(Lock Haven, Pa.) -  The Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Women’s Cross Country team has earned 2000 All-Academic Team honors as awarded recently by the NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association.  Two student-athletes, Lauren Bechtel (Exton/Downingtown) and Jana Kauffman (Strasburg/ Lampeter-Strasburg), also earned recognition as individual Academic All-America team members for superior performances on the cross country course as well as in the classroom.
      The coaches’ association awards Academic All-America honors to individuals of at least sophomore standing who carry above a 3.25 GPA and finished in the top third in their respective regional championship. All-Academic Team awards are garnered by teams that earn a cumulative 3.00 GPA. 
      Four-year harrier Lauren Bechtel provided senior leadership on the 2000 LHU Cross Country squad as Lock Haven’s one- or two-runner in the majority of the meets this season, and finished 33^rd at the 2000 NCAA Division II East Region Championships. She is a Psychology major at Lock Haven, and has maintained a 3.801 GPA over the course of her career.  A four-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete, this is Bechtel’s third consecutive Academic All-America award.
      Sophomore Jana Kauffman was also one of LHU’s top runners in the 2000 season, closing out the year with a 28^th place finish at the NCAA East Regional championship.  A Health Science major, she currently owns a 3.633 GPA.  Also the 1999 LHU Cross Country Most Valuable Athlete and a PSAC Scholar-Athlete, this is Kauffman’s first Academic All-America certificate.
       As a team, the 2000 women’s cross country squad combined for a 3.152 and the team’s second consecutive All-Academic Team selection. This season’s Lady Eagles produced a pair of school-best finishes with a runner-up finish at the PSAC Championships and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division II East Region Championships. 

###

Dec. 14, 2000 - LHU HARRIER DAN BOBO SELECTED AS PSAC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

(Lock Haven, Pa.) -  Dan Bobo (Bergen, N.Y./Notre Dame), a freshman cross country runner for the Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Bald Eagles, was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, as voted on by the leagues' coaches.
            Bobo finished 18^th at the PSAC Championships in a time of 28:04, the second Bald Eagle to cross the finish.   The freshman harrier was also LHU's second runner at the NCAA Division II East Regional Championships, posting a 32:54.94 while placing 24^th overall to help LHU finish third at both championships.  The Haven squad also qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championship, closing out the season with a 20^th place finish.  Bobo finished 165^th in his inaugural appearance at the national meet, checking in with a time of 37:19.0 on the 10 kilometer course.
            The Haven rookie, majoring in Elementary Education, was the 1999 Notre Dame High School Male Athlete of the Year.

###

Oct. 26, 2000 -  Lhu cross country coach inducted into Oklahoma Baptist University athletic hall of fame

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Mark Elliston will be inducted into Oklahoma Baptist University’s Athletic Hall of Fame along with two other alumni during homecoming festivities on November 10^th and 11^th.

A 1986 graduate of OBU, Elliston won the NAIA decathlon national championship in 1986 and is the only decathlon All-American in OBU track’s proud history.  He still holds the NAIA national high jump record for the decathlon.  He also earned All-America status in the indoor high jump in 1983 and 1986.

Elliston is in his 13^th year at the helm of LHU’s cross country and track and field teams.  He was named last season’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year as well as the NCAA East Region Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year during the 1999-2000 season.  During the 1998-99 season Elliston was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Men’s Indoor Track and Field Co-Coach of the Year, and in addition to guiding the men’s team to their first PSAC outdoor championship in 50 years, he was named the PSAC and NCAA East Region Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.

Elliston completed his master’s degree in physical education at The Citadel, where he served as an assistant with the track and cross country programs for two years.  A native of Shawnee, Okla., Elliston and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Luke and Logan.

 ###

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania’s men’s and women’s cross country teams will be heading into this weekend’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships at Slippery Rock University with high expectations.

