In her first race since February, Paul VI graduate Shaelan McNally, a Bucknell sophomore, won the season-opening Lehigh Invitational Friday.
McNally ran 21:06 over the 6,000-meter course at Lehigh’s Goodman campus, winning by 120 meters over senior teammate Caryn Rippey, who was 2nd in 21:33.
It was McNally’s first race since she ran a PR 17:47.52 in an indoor 5,000 in Youngstown, Ohio, on Feb. 14. Her time is a big 6,000 all-course best. Last fall she ran 21:34 in a meet at Lafayette College in Easton in November.
McNally, from Haddon Heights, led a 1-2-3-4 Bucknell finish. The Bison outscored West Virginia 21-63 to win the team title. Bucknell is ranked No. 12 in the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region.
In her first collegiate race, St. Joe’s freshman Chloe Care of Ocean City placed 27th out of 91 runner in 23:16.0. She was the Hawks’ fourth finisher.
In the men’s meet, St. Joe’s sophomore Matt Hoffman of Ocean City placed 17th out of 98 runners covering the 6,000-meter course in 18:39. St. Joe’s senior Josh Forrest of Collingswood was 20th in 18:41, and junior Ian Romea of Haddonfield 24th in 18:43.6 followed by Lehigh sophomore Will Mrozonski from Paul VI, 25th in 18:45.9.
St. Joe’s outscored Bucknell 43-56 to win the team title. Bucknell is ranked 11th in the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region.
The USTFCCCA is the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Most of the course is in Bethlehem, although the section around the three-mile mark just south of Interstate 78 and just east of Mountain Drive South is in Lower Saucon Township
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 