Bethlehem, Pa.---Having two female runners named to any All-Conference team is an honor, to have two runners named to the Landmark Conference All-Conference First Team and two named to the All-Conference Second Team is amazing. To find out they are all returning is great news for any coach. Which makes us wonder could this lead to back-to-back titles for the Greyhounds? If the pre-season poll has any indication all signs point to yes.
After a stellar performance this past year what can we expect from the women's cross country team? Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, Jesse Baumann dishes about what we can look forward to from his team.
Baumann is confident in his returners saying "We have a few more established people coming back with our upper classmen giving us a great core to work with and we are looking forward to what are freshman class can add to the group."
The Hounds return seven runners this season and add five freshmen to the 2014 roster. Senior Claire Del Casale earned top marks at the 2013 Landmark Conference Championships taking second place and earning Landmark Conference All-Conference First Team, and placing 27th at the 2013 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional to make the All-Region Team.
Coach Baumann is looking for that little bit extra from his core returners "Claire missed nationals by less than a second last year which was really heart wrenching but extra motivation this year."
Emily Lambright finished seventh at the 2013 Landmark Conference Championships also placing her on the All-Conference First Team. Lambright was also named to the inaugural Landmark Conference All-Sportsmanship Team and earned a spot on the Capital One Academic All-American Second Team for NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country and Track and Field.
Senior Devon Bedell placed 11th at the Landmark meet earning her Landmark Conference All-Conference Second Team. Finishing on the heels of Bedell was sophomore Meg Brockett in 12th, also earning a spot on the All-Conference Second Team.
Baumann will have five freshmen join the roster this season and has high expectations of them to help secure a post season and a possible nationals appearance.
"If we want to have a shot looking at big post season accomplishments, maybe even nationals we are going to really have to have our freshmen really step up to have that happen" said Baumann
The Greyhounds hit the ground running on Friday, August 29 at the Lehigh University Invitational.