The No. 20-ranked Lady Eagles enter this weekend’s action as a threat to perennial powerhouse Edinboro University, ranked No. 4 in the nation, for the team title.  The only blemish on their 30-1 record versus Division II opponents this season is a mid-season loss to Shippensburg University, a school they have beaten on two other occasions since September.

“Our women are running well right now and they have a lot of confidence going into this weekend,” comments LHU Head Coach Mark Elliston.  “Our pack matches up pretty well with Edinboro’s, so it should be a very exciting race.”

The women’s team is led by freshman Beth Armstrong (Chambersburg/Chambersburg), sophomore Jana Kauffman (Strasburg/Lampeter-Strasburg), and senior captain Lauren Bechtel (Exton/Downingtown), all of whom have finished as the Lady Eagle’s top runner at various times throughout the season. 

The men, unranked nationally all season, hope to re-gain the championship form which saw them earn PSAC runner-up honors last season and make the team’s first trip to the national championships in school history. Currently ranked fourth in the East Region, LHU will battle the likes of Millersville, Shippensburg and Edinboro for top honors.

Junior Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) is a contender for the individual conference crown, having finished the regular season unbeaten against Division II foes.  Mortensen will look to improve upon his fourth-place finish from a year ago, as will the Bald Eagles' two other returning all-conference runners, senior Mike Gomes (Camillus, N.Y./West Genessee) who was eighth in 1999 and senior captain Ryan Comstock (West Chester/West Chester Henderson) who finished 10th.

The men’s 8 kilometer race begins at 10 a.m. while the women’s 6 kilometer competition starts at 11 a.m.

###

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania men's cross country runner Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) earned his fourth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Runner of the Week honors, this time for the week ending October 21.

Mortensen outlasted the field at this weekend's Gettysburg Invitational to place first among a field of 173 runners in 26:00 over the five-mile course.  With the victory, his fourth on the year, Mortensen completed the regular season undefeated against non-Division I opponents.  His win helped the Bald Eagles to a fourth-place finish out of 21 teams. 

The Lock Haven cross country teams will compete in the PSAC Championships held this Saturday, October 28, at Slippery Rock University.  The men's team finished second at the 1999 championships, while the women's team finished in ninth place.

   ###

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania men's cross country runner Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Runner of the Week honors for the week ending October 8.  This is his third such PSAC accolade this season.

Mortensen was 14^th of 240 athletes at the 27^th Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh University, covering the 8-kilometer course in a time of 24:57.03.  His finish continued his unbeaten streak against non-Division I opponents, beating his nearest non-Division I opponent (Millersville University’s Mark Stallings) by 24 seconds.  Mortensen led the Bald Eagles to a 22^nd place team finish, making them the top Division II squad at the meet for the second year in a row.  The field of competition included five PSAC schools.

The Lock Haven cross country teams will next compete at the Gettysburg Invitational hosted by Gettysburg College on Saturday, October 21. 

 ###

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania men's cross country runner Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Runner of the Week for the week ending October 2.  This is his second such accolade this season.

              Mortensen outlasted a wave of Bucknell University orange to win the inaugural Lock Haven University Invitational on Saturday for his third victory in four outings this season.  The junior remained with four Bucknell runners up front before pressing the pace and slowly dropping them one at a time.  Pulling away from the final competitor with a quarter mile to go, Mortensen covered the 10 kilometer course in 31:28.63 for a four-second win.  Outdistancing his nearest Division II competitor by 48 seconds, the Bald Eagle has not lost to a non-Division I competitor all season.  The LHU Invitational hosted 13 schools, including six from the PSAC, and 123 runners.

The Lock Haven cross country teams are next in action on Saturday, October 7, at the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University.

###  

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington), a junior cross country runner for Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, earned his second consecutive Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Men's Cross Country Performer of the Week selection, earning honors for the week ending September 25.  

