Friday, August 29
Bethlehem, Pa.
6:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Lehigh Invitational
Photo by: Don Paul
Mountain Hawks Put Three In Top 15 at Lehigh Invitational
8/29/2025 10:51:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh's women's cross country team began their season on the Goodman Campus for Friday evening's Lehigh Invitational. The Mountain Hawks took third place against a field that included Moravian, DeSales, West Virginia, Bucknell, Muhlenberg, and Saint Joseph's. The Mountain Hawks only fell eight points behind second place West Virginia, but it was Patriot League rival Buckell that stole the show with the meet's top four finishers.
Lehigh's first finisher came in 5th place overall, as first-year Zoë Louis opened up her collegiate career with bang. Her time of 21:55.2 places her in the top group of Lehigh's women's squad.Â
"I think Zoe Louis went right off the start and put her nose right in it and ran with some really top dogs," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "I think it was a really good first time out for 6,000 meters for her."Â
Sophomore Sadie Millett was the second Mountain Hawk to finish, rounding out the meet's top ten finishers. Millett started off the season with a 20 second personal best, crossing the line at 22:29.6. Sophomore Kaya Meler was the third Mountain Hawk to finish, and the third Mountain Hawk to set a new collegiate best, finishing in 22:37.7 (15th).Â
First-year Courtney Cane (20th, 22:49.5) and junior Devon Sutton (22nd, 22:52.0) were the next two Lehigh runners to finish, starting off their seasons with solid performances. Rounding out Lehigh's top seven and the event's top thirty, were first-years Emma Hyde (23:11.1) and Katelyn Nolan (23:33.2), who came in 25th and 30th place, respectively.Â
When asked about her thoughts on the season opener, Utesch had this to say:Â
"This gave some women a chance that maybe were not necessarily top seven people last year to jump up at a pretty high level for us today. I'm pretty excited about the women's side when we put the whole squad together."
That opportunity will come when Lehigh will be back competing on the Goodman Campus in two weeks for their next meet. The Mountain Hawks will face off against Lafayette in The Rivalry on Saturday, September 13th.
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Lehigh's first finisher came in 5th place overall, as first-year Zoë Louis opened up her collegiate career with bang. Her time of 21:55.2 places her in the top group of Lehigh's women's squad.Â
"I think Zoe Louis went right off the start and put her nose right in it and ran with some really top dogs," said head coach Debbie Utesch. "I think it was a really good first time out for 6,000 meters for her."Â
Sophomore Sadie Millett was the second Mountain Hawk to finish, rounding out the meet's top ten finishers. Millett started off the season with a 20 second personal best, crossing the line at 22:29.6. Sophomore Kaya Meler was the third Mountain Hawk to finish, and the third Mountain Hawk to set a new collegiate best, finishing in 22:37.7 (15th).Â
First-year Courtney Cane (20th, 22:49.5) and junior Devon Sutton (22nd, 22:52.0) were the next two Lehigh runners to finish, starting off their seasons with solid performances. Rounding out Lehigh's top seven and the event's top thirty, were first-years Emma Hyde (23:11.1) and Katelyn Nolan (23:33.2), who came in 25th and 30th place, respectively.Â
When asked about her thoughts on the season opener, Utesch had this to say:Â
"This gave some women a chance that maybe were not necessarily top seven people last year to jump up at a pretty high level for us today. I'm pretty excited about the women's side when we put the whole squad together."
That opportunity will come when Lehigh will be back competing on the Goodman Campus in two weeks for their next meet. The Mountain Hawks will face off against Lafayette in The Rivalry on Saturday, September 13th.
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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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