Temple University Athletics
Friday, August 30
Bethlehem, Pa.
Temple University
at
Lehigh Invitational
Women's Cross Country Sticks to the Game Plan for a Solid Season Opener at Lehigh
8.30.19 | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Temple University women's cross country squad toed the starting line for the first time in 2019 on Friday evening at the Lehigh Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. Debuting a group of young talent in Cherry and White, the Owls finished fourth as a team in a strategy-based opening day.
About the Lehigh Invitational
> Seven teams made the trip to Lehigh University to compete in the rust-buster meet, as Lehigh, La Salle, West Virginia, Temple, Rutgers, Moravian and NJIT each ran the course.
> The squad ran the 6K route of the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course, a picturesque trail that is regarded as one of the best in the Northeast region.
> By competing at the Lehigh Invitational, the Owls got the opportunity to preview the race course for the 2019 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in November.
About the Race
> A new face in Cherry and White earned the top spot for the Owls today, as freshman Cat Shontz led the pack with a top-10 finish. The Elizabethtown, Pa. native debuted her rookie talent to finish 10th overall with a time of 22:49.
> Running alongside Shontz was Michelle Joyce in a steady first performance of the season. The junior captain worked with her new teammate to stay towards the front of the pack, earning a 12th place finish with a time of 22:52.
> Fruition of the game plan continued as sophomore Lexi Walsh and junior Mikaela Vlasic crossed the finish line just a second apart. Walsh led the pair with a time of 23:06 to earn 17th overall. Vlasic, a transfer from Pitt, had a solid first showing in Cherry and White as she barely trailed her teammate to finish the race in 23:07.
> Freshman Maya Kalach rounded out the Temple top-five in a time of 24:13. The Bellevue, Wash. Native also performed well in her rookie showing to place 32nd in her first collegiate race.
From the Coach
> "On the ladies side, we ran a younger group to debut some fresh faces," said head coach James Snyder. "Maya and Cat each had their first races in college and Mikaela put on a Cherry and White uniform for the first time. It was nice to see them battling but working together for the opportunity to see where they're at. They ran the course that they will see in a few months at the regional meet, which gave us a good opportunity for a course-preview to help get us where we will need to be in the future.'
Up Next
> The Owls will take a three week hiatus from competition to focus on training. On Sept. 20, the squad will be back in action for the Iona Meet of Champions in Van Cortlandt Park, N.Y.
About the Lehigh Invitational
> Seven teams made the trip to Lehigh University to compete in the rust-buster meet, as Lehigh, La Salle, West Virginia, Temple, Rutgers, Moravian and NJIT each ran the course.
> The squad ran the 6K route of the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course, a picturesque trail that is regarded as one of the best in the Northeast region.
> By competing at the Lehigh Invitational, the Owls got the opportunity to preview the race course for the 2019 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in November.
About the Race
> A new face in Cherry and White earned the top spot for the Owls today, as freshman Cat Shontz led the pack with a top-10 finish. The Elizabethtown, Pa. native debuted her rookie talent to finish 10th overall with a time of 22:49.
> Running alongside Shontz was Michelle Joyce in a steady first performance of the season. The junior captain worked with her new teammate to stay towards the front of the pack, earning a 12th place finish with a time of 22:52.
> Fruition of the game plan continued as sophomore Lexi Walsh and junior Mikaela Vlasic crossed the finish line just a second apart. Walsh led the pair with a time of 23:06 to earn 17th overall. Vlasic, a transfer from Pitt, had a solid first showing in Cherry and White as she barely trailed her teammate to finish the race in 23:07.
> Freshman Maya Kalach rounded out the Temple top-five in a time of 24:13. The Bellevue, Wash. Native also performed well in her rookie showing to place 32nd in her first collegiate race.
From the Coach
> "On the ladies side, we ran a younger group to debut some fresh faces," said head coach James Snyder. "Maya and Cat each had their first races in college and Mikaela put on a Cherry and White uniform for the first time. It was nice to see them battling but working together for the opportunity to see where they're at. They ran the course that they will see in a few months at the regional meet, which gave us a good opportunity for a course-preview to help get us where we will need to be in the future.'
Up Next
> The Owls will take a three week hiatus from competition to focus on training. On Sept. 20, the squad will be back in action for the Iona Meet of Champions in Van Cortlandt Park, N.Y.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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