East Carolina University
Paul Short Invitational
ECU Cross Country Completes Paul Short Run
October 04, 2014 | Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The East Carolina men's and women's cross country teams completed their respective gold races at the 41st annual Paul Short Run at Lehigh University on Saturday morning.
"Overall it was a good day, but we still have some bad luck to get through," head coach Dan Lee said. "The Paul Short Run is a very competitive meet with several top-ranked programs. We have a lot of work to do, but saw some solid improvements on both sides."
The men's gold race, set at an 8K distance, saw freshman Jorge Montes lead the Pirates with a time of 25:37. Amidst a large group of finishers, sophomore Abel Tecle clocked in just seven seconds behind Montes, before redshirt junior Brather Cline completed the course nine seconds after Tecle, as the three all crossed the finish line under the 26-minute mark.
Tecle fell down in some slippery conditions on the course shortly after the 6,000-meter mark, losing approximately 15 seconds and significant placement within the field. Cline's mark of 25:53 shattered his previous best 8K time of 26:41.94 set back in 2012 at the Charlotte Cross Country Invitational.
"Jorge is getting better every week with his training and race performances," Lee said. "He entered the school year injured but he's doing really well with his rehab. Brather had a strong race today, but had too much energy left at the end of the race. He's a middle-distance runner and still learning how to run distance."
On the women's side, a 6K race, sophomore Caitlyn Sheva was East Carolina's top runner with a time of 22:13, four seconds ahead of redshirt sophomore teammate Carolina Reiser. A transfer from FIU, Reiser fought through a cramp in the final mile that slowed her overall time.
Competing just 30 minutes away from her hometown, the race was Sheva's second at the 6K distance, topping her time in the exact same race at last year's meet by over one minute.
"Last year, Caitlyn came in really strong, but had a hard time adjusting between high school and college training," Lee said. "By this time last season, she was fading, and it's the complete opposite this year. She's on the up-swing big time."
Junior Shewit Weldense stopped the clock at 22:34, recording a new personal-best 6K time and crushing her mark from last year's Paul Short Run by one minute and 16 seconds. Sophomore Sydney Teague clocked a 22:52, as classmate Maura McDonnell rounded out the Pirate runners at a time of 23:56.
East Carolina will next compete at Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., on Friday, Sept. 17.
Men's Gold Race Results
147. Jorge Montes 25:37
171. Abel Tecle 25:44
194. Brather Cline 25:53
217. Chase Miller 26:01
249. Pol Solanelles 26:24
285. Justin Lane 27:52
287. Dylan Traywick 29:02
Women's Gold Race Results
150. Caitlyn Sheva 22:13
160. Caroline Reiser 22:17
194. Shewit Weldense 22:34
223. Sydney Teague 22:52
249. Maura McDonnell 23:56
Players Mentioned
