Cross Country Places Ninth at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals

Friday, November 12

Bethlehem, Pa.

12:00 p.m.

University of Delaware

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals

Cross Country Places Ninth at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals

11/12/2021 3:57:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

Results (PDF)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The University of Delaware cross country team returned to the trails to compete one final time for the 2021 season in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, hosted by Lehigh University, Friday afternoon. The Blue Hens capitalized on the fact that they saw the Goodman Campus Cross Country 6K course earlier this season (Oct. 1) to capture a ninth place finish behind an impressive performance by Tina Capparell.

"Great day for the Hens. The course was sloppy and slow from the rain but they didn't let that phase them," said head coach Ryan Waite. "After conference, they came up with the goal of finishing in the top nine as a team, so it was really cool to see them accomplish that together."

Among 29 competitive institutions, the Blue Hens totaled 289 points to earn their second-best finish at this event, eighth place in 2013 currently being the best finish. Georgetown earned the team title with 43 points, while West Virginia followed in second with 67 points and Villanova rounded out the top three with 105 points. Princeton (122), Penn State (159), George Washington (211), Navy (219), Monmouth (272), Delaware and Penn (307) placed fourth through 10th, respectively. Sophomore Mountaineer Ceili McCabe claimed the individual title, covering the course with a time of 20:05.7.

Against the field of 193 runners, Capparell guided the Blue Hens for the third-straight meet, crossing the finish line in a time of 21:13.6 for 24th place to earn All-Region honors. Susanna Weir followed behind Capparell by posting a time of 21:17.5 for 28th place. The next Blue Hen to finish the race was Hannah Lindgren with a time of 21:26.1, which was good enough for 34th place. Jessica Pidgeon (95th, 22:45.5) and Kate Rathman (108th, 23:00.4) rounded out Delaware's scoring five.

Waite added "Tina, Susanna, and Hannah were a very strong top three for us. Only a handful of Delaware athletes have ever finished that high at this meet so to have three of them do it on the same day was special. Tina capping off her college cross country career with an All-Region finish - and in my opinion the best overall race she's ever run in cross country or track - made it even more so."

Also racing for the Blue & Gold for the final time this season was Devon Hoernlein (145th, 23:37.2).

Waite concluded, "This cross country season was a blast and it has me really excited for what they'll do on the track this winter and spring."

The Blue Hens closed out the 2021 cross country season graduating a class of six graduate students/seniors, Jessica Harding, Weir, Capparell, Hoernlein, Samantha Side and Julien Webster.

BLUE HENS on SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on University of Delaware Cross Country/Track and Field, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. #BlueHens