Mortensen continued his unbeaten streak against non-Division I opponents, as he defeated last week’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Runner of the Week, Roch Furguiele of Slippery Rock University, by seven seconds at the Slippery Rock Invitational.  The victory at the invitational was Mortensen’s second of the season.  The Bald Eagle covered the course’s hilly terrain in 26:43 (8km) despite the rainy conditions.  Mortensen and Furguiele ran neck and neck for three miles before the LHU harrier pulled away for the win.    

            The Lock Haven cross country teams will host their first-ever home meet on Saturday, September 30.  There will be 16 teams competing at the inaugural LHU Invitational, with the course dedication ceremony scheduled for 10:30 a.m., and the race start time slated for 11 a.m.  

Sept. 20, 2000 - BALD EAGLE HARRIER EARNS ECAC PERFORMER OF THE WEEK HONORS

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania’s Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) has been named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Cross Country Performer of the Week for the week ending September 19.

Mortensen, a junior for the Bald Eagle cross country team, was the top non-Division I runner with his 22^nd place finish at last Saturday’s Spiked Shoe Invitational hosted by Pennsylvania State University.  His time over the 5.2 mile course was 26 minutes and 21 seconds and keeps him undefeated this season against Division II opponents. 

The Bald Eagles, ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II East Region, finished 13^th overall in the team standings at the Spiked Shoe Invite.  They will be in action again on Saturday, September 23^rd at the Slippery Rock Invitational, which begins at 12:45 p.m.

Sept. 13, 2000 - LHU's Mortensen Claims PSAC Runner of the Week Honors
 (Lock Haven, Pa.) - Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania's Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./ Huntington), a junior cross country runner, was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Runner of the Week for the week ending September 12.

Mortensen captured the crown at Kutztown University's Maroon and Gold Fall Classic, overtaking the two leaders in the final mile to finish first with a time of 27:14 over the five-mile course.  His win helped lead the Bald Eagles, currently ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II East Region, to a runner-up team finish in the field of nine squads.  Mortensen's victory marked the first invitational win for an LHU harrier in seven years.  

The Lock Haven cross country teams are next scheduled to compete at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational on Saturday, September 16, in State College, Pa.

Lock Haven University Men's Cross Country Coach Mark Elliston has been chosen by his peers as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year after leading his team to their best finish at the conference championships since 1968.

This is Elliston's first time receiving the PSAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year Award, although it marks the third consecutive season in which he has been bestowed such honors for his men's squads. He was the 1999 Eastern College Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year for indoor track and field as well as the 1999 PSAC and NCAA East Region Coach of the Year for outdoor track and field.

In addition to its 13^th place national finish, the 1999 edition of the Lock Haven men's cross country team was also the runner-up at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships, and finished third at the NCAA Division II East Regional Championships. Two runners were selected as All-Region harriers, and four earned All-PSAC honors.

When the 1999 NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships get underway on Saturday afternoon in Joplin, Mo., it will usher in a new era in the history of Lock Haven University’s program. When the seven men representing The Haven toe the line at this weekend’s race, it will mark the first time that the Crimson and White has earned the right to participate in the season-ending competition.

LHU received a bid to compete at the championships with their third-place finish at the NCAA East Regional Championships held in Boston, Mass., two weeks ago. The region, which receives three bids to the meet, will be sending three of the top 15-ranked teams in Division II. The Bald Eagles are currently ranked No. 13 in the nation.

Senior co-captain Steve Moyer (Woodbury, Pa./Northern Bedford) will look to lead the LHU squad, as he has for much of the season, and is the team’s top threat to garner All-America accolades. A two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (1997-13^th, 1999-3^rd) and All-East Region (1998-15^th, 1999-4^th) selection in cross country, Moyer is also the defending PSAC champion and a returning All-American (7^th) in the 3000 meter steeplechase in outdoor track and field.

