By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto cross country team opened the 2018 season under the lights on Friday evening at the 9th annual Galen Piper Alumni Open/Shippensburg XC Challenge. Mont Alto had a trio of runners competing in the women's 4K race on the Shippensburg University recreation fields.
Freshman Madison Ford (Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) was the top finisher for the Nittany Lions placing 70th with a time of 18:30.2. Her time was also the fastest ever for a Mont Alto runner at this event as she bested Marth Baskwell's top time by five seconds.
Sophomore Mackenzie Rogers (Mount Union, Pa. / Mount Union) and newcomer Lauren Goldberg raced within the same pack with Goldberg finishing 92nd at 21:16.2. Rogers crossed the finish line in 22:49.9, which was good for 96th.
The Penn State Mont Alto runners will look to improve upon their times in a weeks time when the team competes in the Green Terror Challenge at nearby McDaniel College on Friday, Sept. 7. The meet is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.