Friday, November 14
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
Photo by: Don Paul
Lehigh Finishes Its Season Finishing in the Top Half of the Field at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
11/14/2025 4:13:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh hosted the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional at the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course on Friday afternoon. As a team, the Mountain Hawks placed 15th overall out of 30 total teams, scoring 398 points. West Virginia took home both the team and individual crowns on the women's side. They won the meet with 56 total points with Mountaineers Joy Naukot and Mercy Kinyanjui taking home the top two spots, both under the previous Goodman Campus Cross Country Course 6k record.
The duo of sophomore Kaitlyn Highduch and junior Grace Hughes once again led the field of Mountain Hawks. Highduch led the two in 51st place, running 21:12.5. Hughes was not too far behind in 67th, and she finished in 21:27.9.
Senior Lucy Afanasewicz finished third for Lehigh in her final collegiate cross country race. This was her 12th straight appearance in Lehigh's top three runners, going all the way back to her sophomore year. Afanasewicz finished her illustrious career with a 79th place finish in a time of 21:43.5.
"Lucy [Afanasewicz] has had a great career," head coach Debbie Utesch praised. "She's been in the top three her entire career here for four years. Then to see Kaitlyn [Highduch] be able to run really well up front. Grace Hughes took a chance early and it stung her a little bit, but it put a really nice bow on what has been a fabulous season."
Sisters Hope and Grace Trimmer were the next two Mountain Hawks to finish. Hope capped off the season with a new personal best time. The junior ran 22:02.3, placing 101st. Grace ended her first collegiate season with a 118th place finish, crossing the line at 22:21.5.
"Hope Trimmer over the course of the last two races has kind of taken out some demons on her home course and has those beat in the rearview mirror," Utesch explained.
The final two Lehigh runners were junior Devon Sutton and first-year Zoë Louis. Sutton ended her season running 22:47.9 to place 144th. Louis completed the final race of her first season in 22:54.2, placing 154th.
"Out of the seven women we ran, we had two first-years and then we had Devon Sutton, that's really finishing her first full year of cross country," Utesch said. "Just about half our squad were first timers out there, which is a great opportunity for them to see this level of competition. We were really fortunate to have a front trio of women that are now all in our top-ten all-time list on this course. What a great opportunity for these women that are coming back to keep chasing both those times on our course, but also the level of performance that those women have been able to set an example of how to compete at this level."
The Mountain Hawks now turn their attention towards the indoor track season.
The duo of sophomore Kaitlyn Highduch and junior Grace Hughes once again led the field of Mountain Hawks. Highduch led the two in 51st place, running 21:12.5. Hughes was not too far behind in 67th, and she finished in 21:27.9.
Senior Lucy Afanasewicz finished third for Lehigh in her final collegiate cross country race. This was her 12th straight appearance in Lehigh's top three runners, going all the way back to her sophomore year. Afanasewicz finished her illustrious career with a 79th place finish in a time of 21:43.5.
"Lucy [Afanasewicz] has had a great career," head coach Debbie Utesch praised. "She's been in the top three her entire career here for four years. Then to see Kaitlyn [Highduch] be able to run really well up front. Grace Hughes took a chance early and it stung her a little bit, but it put a really nice bow on what has been a fabulous season."
Sisters Hope and Grace Trimmer were the next two Mountain Hawks to finish. Hope capped off the season with a new personal best time. The junior ran 22:02.3, placing 101st. Grace ended her first collegiate season with a 118th place finish, crossing the line at 22:21.5.
"Hope Trimmer over the course of the last two races has kind of taken out some demons on her home course and has those beat in the rearview mirror," Utesch explained.
The final two Lehigh runners were junior Devon Sutton and first-year Zoë Louis. Sutton ended her season running 22:47.9 to place 144th. Louis completed the final race of her first season in 22:54.2, placing 154th.
"Out of the seven women we ran, we had two first-years and then we had Devon Sutton, that's really finishing her first full year of cross country," Utesch said. "Just about half our squad were first timers out there, which is a great opportunity for them to see this level of competition. We were really fortunate to have a front trio of women that are now all in our top-ten all-time list on this course. What a great opportunity for these women that are coming back to keep chasing both those times on our course, but also the level of performance that those women have been able to set an example of how to compete at this level."
The Mountain Hawks now turn their attention towards the indoor track season.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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