BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania cross country teams opened up the 2021 season on Friday evening, competing at the Lehigh Invitational. Racing for the first time since 2019, the Quakers ran on the Mountain Hawk's Goodman Campus Cross Country Course. Both the men's and women's races were 6K.

The Penn women finished fifth in an eight-team event. The Red and Blue ran together, finishing in order in nine consecutive positions from 36th through 44th. Captain Ariana Gardizy was the first Quaker to cross the finish line at 23:26.2 and she was followed closely by Niamh Hayes (23:26.3), Lizzy Bader (23:26.3), Fabianna Szorenyi (23:26.6), and Katie Pou (23:26.7).

The Penn men came in third in a seven-team field, highlighted by four harriers recording top-20 finishes. William Shaughnessy was the first of four straight Quakers to cross the finish line as he came in 16th place with a time of 18:51.4. Hot on his heels were teammates Zubeir Dagane (18:51.5), James Lee (18:51.5), Oliver Stewart (18:51.7), and Justin Iler (18:51.7).

Both teams return to action in two weeks, competing in the Main Line Invitational hosted by Haverford College.

Penn Results
Women (5th/150 points)
36. Ariana Gardizy – 23:26.2
37. Niamh Hayes – 23:26.3
38. Lizzy Bader – 23:26.3
39. Fabianna Szorenyi – 23:26.6
40. Katie Pou – 23:26.7
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41. Phoebe White – 23:6.9
42. Olivia Morganti – 23:27.0

Men (3rd/86 points)
16. William Shaughnessy – 18:51.4
17. Zubeir Dagane – 18:51.5
18. James Lee – 18:51.6
19. Oliver Stewart – 18:51.7
21. Justin Iler – 18:51.7
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22. Ray Sellaro – 18:51.8
23. Dylan Throop – 18:51.8