BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Rutgers cross country returns to action following a three-week hiatus for the Paul Short Run on Friday, Oct. 3 at Lehigh University. The Goodman Campus course will serve as a primer for the eventual 2025 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in November which will take place at the same site.
 
Most recently at the Big Ten Preview, the Scarlet Knights were led by strong performances on the men's side from Micah Lawson and Liam Tilton. Lawson finished as the top racer in back-to-back weeks, leading the group with a time of 24:29.6, placing 26th overall. Tilton followed in 37th place with a time of 24:43.6.
 
Kelseigh O'Neil and Lorena David enter the weekend as top performers, finishing as the top two from the women's side at the Big Ten Preview. O'Neil has been among Rutgers' leaders throughout the early season, with David close behind. At the Big Ten Preview, O'Neil placed 19th with a time of 21:04.0. David placed 21st with a time of 21:04.8.
 
"Racing on the regional course at Paul Short in a competitive field will give us a good indicator of where we are not just in our region, but on a national level," said Associate Coach Nicol Starkes.
 
With lots of optimism still ahead for this season, the Scarlet Knights will use the Paul Short Invitational as an opportunity to sharpen their racing strategy, push for faster times, and continue progressing toward peak form with the championship stretch of the season quickly approaching.