Friday, October 17
Princeton, N.J.
11:15 AM
Lehigh University
at
Princeton Fall Classic
Photo by: Don Paul
Barbato Leads Lehigh With a Big Performance at the Princeton Fall Classic
10/17/2025 3:57:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
PRINCETON, N.J. - Lehigh men's cross country competed at Princeton University for the Princeton Fall Classic on Friday morning, the Mountain Hawks' second away meet of the season. The Mountain Hawks placed 28th out of 31 teams, scoring 803 points.Â
"A lot of the men made a jump to a new level in our last competition," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "Today they were challenged to take it on the road to a new race on a new course against an even high level of competition."
Senior Adam Barbato was the brightest light for Lehigh on the sunny New Jersey morning. He placed just inside the top 100 at 95th overall, and his time of 24:22.7 was the fastest he has run over 8000 meters. Ryan Baker was the next Mountain Hawk to finish. The junior placed 158th with a time of 24:54.8. Sophomore Will Mrozinski also had a great day in his home state. He ran his fastest 8000-meter race, finishing in 25:13.6, and he worked his way up more than 100 spots over the course of the race to place 209th.Â
Senior Connor Malinger and junior Derek Coceano were the next two finishers for the Mountain Hawks, placing 225th and 230th respectively. They both ran under the 25:30 mark for the first time, with Malinger running 25:20.4 and Coceano, a proud New Jersey native, running 25:23.6. Junior Dylan Cunnignham and senior Henry Burd round out the top seven for Lehigh. Cunningham crossed the line in 25:29.3 to finish 237th, and Burd 242nd at 25:32.0.Â
"As a full team, we underperformed and didn't really put ourselves in a position to be race ready and competitive with some of our peer schools," explained Coach Utesch when asked about her thought on the race. "We did have some individual bright spots. Adam [Barbato] put himself out there and Connor Malinger raced gritty. The best thing is we are back home for the Patriot League Championship and we are wiser and hungrier and will be ready to complete."
The Mountain Hawks head back to Haverford College for their next meet. They will compete at the Haverford Invitational on Friday, October 24.
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"A lot of the men made a jump to a new level in our last competition," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "Today they were challenged to take it on the road to a new race on a new course against an even high level of competition."
Senior Adam Barbato was the brightest light for Lehigh on the sunny New Jersey morning. He placed just inside the top 100 at 95th overall, and his time of 24:22.7 was the fastest he has run over 8000 meters. Ryan Baker was the next Mountain Hawk to finish. The junior placed 158th with a time of 24:54.8. Sophomore Will Mrozinski also had a great day in his home state. He ran his fastest 8000-meter race, finishing in 25:13.6, and he worked his way up more than 100 spots over the course of the race to place 209th.Â
Senior Connor Malinger and junior Derek Coceano were the next two finishers for the Mountain Hawks, placing 225th and 230th respectively. They both ran under the 25:30 mark for the first time, with Malinger running 25:20.4 and Coceano, a proud New Jersey native, running 25:23.6. Junior Dylan Cunnignham and senior Henry Burd round out the top seven for Lehigh. Cunningham crossed the line in 25:29.3 to finish 237th, and Burd 242nd at 25:32.0.Â
"As a full team, we underperformed and didn't really put ourselves in a position to be race ready and competitive with some of our peer schools," explained Coach Utesch when asked about her thought on the race. "We did have some individual bright spots. Adam [Barbato] put himself out there and Connor Malinger raced gritty. The best thing is we are back home for the Patriot League Championship and we are wiser and hungrier and will be ready to complete."
The Mountain Hawks head back to Haverford College for their next meet. They will compete at the Haverford Invitational on Friday, October 24.
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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
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