WASHINGTON –  The American University cross country team is beginning the postseason on Friday (Oct. 31) at the Patriot League Championships. The races will occur later in the day than the rest of the season, with the women's 6k at 12 p.m. and the men's 8k at 1 p.m.

The meet will be hosted by Lehigh, the same course as the Paul Short Run (Oct. 3) earlier this season and the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional (Nov. 14) in a couple weeks. The last time the Patriot League Cross Country Championships were held at Lehigh was in 2021.

American competed well their last time at Lehigh, with the men placing second in the Brown Race and the women placing ninth. Three Eagles on the men's side placed in the top 20, while Shealyn Brochu was the top freshman in the women's race of more than 300 runners and six women ran personal bests in the 6k.

American's men's and women's squads both placed seventh at last year's Patriot League Championship, led on the men's side by Kaden Kluth in 33rd and on the women's side by June Mwaniki in 34th. This year, the Eagles hope to improve on last year's placing after a season of strong performances.

PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS INFO

• Women's 6k: 12 p.m.
• Men's 8k: 1 p.m.
• Course: Lehigh University — Goodman Campus Cross Country Course
• Live Results

American is coming off strong performances at the ECAC/IC4A Championships (Oct. 17). The women placed ninth, a nine-place improvement from last year, led again by Shealyn Brochu. Brochu earned her second consecutive Patriot League Rookie of the Week honor on Oct. 21 for her 11th-place performance. Emma Colavito came strongly in second for the Eagles. The duo of Zoe Rector and Lydia Drago followed, and Kate Riley completed the scoring five.

On the men's side, Kaden Kluth's sixth-place individual finish led the Eagles to a fourth-place team finish, a two-place improvement from last year. He was followed by the regular scoring group of Cooper Michaud, Carver Morgan, and Noah Smith. Emmett Engelhardt also earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors as the fifth scorer helping the Eagles to their fourth-place finish.

Follow the Eagles
Instagram | Twitter | AUEagles

STARTING LINE: WOMEN
Shealyn Brochu
Emma Colavito
Lydia Drago
Grace Kirk
Kara Langbaum
Scarlett Lestina
Estella Miller
Charlotte Orr
Zoe Rector
Kate Riley
Annie Ripol
Skyler Tatum

STARTING LINE: MEN
Jack Chandler
Emmett Engelhardt
Jaden Frederick
Barak Goldstein
Kaden Kluth
Cooper Michaud
Carver Morgan
Ty Parker
Noah Smith
Zack Zerbe