Tartans Compete in Gold Race at Lehigh University Paul Short Invitational

(BETHLEHEM, Pa.) - Competing for the first time in the gold race at the Lehigh University Paul Short Invitational, the Carnegie Mellon University men's cross-country team placed 11th in a field of 41 teams. The Tartans were the second Division III team to finish in a field of Division I and Division III runners.

The Tartans covered the 8k course with a spread of nine seconds between the first and fifth finishers. Senior Aadi Mhatre (Bridgewater, N.J. / Bridgewater-Raritan) who finished first for the Cardinal and Gray said, "We're always aiming to finish with a five second spread and I think today we came really close to that." This marks Mhatre's second time leading the Tartans at the Paul Short Invitational finishing in a time of 25:23. "This meet is always a great opportunity to run fast early in the season on a good course," added Mhahtre who finished 63rd overall.

"We had a conservative first mile but all five of us worked our way up to finish well together," said sophomore Andrew Singh (Marietta, Ga. / Walton), who finished second for the Tartans and 68th overall in a time of 25:26. "Competing in the gold race pushed us to keep up with some really talented runners," said Singh who found the tougher competition beneficial.

Junior Josh Kalapos (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) finished third for the Tartans and 75th overall in a time of 25:29. The Tartan's fourth and fifth runners, freshman Michael Obroin (Park Ridge Ill. / Saint Ignatius College Prep) and junior Liam Walsh (Gaithersburg, Md. / Quince Orchard) finished within two seconds of Kalapos. Obrioin was 77th overall in a time of 25:30 and Walsh was 83rd overall in 26:07.

Junior Evan Yukevich (Tokyo, Japan / American School in Japan) was sixth for the Cardinal and Gray in 26:03. Finishing seventh for the Tartans, senior William Mitchell (Chatham, N.J., Chatham) ran a time of 26:07.

The Tartans will compete again on their home course at the Carnegie Mellon Hampton Inn Pittsburgh – University/Medical Center Invitational in Shenley Park on Saturday, October 6.