Joining Moyer up front for the Bald Eagles are sophomore Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) and junior Mike Gomes (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee). Mortensen, a two-time All-PSAC (1998-9^th, 1999-4^th) and All-East Region (1998-13^th, 1999-15^th) selection himself, has been the team’s top finisher on occasion and could also push for further honors. Gomes has continually improved all season, and has stepped up his racing in the post-season, garnering his first All-PSAC accolades at this year's PSAC meet where he finished eighth.

"Gomes has really proven himself down the stretch and has been able to turn it on when the team is really counting on him," comments Head Coach Mark Elliston. "I know I can count on Steve and Rob to be up front on a consistent basis, but to add him into the mix has really helped us here in the latter stages of the season."

Junior co-captain Ryan Comstock (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) has been one of The Haven's more consistent runners this fall, running in the number three-four spot for much of the season. His tenth-place finish at the PSAC Championships earned him his first all-conference honors as well, marking the first time in LHU history that four Bald Eagles harriers have been bestowed such honors in the same year.

"Ryan has been running real well all year," says Elliston. "If he can work with Gomes and hold it through the entire race, we have a shot at surprising a lot of very good teams in Joplin."

Senior Chris Stager (Canindaigua, N.Y./Finger Lakes Community College) has provided support in the fifth spot this year, but freshman Jason Smolinsky (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton) has steadily improved in the latter half of the season and could push into the team's top five at the championships. Junior James Eagler (Chambersburg, Pa./Hagerstown Junior College) will need to overcome late-season shin injuries for the meet, but has demonstrated a toughness in previous races that has Elliston believing he’ll be there when the team needs him.

"The real key to our success is going to lie with one of these guys stepping up and providing us with a strong fifth man," comments Elliston. "At this level a 20 second gap could mean 30 places, so we need someone who can get as close to the front four as possible. Stager has been there for most of the season, and has really turned it up for these big meets. It’s the last race of his collegiate career, so I wouldn’t be suprised to see him have a great race. Smolinsky has looked stronger than ever in practice and could really challenge him, as could Eagler who has shown great potential."

LHU is looking to place amongst the top 11 teams in the field, which would earn the East Region an additional bid to the championships next fall.

"Each race becomes more important now," Elliston says. "At PSAC’s it was for ourselves and LHU. At the Regional Championships it was for all those who came before them. Now the entire region is depending on these guys to come through for them to secure our region’s strong representation in the future. It’s a lot of pressure, but I’ll tell you what. These guys are ready."

In the women's race, the Lady Eagles captured a seventh-place finish with 264 team points. After a ninth-place endeavor at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships last weekend, the young Haven squad pulled it together to finish the season on a high note. Lock Haven's top individual finisher was frosh Jana Kauffman (Strasburg/Lampeter-Strasburg), who despite not being at one-hundred-percent after suffering an injury the week before the PSAC championships, was still clocked at 23:32 in 32^nd place. Jessica Stoltzfus (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown), who has been finishing as The Haven's third or fourth runner, ran a solid race and placed 42^nd with a time of 23:55. Katrina Brown (Hatfield/North Penn) and Lauren Bechtel (Exton/Downingtown) covered the 6000 meter course in 24:11 and 24:12, respectively, for 59^th and 60^th-place individual finishes. Freshman Meghan Johnson (Brookville/Brookville Area) rounded out team scoring by finishing in 71^st place with a time of 24:23.

"Our women rebounded well from the PSAC meet, and beat a couple of teams (Clarion, Bloomsburg) that had beat them last week," remarked Elliston. "Jana (Kauffman) wasn't really up to her best form yet, but she ran well, and Jessica Stoltzfus, who was our number two finisher, is normally our third or fourth runner, so she really pushed herself today too."

The men's team will compete at the 1999 NCAA Division II National Championships in Joplin, Mo. on Saturday, November 20.

Once the dust cleared and the scores were tallied, a mere two points separated Lock Haven University and Edinboro University as the heavily favored Fighting Scots edged the Bald Eagles for the Men’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Cross Country Team Championship. It was the best result for The Haven since 1968, when LHU finished second in a field of 11 teams.

