Lehigh University Athletics
Sunday, October 31
Bethlehem, Pa.
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Patriot League Championship
Photo by: Don Paul
Lehigh Ready for Patriot League Championship Sunday
10/29/2021 12:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a busy fall schedule, the Lehigh men's cross country team is ready for the culmination on Sunday – the Patriot League Championship, hosted by Lehigh on the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course. The 8K race is set to begin at 12 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a strong eighth-place finish at the Princeton Invitational two weekends ago.
"We had hoped that we were going to be in really good shape, primed and ready not only physically, but also mentally to go in and compete at a high level for the championship. As we sit here today, I think we're ready for that," said Lehigh head coach Todd Etters. "Physically, we're in great shape. I feel like training went pretty well all season. Obviously, you race each and every weekend wanting to improve and I think we did that over the course of the season. Now it's just time for our team to mentally remain confident and focused on the task at hand."
That task is putting out its best performance possible on Sunday, and competing for a league championship. Some people may think of cross country as an individual sport, but these Mountain Hawks have proven it truly takes a team. Intangibles should prove them well heading into this weekend.
"From a support standpoint, we're not just a team," said Etters. "We represent a family – a group of guys who support each other in every facet of what they do. Our team is very close, they get along, they push each other, challenge each other and hold each other accountable. That's really what we're all about. So, when we get out and race, I think those qualities are what are really going to help us accomplish our goals."
Junior Connor Melko has been the first Mountain Hawk to finish in all four meets he's competed in this season, most recently finishing 25th overall at Princeton. Classmate Tyler French and graduate student Seth Slavin have alternated second-place finishes behind Melko.
Going into Sunday, the Mountain Hawks know they just have to worry about themselves.
"In our sport, you can't really control what the other teams are doing," said Etters. "There's no real strategy that's going to take out the best runners of the other teams. We can't double team them, triple team them or anything like that. We just have to focus on what we need to do well."
And what are some of those keys?
"I think it starts with everyone communicating openly now leading up to the race and certainly during the race about what they're seeing," said Etters. "We'll certainly have some strategies that we talk about, but we're not going to be locked into one set strategy. We're going to hopefully have the flexibility to adjust to however the race unfolds."
Among the variables on Sunday could be weather. Rain is in the forecast Friday, Saturday, and even into Sunday. But even if it's clear come Sunday, the course could be saturated. That's where the mental piece comes into play.
"If you're mentally tough and you're prepared, the conditions don't matter," said Etters. "I think the stronger, tougher teams really aren't affected by the conditions out there. We'll definitely not take it for granted. We'll be prepared for whatever happens, but if it doesn't affect you, then it's an advantage because it will probably affect someone."
The Mountain Hawks are grateful and excited to be returning to a true Patriot League Championship, following last spring's road race. Having another race at home is an added bonus.
"We love being at home," said Etters. "There's no doubt about that. Any team that has our course and our setup would love to be at home too. We're spoiled.
"This is what we sign up for," Etters continued. "The regular season we go through is always great and fun, but there's one championship a year in cross country. There's no next week to rebound from it, so you have to bring your best. The Patriot League Championship is the one that counts the most in our minds and there really is no tomorrow for a lot of our guys.
"I want them to step up and recognize the importance of it, but also realize that we're just asking them to do something they do day in and day out."
"We had hoped that we were going to be in really good shape, primed and ready not only physically, but also mentally to go in and compete at a high level for the championship. As we sit here today, I think we're ready for that," said Lehigh head coach Todd Etters. "Physically, we're in great shape. I feel like training went pretty well all season. Obviously, you race each and every weekend wanting to improve and I think we did that over the course of the season. Now it's just time for our team to mentally remain confident and focused on the task at hand."
That task is putting out its best performance possible on Sunday, and competing for a league championship. Some people may think of cross country as an individual sport, but these Mountain Hawks have proven it truly takes a team. Intangibles should prove them well heading into this weekend.
"From a support standpoint, we're not just a team," said Etters. "We represent a family – a group of guys who support each other in every facet of what they do. Our team is very close, they get along, they push each other, challenge each other and hold each other accountable. That's really what we're all about. So, when we get out and race, I think those qualities are what are really going to help us accomplish our goals."
Junior Connor Melko has been the first Mountain Hawk to finish in all four meets he's competed in this season, most recently finishing 25th overall at Princeton. Classmate Tyler French and graduate student Seth Slavin have alternated second-place finishes behind Melko.
Going into Sunday, the Mountain Hawks know they just have to worry about themselves.
"In our sport, you can't really control what the other teams are doing," said Etters. "There's no real strategy that's going to take out the best runners of the other teams. We can't double team them, triple team them or anything like that. We just have to focus on what we need to do well."
And what are some of those keys?
"I think it starts with everyone communicating openly now leading up to the race and certainly during the race about what they're seeing," said Etters. "We'll certainly have some strategies that we talk about, but we're not going to be locked into one set strategy. We're going to hopefully have the flexibility to adjust to however the race unfolds."
Among the variables on Sunday could be weather. Rain is in the forecast Friday, Saturday, and even into Sunday. But even if it's clear come Sunday, the course could be saturated. That's where the mental piece comes into play.
"If you're mentally tough and you're prepared, the conditions don't matter," said Etters. "I think the stronger, tougher teams really aren't affected by the conditions out there. We'll definitely not take it for granted. We'll be prepared for whatever happens, but if it doesn't affect you, then it's an advantage because it will probably affect someone."
The Mountain Hawks are grateful and excited to be returning to a true Patriot League Championship, following last spring's road race. Having another race at home is an added bonus.
"We love being at home," said Etters. "There's no doubt about that. Any team that has our course and our setup would love to be at home too. We're spoiled.
"This is what we sign up for," Etters continued. "The regular season we go through is always great and fun, but there's one championship a year in cross country. There's no next week to rebound from it, so you have to bring your best. The Patriot League Championship is the one that counts the most in our minds and there really is no tomorrow for a lot of our guys.
"I want them to step up and recognize the importance of it, but also realize that we're just asking them to do something they do day in and day out."
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