Kutztown University Cross Country Excels at Paul Short Run

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Kutztown University women’s cross country team achieved a respectable 19th place in the Paul Short Run Brown Race, notably ranking as the second-highest NCAA Division II team amid a competitive field of over 30 Division I competitors.

Performance Highlights

Leading the charge for the Golden Bears was Maura Lenhart from Center Valley, Pa., who finished in 46th place with a season-best time of 22:01.6 in the 6k race. Lenhart has consistently been Kutztown’s top performer this season, previously clinching victories at both the WCU Season Opener on September 5 and the DII/DIII Challenge on September 13.

Notable Individual Finishes

• Gabby Keith (Reading, Pa.) – 106th place, 22:42.3
• Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J.) – 110th place, 22:48.6
• Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa.) – 137th place, 23:02.0
• Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) – 148th place, 23:09.8

Rounding out the scoring finishers were Lizzie Brown, finishing 164th (23:19.4), Faith Belote in 176th (23:29.8), Sage Dunkleberger at 197th (23:39.5), Nina Castellano in 202nd (23:42.6), and Jensen Kraft at 272nd (24:59.5).

Team Standing and Competition Insights

The Golden Bears accrued a total of 517 points, falling just nine points short of East Stroudsburg, which finished 18th with 508 points among DII and PSAC schools. It is notable that out of the top 17 teams, only one—University of New Brunswick from Canada—was not from Division I, mitigating the dominance of the higher division. George Washington University emerged victorious with a total of 99 points, significantly ahead of runner-up Iona, while Binghamton, Buffalo, and Syracuse completed the top five rankings.

Upcoming Events

Kutztown will prepare for the upcoming Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships at Edinboro with one more opportunity to fine-tune their performance. The team is set to participate in the Golden Ram Invitational at West Chester next Saturday, October 11.

Summary

In a challenging race against predominately Division I competitors, Kutztown University’s women’s cross country team demonstrated resilience and skill, setting the stage for upcoming competitions. Their performance serves as a strong foundation as they continue their season towards the PSAC Championships.