Saturday, September 13
Bethlehem, Pa.
10:00 AM
Lehigh University
19
vs
41
Lafayette College
Photo by: Don Paul
Lehigh Sweeps the Podium with a Rivalry Victory
9/13/2025 7:05:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh men's cross country was back on the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course on Saturday morning in this year's edition of The Rivalry, presented by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, part of Jefferson Health. The Mountain Hawks picked up their 26th consecutive win in the annual dual meet, beating rival Lafayette 19-41.
The Mountain Hawks completed a sweep of the top three spots and took up seven of the top ten. They were led by senior Adam Barbato, who won his first ever collegiate cross country meet. His season opening time of 25:08.0 led all runners and was a 15 second personal best.
"I was just focused on letting Ryan [Baker] and [Lafayette runner Justin Brown] kind of do their thing up front and then once that two mile hit, I was ready to go," Barbato remarked about his race. "I knew we were fit enough behind me just to get it done."
Behind Barbato, Ryan Baker was next to finish at 25:24.5. The junior secured a second place finish and a second straight Rivalry podium finish following up his runner-up performance last year. Charlie Butler finished third with a time of 25:45.1. The sophomore was sitting in fourth with a few meters to go, but he dug deep and battled with Lafayette's top runner, beating him out at the line. On top of his gutsy finish, he also set a massive 45-second new personal best.
Senior Connor Mallinger (26:04.7), first-year Jacob Nedimyer (26:05.4), and junior Dylan Cunningham (26:07.8) rounded out Lehigh's top six. The group were bunched up, being separated by three seconds and finishing in sixth, seventh, and eighth respectively. Junior Derek Coceano was the final scorer for the Mountain Hawks, finishing tenth overall with a time of 26:23.1.
This was the first time Lehigh had a complete team on the course this season.
"I think we were all ready for today. Mentally ready and physically prepared," said Barbato. "The main key today was just trusting ourselves. We knew that if we ran a calm race, a controlled race, and an honest race, we were going to get the job done."
The Mountain Hawks compete again next Friday at 5:30pm., as they travel to Haverford College on September 19th for the Haverford Main Line Invite.
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The Mountain Hawks completed a sweep of the top three spots and took up seven of the top ten. They were led by senior Adam Barbato, who won his first ever collegiate cross country meet. His season opening time of 25:08.0 led all runners and was a 15 second personal best.
"I was just focused on letting Ryan [Baker] and [Lafayette runner Justin Brown] kind of do their thing up front and then once that two mile hit, I was ready to go," Barbato remarked about his race. "I knew we were fit enough behind me just to get it done."
Behind Barbato, Ryan Baker was next to finish at 25:24.5. The junior secured a second place finish and a second straight Rivalry podium finish following up his runner-up performance last year. Charlie Butler finished third with a time of 25:45.1. The sophomore was sitting in fourth with a few meters to go, but he dug deep and battled with Lafayette's top runner, beating him out at the line. On top of his gutsy finish, he also set a massive 45-second new personal best.
Senior Connor Mallinger (26:04.7), first-year Jacob Nedimyer (26:05.4), and junior Dylan Cunningham (26:07.8) rounded out Lehigh's top six. The group were bunched up, being separated by three seconds and finishing in sixth, seventh, and eighth respectively. Junior Derek Coceano was the final scorer for the Mountain Hawks, finishing tenth overall with a time of 26:23.1.
This was the first time Lehigh had a complete team on the course this season.
"I think we were all ready for today. Mentally ready and physically prepared," said Barbato. "The main key today was just trusting ourselves. We knew that if we ran a calm race, a controlled race, and an honest race, we were going to get the job done."
The Mountain Hawks compete again next Friday at 5:30pm., as they travel to Haverford College on September 19th for the Haverford Main Line Invite.
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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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