Senior Steve Moyer (Woodbury/Northern Bedford) and sophomore Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) joined the lead pack through two miles of the five mile race before eventual winner Yi Min Wu of Edinboro and runner-up Jim Carney of Millersville broke away. The LHU leaders battled Millersville’s Stephen Pizzulli for the three through five spots the remainder of the race. Moyer broke away with a 1000 meters remaining to claim third place honors (25:19) while Mortensen closed a significant gap down the final straightaway to overcome Pizzulli for fourth in a time of 25:26.

By virtue of their finishes, both athletes earned All-PSAC honors for the second time in their careers. Moyer finished 13th in 1997 to earn conference accolades while Mortensen, last season’s PSAC Rookie of the Year, finished 9th at the 1998 championship.

Making it four Bald Eagles in the top 10, juniors Mike Gomes (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) and Ryan Comstock (West Chester/Henderson) both raced to their first All-PSAC honors. Both started out conservatively and slowly worked their way through the field. Gomes took eighth place in a time of 26:02 while Comstock came through in tenth place with a time of 26:07. The championship marked the first time in school history that the Bald Eagles had four student-athletes earn All-PSAC honors, and the first time since 1979 that at least three athletes were bestowed such honors.

"We lost by two points," commented Head Coach Mark Elliston. "But I couldn’t be happier with the performances of these young men out there today. Edinboro came into these championships thinking they had the race well in hand. We may have been beaten today, but we leave here brimming with confidence. And I’ll tell you what. Edinboro is going home this afternoon knowing that they have a race on their hands at next weekend’s regional meet in Boston.

"Rob and Steve were rock solid, and Gomes and Comstock ran like seasoned veterans. They ran some of the best races of their lives today, as did senior Chris Stager as our number five. This team has never stopped believing in themselves, and this meet is only a testament to that. We’re on a mission, and it isn’t complete until we leave the National Championships in Missouri next month with a top 10 finish in hand."

Other finishers for the Bald Eagles were senior Chris Stager (Canandagua, N.Y./Finger Lakes C.C.), who finished 20th in 26:52, freshman Jason Smolinsky (Hazleton/Hazleton), who ran a time of 27:24 in the 37th position, and junior James Eagler (Greencastle/Hagerstown C.C.) who was 46th in 27:52.

The Lady Eagles were hit hard by an early week injury to their number-one runner, Jana Kauffman, who the LHU coaches decided to sit out for the PSAC Championships in order to rest her for next week’s NCAA East Regional Championships. The women finished ninth in the women’s 13-team championship field, having been edged by just a point by Bloomsburg University for eighth place.

Junior Lauren Bechtel (Exton/Downingtown) led The Haven in 21st place, having covered the six kilometer course in 23:40. Freshman Jessica Stoltzfus (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) was 29th in 24:19 while junior Katie Olsen (Newburgh, N.Y./Marlboro) ran number three for the Lady Eagles in 41st with a time of 24:49.

Other LHU finishers were freshmen Katrina Brown (Hatfield/North Penn), 49th in 24:57, Meghan Johnson (Brookville/Brookville), 63rd in 25:44, and Sue Abel (New Hartford/New Hartford), 73rd in 26:17.

"Our women ran tough today despite the disappointment of toeing the line without Jana," commented Elliston. "Five of the top 25 Division II teams in the country competed out there today, and to come through the way we did without our number one runner was something to be proud of. It kind of makes them a sleeper for next week’s regional competition. Now we just have to try and get Jana healthy and keep the rest of the team focused."

Both teams will compete on Sunday, November 7, at the NCAA East Regional Championships at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass. The women’s 6,000 meter competition starts at noon while the men’s 10,000 meter race begins at 1 p.m. The top three men’s teams and the top four women’s team will represent the East Region at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Joplin, Mo. in late November.

