The Muhlenberg women's cross country team opened the 2021 season with a strong showing at the Lehigh Invitational.

With half of their team running their first career cross country race, the Mules finished seventh overall, but second out of three Division III teams. They were just two points behind Moravian and outscored DeSales by 34 points.

The men also featured many newcomers in their eighth-place finish.

Senior Abby Dalton placed 21st out of 101 finishers and was the first Division III athlete across the finish line. Fellow senior Marielle Avola, running her first cross country race in three years, placed 52nd and was the third Division III finisher.

Sophomore Caiti Kinnear (pictured above left), making her first collegiate appearance, was Muhlenberg's third finisher. Junior Adrienne Ellison crossed the line in 26:22.4, an improvement of more than 30 seconds from her best time at the same course in 2019. 

The men's top five had an impressive 1:24 spread. Senior Pat Smurla was the Mules' top finisher for the first time in his career, and sophomore Nathan Reimer was the Mules' No. 2 runner in his first career cross country race.

A pair of freshmen, Markus Vottero and Mason Tran, also ran in the Mules' top five. Junior Adam Stefan (pictured above right) was in Muhlenberg's top five for the first time in his career, finishing in 21:24.6, an improvement of more than 2:30 from his time in the same meet in 2019.

complete results

Women's Team Scores
1. Monmouth 50
2. Princeton 50
3. Lehigh 57
4. Rutgers 74
5. Penn 150
6. Moravian 193
7. MUHLENBERG 195
8. DeSales 229

Muhlenberg runners
21. Abby Dalton, 22:40.8
52. Marielle Avola, 24:04.8
72. Caiti Kinnear, 26:01.5
73. Lauren House, 26:12.6
75. Adrienne Ellison, 26:22.4
78. Ellen Maguire, 26:38.4

Men's Team Scores
1. Princeton 20
2. Lehigh 58
3. Penn 86
4. Monmouth 106
5. Rutgers 119
6. DeSales 194
7. Moravian 202
8. MUHLENBERG 259

Muhlenberg runners
86. Pat Smurla, 20:36.8
96. Nathan Reimer, 21:04.2
98. Markus Vottero, 21:07.6
102. Adam Stefan, 21:24.6
110. Mason Tran, 22:02.1
111. Charles Ohanian, 22:07.9
113. Conner Soderstedt, 22:18.5