Sunday, October 31
Bethlehem, Pa.
11 a.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Patriot League Championship
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Mountain Hawks Eager to Host Patriot League Cross Country Championship Sunday
10/29/2021 8:40:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For as many big events as Lehigh has competed in, and hosted, the women's cross country team is eager for its biggest one yet – the Patriot League Championship set for this Sunday on the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course. The 6K race is set to begin at 11 a.m. It will mark the first traditional league cross country championship in two years, after last spring's road race, which was also hosted by Lehigh.
"I think the team is very excited to return to a true cross country championship," said Lehigh head coach Debbie Utesch. "For our freshmen and sophomores, this is really a true championship experience and I think they're excited to see how that plays out. It's just a different feel. Last year was like a nice bonus to be able to do it, but didn't have the feel of what we can really do as a team in our true sport.
"Now, we've been training and racing all year truly in our sport preparing for a championship on our course," Utesch continued. "I think they're really curious. That's a big word we've used. Let's go to the line with curiosity and see how all the work we've done for the past five months plays out in this championship scenario."
Sunday is far from a singular event. It's a compilation, the pinnacle of many hours of hard work. Utesch has liked what she's seen out of these Mountain Hawks this fall.
"I think we've gotten deeper, so our depth has improved," she said. "We haven't had our top talent pull away from the rest of the squad yet, but we have a tremendously deep team that's running very well. We have to get our pack to start up further in the individual standings."
Utesch has liked the fact that different student-athletes have led the way in different races. Junior Madison Zaun was the first Mountain Hawk to finish in the Lehigh Invitational and in the Lafayette dual, while senior Jade Session led Lehigh in the Paul Short Run Gold Race. Senior Jamie Zamrin came in first at the Penn State National Open. A day later, freshman Kimi Quayle led the way at the Lafayette Leopard Invitational.
"The team has developed a lot of trust in each other," said Utesch. "The number one position has been shared across our squad, so I think there's a lot of trust that if somebody is having a bit of an off day, there's a teammate right there to pick them up."
That said, Utesch knows for the Mountain Hawks to finish high in the Patriot League team standings, they need student-athletes in the running for All-League (first through seventh earns first team while eighth through 14th garners second team).
The Mountain Hawks are undoubtedly ready to leave it all on the course on Sunday, a course they're very familiar with – from not only training, but also racing.
"In talking to the women, they're excited to be home," said Utesch. "They have a good sense of the undulation of the terrain and a good sense of their strategy as far as where they want to be able to shake some things up mid-race.
"To make some noise, we need two-to-three runners in All-Patriot League finishing positions," Utesch continued. "We've been running very tightly all year, so I don't expect that to change, but it goes back to where that pack starts."
We will find out on Sunday.
"I think the team is very excited to return to a true cross country championship," said Lehigh head coach Debbie Utesch. "For our freshmen and sophomores, this is really a true championship experience and I think they're excited to see how that plays out. It's just a different feel. Last year was like a nice bonus to be able to do it, but didn't have the feel of what we can really do as a team in our true sport.
"Now, we've been training and racing all year truly in our sport preparing for a championship on our course," Utesch continued. "I think they're really curious. That's a big word we've used. Let's go to the line with curiosity and see how all the work we've done for the past five months plays out in this championship scenario."
Sunday is far from a singular event. It's a compilation, the pinnacle of many hours of hard work. Utesch has liked what she's seen out of these Mountain Hawks this fall.
"I think we've gotten deeper, so our depth has improved," she said. "We haven't had our top talent pull away from the rest of the squad yet, but we have a tremendously deep team that's running very well. We have to get our pack to start up further in the individual standings."
Utesch has liked the fact that different student-athletes have led the way in different races. Junior Madison Zaun was the first Mountain Hawk to finish in the Lehigh Invitational and in the Lafayette dual, while senior Jade Session led Lehigh in the Paul Short Run Gold Race. Senior Jamie Zamrin came in first at the Penn State National Open. A day later, freshman Kimi Quayle led the way at the Lafayette Leopard Invitational.
"The team has developed a lot of trust in each other," said Utesch. "The number one position has been shared across our squad, so I think there's a lot of trust that if somebody is having a bit of an off day, there's a teammate right there to pick them up."
That said, Utesch knows for the Mountain Hawks to finish high in the Patriot League team standings, they need student-athletes in the running for All-League (first through seventh earns first team while eighth through 14th garners second team).
The Mountain Hawks are undoubtedly ready to leave it all on the course on Sunday, a course they're very familiar with – from not only training, but also racing.
"In talking to the women, they're excited to be home," said Utesch. "They have a good sense of the undulation of the terrain and a good sense of their strategy as far as where they want to be able to shake some things up mid-race.
"To make some noise, we need two-to-three runners in All-Patriot League finishing positions," Utesch continued. "We've been running very tightly all year, so I don't expect that to change, but it goes back to where that pack starts."
We will find out on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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