite. This weekend's competition will begin on Friday evening and will be held at the OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Last time out, Lehigh rested a majority of its athletes, however the Mountain Hawks still had members of their roster step in and rise to the occasion. Eight Brown and White athletes set PRs at the UAlbany Winter Classic in Staten Island last Friday.

Senior Mary Casey finished third in the 1000m with a time of 2:57.98, while the 4x400 relay team of Madison Hackman, Camari Griffin, Alexis Smith and Morgan McConnell took fourth at 3:56.83. Two-sport athlete Mirandy Royds finished 11^th in the 3000m with a time of 10:15.83.

With its regular season winding down, Lehigh has mustered together impressive performances from a handful of its athletes. Hackman, McConnell, Brittany Curtin, Brett DeWeese, Maddy Harding, Madisyn Hawkins, Teasha McKoy, Jordan Otto, Brooke Schaeffer and Jade Sessions have all paced the Mountain Hawks this season. With the bulk of their schedule behind them, the Mountain Hawks now know that the PLC is vastly approaching.

"I think we've had a nice and steady build. We're definitely moving towards our peak," head coach Matt Utesch said about how this year's team compares to previous years. "I wouldn't say we've come out like gangbusters. We've been constantly improving and working hard in practices. I'm confident you'll see a whole bunch of PRs at the PLC. It's going to be more impressive since it'll be on a flat track. We still have work to do, however I'd say we're in the upper seventy percent."

After highly competitive battles in consecutive weeks, notable key athletes were absent from competition last Friday. No need to worry because Utesch and his staff are just making sure that the athletes are fully healthy and ready to go for PLC, as the big event is only two weeks away.

"We have to weigh out whether or not we want to have kids compete. Risking a nagging injury or just taking a week off, knowing we can rest and work on it at practice." Utesch explaining the process of what goes on in deciding if an athlete should compete so close to the PLC.

The start of Friday's competition will begin in the evening and conclude Saturday evening. Some notable teams who will also compete at Monmouth this weekend will be Lafayette, Saint Peter's, Wagner, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Nyack, Montclair State and Wesley. After Friday, the Mountain Hawks can look forward to next weekend at Bucknell. It's no secret that the two teams have a little rivalry going on.

"There's no need for me to get this team fired up for next weekend. They have really good kids, but our really good kids want to beat them. It's very similar to the Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry.

Up next, Lehigh will travel to the Bucknell Tune-Up next Friday. This will mark the last competition before the Patriot League Championships.

PRs from last Friday's UAlbany Winter Classic
Elyse Barkstrom – Mile (5:10.83)
Mary Casey – 1,000m (2:57.98
Annalise Davis – Mile (5:19.10)
Claire Gatermann – Pole Vault (3.20m)
Emma Harrington – Weight Throw (10.89m)
Monica McGavin – 800m (2:20.22)
Kaja Skerlj – 400m (59.32)
Giavanna Tabbachino – 3K (11:15.55)