BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sixteen 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 48th Paul Short Run.

WOMEN

• The women took on their standard 6000-m distance for the second time this fall, running in either the Women's College Brown 6k or the Women's Open 6k.
• June Mwaniki topped the Eagles, pacing the team, and finished with a time of 21:54.2. This is almost a minute down from her finish time at PSU Invite two weeks prior and over thirty seconds quicker than her previous collegiate best.
• Senior Nia Holden, a standout in the 800-m even in track season, set a personal record for herself to finish second for American. Holden completed the race in 22:42.3, which is almost two minutes faster than her finish time at PSU, which was her previous collegiate best.
• In the three spot, on the women's side was senior Rachael Potter, ninety-seven seconds faster than her performance two week prior at PSU.
• The Eagles had nine other personal records set by the women's team at the event.

MEN

• This was the first time all season that the men ran their standard collegiate 8k distance, running in either the Men's College Brown 8k or the Men's Open 8k. Once again, the team was led by senior Russell Sullivan.
• Sullivan paced the AU team for the 13th time in their career and earned a PR time of 24:17.2, over thirty seconds faster than their previous best, set last year at the same event. They also earned the 10th overall finish spot with their performance.
• Junior Sean Stuck came in the second spot for the Eagles, coming across the line in 24:38.1.
• Kaden Kluth, a freshman, came across the line in 21:54.5 in just his second distance race of his collegiate career to claim the third spot amongst teammates.
• Nathan Reeves, Alex Murphy, Ethan Puc, and Danny O'Neill all joined in on the record setting Friday to each set personal bests for themselves and overall the men's team finished eighth in their grouping.

QUOTES FROM COACH GRAHAM

"I'm very pleased with how our teams competed today. Nearly all our athletes set new personal records with many doing so by significant margins," said Graham.

"For the Men's Team, Russell and Sean led the way once again as our 1-2. Freshman Kaden showed great confidence and poise in only his second collegiate distance race with an impressive 24:14 as our third scorer.

"On the women's side June was once again our best finisher coming through the line with a big personal record of nearly a minute down from her pervious time. Track season's 800-m ace Nia Holden was our second finisher also coming across the line over a minute faster than ever before. 

"Overall, I am very happy with how the team performed today and for this time of year.  The training is starting to set in, and the athletes are seeing what their able to do with the work they've done. We've got another two weeks now to get back to work before hitting the grass again up in NYC at the IC4A Championships."

WOMEN'S RESULTS
Women's College Brown 6K
30. June Mwaniki, 21:54.2 (PR)
96. Nia Holden, 22:42.3 (PR)
116. Rachael Potter, 22:50.5 (PR)
130. Kylie Raymond, 22:57.4 (PR)
155. Callia Cordasco, 23:09.5 (PR)
195. Skyler Tatum, 23:26.4 (PR)
215. Kate Riley, 23:34.2 (PR)
216. Hannah Schwab, 23:35.4 (PR)
276. Annie Ripol, 24:08.2

Open Women's 6K
101. Rowe Crawford, 23:20.2 (PR)
148. Grace Kirk, 24:14.8 (PR)
149. Cassandra Daniele, 24:15.6 (PR)
199. Kelsey Miskimins, 25:15.7 (PR)

MEN'S RESULTS
Men's College Brown 8K
10. Russell Sullivan, 24:17.2 (PR)
31. Sean Stuck, 24:38.1
48. Kaden Kluth, 24:51.5
90. Nathan Reeves, 25:17.7 (PR)
123. Alex Murphy, 25:31.8 (PR)
218. Oscar Counsell, 26:06.4
232. Tucker Zullo, 26:14.0
327. Cooper Michaud, 27:10.2

Open Men's 8K
154. Carver Morgan, 25:52.5
274. Danny O'Neill, 26:44.8 (PR)

NEXT UP
The Eagles will return to action in two weeks' time on October 14 in Yonkers, N.Y. at the ECAC/IC4A Championships.

KEEP UP WITH US
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).