UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State cross country program opens its 2018 season with a quick trip north to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, for the Lock Haven Dolan Duals on Friday, Aug. 31. Action begins at 6 p.m. at the West Branch Cross Country Course.
LAST YEAR AT LOCK HAVEN
Both Nittany Lion squads tallied perfect scores of 15 points as Penn State swept both races at last year's Lock Haven Dolan Duals. On the women's side, it was the ninth-straight year with a perfect team score.
IN THE RANKINGS
Nationally, the Penn State women check in at No. 12 in the land, while the men's program is receiving votes. Regionally, the three-time defending Mid-Atlantic Champion Penn State women sit atop the poll, while the men's team is No. 5.
YEAR FIVE FOR COACH GONDAK
John Gondak enters his fifth year at the helm of the Penn State track & field/cross country program in 2018. Prior to being named the head coach of the Nittany Lions on Sept. 17, 2014, Gondak was with the program for eight years and served as the associate head coach for two years.
THE 2018 NITTANY LIONS
The 2018 Penn State women's cross country team is made up of 19 student-athletes, with 11 of those student-athletes upperclassmen. The 2018 Penn State men's cross country team is comprised of 20 student-athletes, with only six upperclassmen on the roster.
LOOKING BACK AT 2017
Last season, the Penn State women's cross country team won its third-straight Mid-Atlantic Regional title and finished 18th as a team at the NCAA Championships. On the men's side, Colin Abert finished 12th at the Big Ten Championships, took ninth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional, and placed 159th at the NCAA Championships.
HOME SWEET HOME
Penn State will host three meets this fall at the Blue-White Golf Course. In addition to the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational (Sept. 7) and the National Open (Oct. 12), the Nittany Lions will host the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship (Nov. 9).
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions return home to the Blue-White Golf Course to host the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday, Sept. 7.