BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League Women's and Men's Spring Cross Country Championships will be held on Friday, March 5 at Lehigh University's Goodman Campus. The Army West Point men's cross country team will be aiming for its fourth-consecutive team title, while the Boston University women's team will be vying for a second-straight championship.
The women's 3.7-mile race will begin at 1 p.m., followed by the men's 4.7-mile race at 2 p.m. Eighteen of the 20 Patriot League men's and women's cross country programs will compete in Friday's championship, with team scoring determined by each squad's top-five finishers. The Navy men's and women's cross country programs will not compete due to the Naval Academy being under a restriction of movement due to COVID-19.
The Patriot League major awards will be distributed following the race based on the student-athletes individual finish during the championship. For both the women and men, the individual champion will be named the Patriot League Outstanding Performer of the Meet while the top-finishing freshman earns the Patriot League Outstanding Rookie of the Meet. The top-seven finishers in both the men's and women's race make the All-Patriot League First Team, with the eighth through 14th-place runners making the second-team All-League. The women's and men's Patriot League Coach of the Year awards will be voted on by the League's head coaches at the completion of both races.
Live results and more information are available by visiting the
2021 Patriot League Spring Cross Country Championship Central.
Patriot League Spring Cross Country Championship
Championships to be Held at Lehigh for the Ninth Time
The Patriot League Cross Country Championships will be held on Lehigh University's Goodman Campus for the ninth time. Lehigh hosted the inaugural championship in 1990, followed by subsequent races in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017. The Army West Point men and Bucknell women were victorious in the 2017 race at Lehigh.
Top Women's Returnees in 2021
Seven All-Patriot League honorees from the 2019 championship return to the 2021 spring field. Bucknell junior Olivia Dyer is the top returning finisher after placing third at the 2019 Patriot League Championship at Colgate's Harry H. Lang Cross Country Course. She will be joined by three teammates, including senior Ashley Blair (5th in '19), junior Ashlyn Ramos (6th in '19) and junior Nora Bennett (10th in '19). Boston University sophomore Sophia Jacobs-Townsley (8th in '19), the 2019 Patriot League Women's Outstanding Rookie of the Meet, returns along with teammate senior Corrine Batsu (13th in '19). Army West Point junior Mika Andrews (12th in '19) also returns after receiving All-League honors in 2019.
Top Men's Returnees in 2021
Boston University senior Brett Davidson is the lone 2019 First Team All-Patriot League honoree returning to the 2021 spring field. Davidson finished seventh at the 2019 championship. Three second-team All-League honorees return for the spring championship, including the 2019 Patriot League Men's Outstanding Rookie of the Meet Garrett Gough of Army West Point. The sophomore finished ninth at the 2019 championship. Black Knights' junior Marshall Beatty (13th in '19) is also back after claiming All-League honors in 2019.
Army West Point Men Aiming for Fourth-Straight Title; Boston University Looking to Repeat
The Army West Point men are looking to capture its fourth-straight Patriot League title after placing five runners in the top-14 in 2019. Army West Point Head Coach Mike Smith, the three-time defending Patriot League Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, returns Gough and Beatty from their last championship team. Boston University is looking to repeat with Jacobs-Townsley, Wind and Batsu back from their 2019 women's championship squad. Terriers' Head Coach Paul Spangler and his team will have to fend off a Bison program that is returning four All-League competitors.
Overall Patriot League Championships
The Army West Point men's cross country program has won a Patriot League-best 10 team championships. Navy is second with eight while American and Bucknell are next with six titles apiece. Lehigh is the only other men's program to win a Patriot League Cross Country Championship, accomplishing the feat in 2012. The Bucknell women's program has a League-high 12 team titles. Army West Point (5), Navy (4), Boston University (3) and American (2) have each won multiple League Championships. Colgate, Lafayette and Lehigh each have one women's team title.
2021 Patriot League Cross Country Athletes of the Week
Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
2.16 – Michael Mitchell, Lehigh, Sr.
2.23 – Russell Sullivan, American, So.
Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
2.16 – Madison Zaun, Lehigh, So.
2.23 – Ainsley Jacobs, Lafayette, Sr.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.