 The Lock Haven University men’s and women’s cross country teams head into Saturday’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships at Kutztown University as underdogs, but look to play the roles of giant-killers.

Ranked No. 14 in this week’s NCAA Division II Cross Country Poll and No. 2 in the East Region, the Bald Eagles look to be a formidable threat for the team championship. LHU will battle with No. 9-ranked Edinboro University, winner of the last six men’s team titles, and the odds on favorite for this year’s crown.

Led by All-PSAC sophomore Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington), last year’s PSAC Rookie of the Year, and senior track All-American Steve Moyer (Woodbury/Northern Bedford), LHU has one of the most potent one-two punches in the conference. Both should push for top five individual finishes and hope to lead The Haven to its first top-four team finish since 1969.

"We have a very talented group of men," says Head Coach Mark Elliston. "Edinboro handed it to us earlier in the year, but our guys have steadily improved all season. There’s no telling what they can accomplish if they really set their minds and hearts on it. You can be assured they won’t go down without a fight."

To really challenge the Fighting Scots, the Bald Eagles will need strong showings from their supporting corps of runners. Junior Ryan Comstock (West Chester/Henderson) has steadily lowered his times, while classmate Mike Gomes (Camillus, N.Y/West Genessee) has been able to tighten the LHU pack in the latter stages of the season.

The number five spot for the team, which has been some what of a revolving door all year for The Haven, could prove to be the most crucial link in the team’s charge for a title. Looking to work their way into the top of the conference standings are freshman Jason Smolinsky (Hazleton/Hazleton), senior Chris Stager (Canandagua, N.Y./Finger Lakes C.C.) and junior James Eagler (Greencastle/Hagerstown C.C.).

"These guys are real gamers and have been known to be able to turn it on at the big meets," comments Elliston. "The pressure’s really on Edinboro to perform. We opened our season on this course, so we’re really comfortable with it. That’s our focus right now, staying relaxed and turning up the intensity when we need to."

With four teams ranked in the top 25 in the nation, the women’s PSAC Championship will once again be a showcase of the top teams in NCAA Division II. No. 3-ranked Edinboro University and No. 4-ranked Shippensburg should feud for the title, but a feisty No. 16-ranked Millersville squad could sneak in and make things interesting. Indiana (Pa.) University sits at No. 25 in the nation, and over all, six women’s squads from the PSAC have made an appearance in the Top 25 poll this year, including the Lady Eagles’ peak at No. 23. Though LHU, currently ranked No. 5 in the East Region, is not expected to contend for the overall title, a top-five finish is anticipated.

A squad steeping in youth, LHU will send five rookie women to the line on Saturday along with sophomore Katie Olsen (Newburgh, N.Y./Marlboro), 37th in 1998, and junior captain Lauren Bechtel (Exton/Downingtown), 24th last year. Bechtel has led the team for much of the season and will look to crack into the top 15 individuals this year for all-conference accolades.

Freshman Jana Kauffman (Strasburg/Lampeter-Strasburg) could be The Haven’s top threat for All-PSAC honors, having led the Lady Eagles in their last two outings. An early week injury could hinder her chances, however, and a large part of the Lady Eagle’s success hinges on her toeing the line.

Newcomers Jessica Stoltzfus (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown), Meghan Johnson (Brookville/Brookville), Katrina Brown (Hatfield/North Penn) and Sue Abel (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) will also be counted on to provide a consistant pack that can be credited for much of the team’s success thus far.

"We’ve been dealt some bad luck here at the end of the season, but we hope to have Jana healthy and back in the lineup as soon as possible," says Elliston. "These girls have shown they can handle a lot of adversity already this year, and I’m confident they’ll continue to turn some heads."

The women’s race on Saturday begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men’s race at 11:30 a.m.

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania student-athlete Rob Mortensen (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week for the week ending September 26.

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will return to action on Saturday, October 2, at the Red Flash Invitational, hosted by Saint Francis (Pa.) College in Loretto, Pa.