BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Seven Eagles earned personal best times on Friday as the American University cross country team took on one of the most competitive meets of the collegiate season at the 47th Paul Short Run.
- The men's 8,000-meter run opened the day at Lehigh's Goodman Campus. Back in the front of the pack for the Eagles in their seventh consecutive race was junior Russell Sullivan, who also opened the PR performances for the Eagles. Despite falling within the first mile of the race, Sullivan steadily moved through the pack to finish in 105th, trimming 20 seconds off their previous best with a final time of 24:49.70.
- Senior Aidan Caggiano also got tripped up in with less than a mile left in the race but bounced back to earn his third consecutive PR of the season. He cut four seconds off his top time from one week ago to earn a 25:28.30 finish, over a minute under his PR at the start of the season.
- Patriot League Rookie of the Week Oscar Counsell was back in the top three for the Eagles for the second consecutive meet and also cut down his 8k time by nearly 20 seconds with a 25:50.50 crossing.
- The women's team was also led by three career best performances, starting with junior Ana Keene who crushed her previous PR by over two minutes, taking 86th in the elite field with a final time of 21:33.90.
- Sophomore June Mwaniki, who had paced the squad over the last two meets, was next across the line with a 14-second PR, hitting 22:32.80.
- Junior Emily Neuner, the lead finisher for the Eagles in the season opener, was third on Friday with a 33-second PR of 22:49.0.
MEN'S RESULTS
105. Russell Sullivan, 24:49.70 PR
198. Aidan Caggiano, 25:28.30 PR
256. Oscar Counsell, 25:50.50 PR
327.
Nathan Reeves, 26:40.60
330.
Tucker Zullo, 26:48.0
348.
Ethan Puc, 27:28.60
WOMEN'S RESULTS
86. Ana Keene, 21:33.90 PR
200. June Mwaniki, 22:32.80 PR
229. Emily Neuner, 22:49.0 PR
282.
Clare Hernandez, 23:24.60
288.
Elise Hooker, 23:30.70
289.
Rachael Potter, 23:31.0
323. Sasha Abielmona, 24:16.10 PR
331.
Sarah Maple, 24:40.0
NEXT UP…
American will face its final meet of the regular season next week with the ECU Pirate Invitational on Friday, October 15. From there, the Eagles will return to Bethlehem for the Patriot League Championships on Sunday, Oct. 31, then again for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on Friday, November 12.
For the latest on American University Cross Country, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_TrackXC) and Instagram (@AU_TrackXC).
