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LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s cross country team had one of its best finishes at the Patriot League Championship in recent years Saturday morning at Bucknell. The Mountain Hawks finished fourth overall with 101 points and placed eight runners in the top 50. Navy was crowned Patriot League Champion for the second consecutive year, finishing with 38 points.
“We knew we had a ‘dual meet with Bucknell’ in the center of the championship,” said head coach Debbie Utesch. “We tried to focus on our strength which has been working together mid-race this season. It was a total team effort today and I could not be more proud of the way the women competed”
Leading the way for Lehigh was junior Christina Yakaboski, who finished 15th overall. Yakaboski, who finished the race in 21:37.1, was the top finisher for the Mountain Hawks for the third time this season.
The Mountain Hawks had runners finish from 22nd through 25th to secure their fourth-place finish. First-year Lucy Afanasewicz was the second finisher for Lehigh, finishing 22nd overall with a time of 21:57.4 in her Patriot League Championship debut.
“Christina and Lucy set the tone for the team by getting us in the mix out front,” Utesch said. “Individually, they faded a bit at the end of the race that cost them some All-Patriot League performances but the work they did held up for the team.”
For the fifth time this season, senior Maddie Zaun found herself in the top three finishers for Lehigh. Zaun, who was the third Mountain Hawk to finish in the top 25, finished 23rd overall with a time of 21:57.8.
Sophomore Savanah Beavers and senior Andrea Miller were the final two Mountain Hawks to finish in the top 25. Beavers finished the race in 21:59.9 to secure a 24th place finish while Miller followed close behind, finishing 25th with a time of 22:04.0.
Lehigh added three more runners to the top 50 during Saturday’s race. Junior Linsday MacLellan finished 41st overall with a time of 22:37.3 while sophomore Maddison Hayes (22:43.4) followed with a 45th place finish. Junior Abigail Tenriero was the final Mountain Hawk to finish in the top 50. She finished 50th with a time of 22:53.7.
“The group of Maddie, Savanah, and Andrea followed the race plan spectacularly and fought from gun to finish for every single point,” said Utesch. “Lindsay also led a strong supporting cast through the race to back them up. When we finished four Lehigh singlets in a row, a statement was made that Lehigh came to compete together.”
The Mountain Hawks will have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Meet. Lehigh will travel to University Park, Pa. for the second time this year on Friday, Nov. 11.
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