Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh to Host 2026 Paul Short Run Thursday and Friday
9/30/2026 4:19:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Paul Short Run
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Paul Short Run presented by ASICS returns to Lehigh University's Goodman Campus this weekend for its 52nd running.
The meet will again be split over two days, with high school races Thursday, Oct. 1, and college races Friday, Oct. 2. More than 7,000 athletes from more than 600 high schools and colleges will compete in six high school races and eight college races.
The meet honors the late Paul Short, who served as Lehigh's business manager and assistant director of athletics for 29 years. Short became an avid fan of Lehigh cross country and track and field during his tenure. A 1934 Lehigh graduate, he excelled as a football, wrestling, baseball and lacrosse student-athlete and was inducted into the Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.
Former Lehigh cross country and track and field coach John Covert organized the first meet in 1969 with seven teams. Women joined in 1981, running a 5K that changed to a 6K in 2000.
Last year's college results
Georgetown won the men's Gold 8K for the fifth time in meet history, scoring 102 points in a field of 40 teams. Three of its five scoring runners finished in the top 12. Utah State placed second (123) and Texas A&M third (137). Harvard's Sam Burgess won the individual title in 23:18.6, followed by Georgetown's Birhanu Harriman (23:19.2) and Harvard's Tam Gavenas (23:20.1).
Villanova won the women's Gold 6K with 110 points, followed by Penn State (115) and Georgetown (143). Georgetown's Melissa Riggins was the individual winner in 19:34.8, ahead of Elon's Katie Blount (19:37.1) and Villanova's Margaret Carroll (19:38.3).
Last year's high school results
In the boys' Gold 5K, North Penn won the team title with 104 points, and Cedar Crest's Travis Furmanski won the race in 14:53.8. Gwynedd Mercy Academy took the girls' Gold 5K with 214 points, while Episcopal Academy's Kendra Williamson was the top individual finisher in 17:04.9.
Hempfield won the boys' Brown 5K with 218 points, and Oley Valley's Ryan Gourley won the individual title in 15:33.8. In the girls' race, North Catholic won the team title with 107 points, and Ella Blanco of Mercersburg Academy won individually in 18:23.9.
St. Joseph's Metuchen won the boys' White 5K with 110 points, and South Western's Charles Brown was the first finisher in 16:23.1. Agnes Irwin School edged Wilmington Christian, 77 points to 83, to win the girls' White 5K. Boiling Springs' Chloe Josyln won the individual title in 18:44.2.
LOCATION:
Lehigh University — Goodman Campus Cross Country Course
Goodman Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
ADMISSION:
Admission: Free
Parking: Parking attendants will allow team vehicles to park in the designated Stabler lots. All spectator parking will also be in the Stabler lots at $10 per vehicle. Cash is preferred and is the fastest method, but credit cards are also accepted. Spectators are advised to arrive early to see the entire race.
RESULTS:
Official results will be posted online at LehighSports.com/PaulShort. Live results will be available on Leonetiming.com.
MEDIA:
All media members wishing to obtain a parking pass or credential should contact Charlie Petrusch, Sports Communications Graduate Assistant (chp626@Lehigh.edu).
PAST CHAMPIONS:
Men's
Army: 1986
Ath. Attic: 1977
Brown: 1987
Georgetown: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2025
Indiana: 2009, 2013
Iona: 1995, 2016
James Madison: 1999
Kansas: 1990
Lehigh: 1969
Michigan: 1998
Michigan State: 1997, 1998, 2000
Navy: 1982, 1984, 2014
North Carolina: 2021, 2022
Oklahoma: 2011
Penn State: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1994, 2001
Providence: 1992
Utah State: 2017, 2018, 2019
Villanova: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2006, 2007, 2012
Virginia:2010
West Virginia: 1985, 1988
William & Mary: 2002
Wingate: 2024
Wisconsin: 1983, 2008
Yale: 1989, 2023
Women's
Air Force: 1988
Columbia: 2005
Cornell: 1998, 2012
Georgetown: 1989, 1990, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2013
Guelph: 2014, 2015
Harvard: 2024
North Carolina: 2022
North Carolina State: 1997
Northern Arizona: 2021
Oregon: 1983
Penn State: 1981, 1982, 1986, 1996, 2001, 2002
Princeton: 2006, 2007
Providence: 1994, 1995, 2011
Queen's: 2019
Tennessee: 2004
Toronto: 1985
Utah State: 2017
Utah Valley: 2023
Villanova: 1984, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2025
West Virginia: 2008, 2009
Yale: 2016, 2018
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