Friday, September 3
Bethlehem, Pa.
6:15 P.M.
Lehigh University
vs
Lehigh Invitational
MXC records three runners inside the top 10 to earn a second-place finish at Lehigh Invitational
9/3/2021 8:24:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's cross country team began its season on a high note, finishing second in the Lehigh Invitational on Friday evening with a score of 58. The Princeton Tigers took home the win out of the eight-team field. The Brown and White had three runners place inside the top 10 in Connor Melko, Tyler French and Seth Slavin.
"I saw our guys fight hard today. Our team competed very hard and I'm proud of them, said head coach Todd Etters. "We have to do a little bit better job of running together but I'm very pleased with how this evening played out."
At the quarter mark of the race, the junior Melko was in the front six, joining a trio of Princeton runners and two Monmouth guys, while Slavin rounded out the top 10. Brad DeMassa, Nick Wilson, Avery Lederer, Jacob Martinez, Aidan Lynch and French were all together around the 20-25 spot.
As the race progressed to the three-quarter mark, Melko was toe-to-toe in the top five with three Princeton runners, while Slavin maintained the 10th spot. French broke away from his teammates and moved inside the top 15 at the three-quarter mark, while Wilson and Lederer were just outside the top 20.
"We have to have front runners," added Etters. "The bigger the meet is the more it matters. We have the guys to go up there in the front and mix it up. We can do that."
In the end, Melko (18:18.0) was the first Lehigh runner to finish, coming in fifth, while French (18:29.1) catapulted toward the end to record a seventh-place finish. Slavin (18:44.6) was the third Mountain Hawk to finish, finishing 10th.
"Connor has to keep building the confidence the guys he ran with today are all outstanding runners and Connor is right there with them. He can continue to close the gap and he's an extremely hard worker. There's a lot he's doing right." said Etters.
"Tyler French ran a very smart race this evening," Etters added. "He never lost composure when you are passing that many guys late in the race that is a huge confidence booster. It's great to see and I think his success is going to continue for him."
"Seth has been itching to get back out there with his friends, his teammates, doing battle with them. Today was a big relief for him to go out and compete. He has a work ethic that is out of this world and he's going to be fine for us."
Lederer (18:48.6) was the fourth Lehigh finisher as he finished 14th for the Mountain Hawks, while the freshman Lynch was the fifth Lehigh finisher and came in 26th with a time of 18:52.1. James Keaney finished 31st with a time of 18:58.5 and Wilson finished right behind him in 32nd at 18:59.0.
Up next, the Mountain Hawks will have next week off to rest up and prepare for the Lehigh-Lafayette dual meet in Easton on September 18.
The men's XC finishes second in the Lehigh Invitational with a score of 61 points. The Mountain Hawks had 3 runners place inside the top 10 in Connor Melko, Tyler French and Seth Slavin.#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/EBBjBUU8od
— Lehigh TF & XC (@LehighTFXC) September 3, 2021
"I saw our guys fight hard today. Our team competed very hard and I'm proud of them, said head coach Todd Etters. "We have to do a little bit better job of running together but I'm very pleased with how this evening played out."
At the quarter mark of the race, the junior Melko was in the front six, joining a trio of Princeton runners and two Monmouth guys, while Slavin rounded out the top 10. Brad DeMassa, Nick Wilson, Avery Lederer, Jacob Martinez, Aidan Lynch and French were all together around the 20-25 spot.
As the race progressed to the three-quarter mark, Melko was toe-to-toe in the top five with three Princeton runners, while Slavin maintained the 10th spot. French broke away from his teammates and moved inside the top 15 at the three-quarter mark, while Wilson and Lederer were just outside the top 20.
"We have to have front runners," added Etters. "The bigger the meet is the more it matters. We have the guys to go up there in the front and mix it up. We can do that."
In the end, Melko (18:18.0) was the first Lehigh runner to finish, coming in fifth, while French (18:29.1) catapulted toward the end to record a seventh-place finish. Slavin (18:44.6) was the third Mountain Hawk to finish, finishing 10th.
"Connor has to keep building the confidence the guys he ran with today are all outstanding runners and Connor is right there with them. He can continue to close the gap and he's an extremely hard worker. There's a lot he's doing right." said Etters.
"Tyler French ran a very smart race this evening," Etters added. "He never lost composure when you are passing that many guys late in the race that is a huge confidence booster. It's great to see and I think his success is going to continue for him."
"Seth has been itching to get back out there with his friends, his teammates, doing battle with them. Today was a big relief for him to go out and compete. He has a work ethic that is out of this world and he's going to be fine for us."
Lederer (18:48.6) was the fourth Lehigh finisher as he finished 14th for the Mountain Hawks, while the freshman Lynch was the fifth Lehigh finisher and came in 26th with a time of 18:52.1. James Keaney finished 31st with a time of 18:58.5 and Wilson finished right behind him in 32nd at 18:59.0.
Up next, the Mountain Hawks will have next week off to rest up and prepare for the Lehigh-Lafayette dual meet in Easton on September 18.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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