BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's cross country team opened the 2022 season with a seventh place finish of eight teams in the Lehigh University Invitational Friday evening at the Goodman Campus. The Hounds scored 206 points while LaSalle University won the meet with 53 points.

How It Happened

• Freshman Tara Smurla paced the Greyhounds with a 35th place finish of 76 runners as she turned in a time of 23:53.9 on the 6,000-meter course in her first collegiate race
• Sophomore Amber Poniktera was the next Moravian runner to finish, placing 52nd in a time of 25:11.1 while senior Rachel Byrne took 55th in 25:21.3. Rounding out the top five for the Hounds were sophomore Catie Lovett in 60th with a time of 26:13.0 and freshman Tori Champagne one spot back in 61st in 26:13.5
• Freshman Grace Tirabassi placed 62nd in a time of 26:14.8 in her collegiate debut while sophomore Ally Meeks was 65th in 26:37.9
• The Greyhounds had six other runners compete with sophomore Lily Mingora posting a time of 27:06.1, freshman Meghan Myers running a 27:24.1, senior Peyton Herbst finishing in 27:43.4, sophomore Rylie Murphy turning in a time of 27:54.8, sophomore Gillian Schonenberg  finishing in 28:15.2 and sophomore Hannah Kolonoski running a time of 29:23.6   

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Friday, September 16 at DII/DIII Challenge at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
• Friday, September 30 at Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh University