UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State cross country team kicks off its 2019 season at Lock Haven University with the Dolan Duals on Friday, September 6. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the West Branch Cross Country Course.
2018 REWIND ON THE DOLAN DUALS
For the second consecutive year, the Nittany Lions swept the Dolan Duals with perfect scores of 15 points for both the men's and women's teams. Former Nittany Lion Colin Abert won the men's 6k race in 17:41.13. On the women's side Julia Paternain led the Nittany Lions by capturing the a first-place finish. Paternain won the 4k race with a time of 13:54.42 to begin her Penn State career.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Penn State women's cross country program begins the season ranked No. 14 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. The women's program was selected as the Mid-Atlantic Region preseason favorite. Last season, the Nittany Lions finished third in the region.
2019 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
The Nittany Lions begin the season with a total of 40 student-athletes across the two programs. 19 female student-athletes and 21 men student-athletes make up the Nittany Lions roster. Penn State returns 26 members of last year's squad.
LOOKING BACK AT 2018
Last season, the Nittany Lions women's cross country team finished 20th at the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Nittany Lions finished with a overall score of 482 points. Danae Rivers and Alison Willingmyre paced the Nittany Lions as they both finished in the top-100. Along with Rivers and Willingmyre, Julia Paternain tallied a top-150 finish.
The Penn State men's cross country team finished fifth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. The Nittany Lions were led by Colin Abert who finished 16th to lead all finishers for Penn State.
2019 SEASON
The Nittany Lions will compete in four meets prior to the Big Ten Championships that will be held in Columbus, Ohio. Penn State will host two of these meets with the Spike Shoe Invitational on September 13 and the National Open on October 18.
FOLLOWING UP THE DOLAN DUALS
The Nittany Lions run their first meet of the year at the Blue-White Golf Course to host the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational.
