BETHLEHEM, PA – Johns Hopkins won their 12
th-straight Mideast Regional Championship on Saturday afternoon, fending off Dickinson by 10 points.
Despite having four top-runners out of the competition, the Blue Jays placed three runners in the top-16 and five in the top-36.
"I'm so proud of how well the women ran today, earning the regional title ahead of a very good Dickinson team who is ranked #5 in the nation,"
Bobby Van Allen said.
Centennial Conference Freshman Runner of the Year
Katharine Priu stepped up in a big way, grabbing second-place individually with a time of 21:31.1. Priu held off Emily Gates of Stevenson by 1.6 seconds for second. Senior
Samantha Levy grabbed fourth-place in the region, finishing in 21:42.4. Another freshman,
Stephanie Brown, finished 16
th, running the Goodman Campus course in 22:18.5.
"Katharine was simply amazing today, getting out early and never letting off the gas, taking second overall behind Isabel Cardi who is a contender to win the NCAA individual title," Van Allen said.
Callie Jones and
Arielle Summitt rounded out the top-five for the Hopkins team on Saturday. Jones, another freshman, finished 30
th, while Summitt, last year's conference freshman of the year, finished 36
th. Jones finished in 22:36.9 while Summitt came in at 22:45.3.
"Overall we had the top three freshmen in the entire Mideast region and now we will be doing everything possible to prepare for next weekend's National Championship in Louisville," said Van Allen.
The Blue Jays were dominating after the first mile, placing five runners in the top-8 behind Dickinson's Isabel Cardi. The lead for Johns Hopkins tightened a little bit at the two-mile mark as Dickinson pulled within 35 points, but the Blue Jays were able to hold on for yet another Mideast Regional championship.
The Blue Jay women have now won 12 straight Centennial Conference and Mideast Regional Championships.
"This program is such a tight family that has each other's back through the ups and downs. I'm excited for next weekend and know we will give it everything we have."
Hopkins will compete next weekend, searching to avenge last year's one-point defeat at Nationals. This year's national race will take place Saturday in Louisville, KY.
