By Joe Iuliucci '18
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Junior Riley Engel was at the head of the pack for the second time in as many meets as the Ursinus College women's cross country team turned in a solid effort at the 44th annual Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh University.
The women were up against a field of 32 teams. Conditions were mild and highly conducive to running fast. Temperatures were just below 70 with low humidity, and the gently rolling terrain was compact and freshly mowed. The women were set up for a fast 6k race.
Running almost a minute and a half faster than last year's race and skipping 85 places in the process, Engel led the women with a 31st place finish in a time of 23:32. This was also a 22-second personal best for Engel.
Coming in second for the team with a time of 24:48, senior Lily Talerman also set a personal best by 20 seconds. Juniors Audrey Simpson and Gabby Manto and freshman Bianca Joseph were all within an impressive four-second range of one another, finishing in times of 26:38, 26:40, and 26:42, respectively. Rounding out the top seven for the women were sophomores Alyson Manley and Ellie Stanley, who finished in times of 27:00 and 27:33.
As a team the women finished 25 out 32, only three places from last year's finish. Assistant coach Crystal Burnick noted the PRs set by several of the ladies and expressed a very positive outlook on how the team worked together.
"Overall, definitely a team effort," she said. "Exactly what we look for in the sense of a cross country race, and we're very happy with the team."
The women have two weeks of preparation before they are back in action at the Gettysburg Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 14.