BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Maura Lenhart (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) ran to a top 10 finish in a tough field featuring three Division I programs as the Kutztown University women's cross country team opened its 2026 season at Friday's Lehigh Invitational.
 
Lenhart ran her second-fastest time on the 6,000-meter Goodman Campus course in three career meets there with a 22:10.6 to place eighth in a field of 109 runners. The senior from nearby Center Valley, Pa., will get another go on the course in October at the Paul Short Run.
 
Junior Gabby Keith (Reading, Pa./Exeter) paced a trio of Golden Bears finishing close together with a 23:29.5 to take 30th overall. Fellow junior Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) was 32nd in 23:38.9 and sophomore Faith Belote (Easton, Pa./Easton) crossed the line 33rd in 23:40.2
 
Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) was the final runner to count towards KU's team score with a 46th place finish (24:21.7). Lizzie Brown (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan) in 48th (24:24.0) and Nina Castellano (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) in 58th (24:56.2) completed the Bears' top seven.
 
Also running in Friday's meet were Maya McDonnell (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) (64th, 25:19.3), Aubrey Ressler (New Holland, Pa./Pequea Valley) (74th, 26:04.6), Kadia Stover (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) (79th, 26:30.1) and Allie Pavone (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) (83rd, 27:02.0).
 
Rutgers put four runners in the top seven overall, including race winner Lorena David (21:25.1) and runner-up Kelseigh O'Neil (21:46.9), to cruise to the team title with 26 points.
 
Saint Joseph's (68) took second, ahead of the Garden State Track Club (78), Lehigh (108) and the Golden Bears (118).
 
Kutztown hosts the DII/DIII Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 12.
 

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LEHIGH INVITATIONAL
Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
Bethlehem, Pa. | Goodman Campus Cross Country Course | 6,000-meters
109 Runners
 
KUTZTOWN RESULTS
Team: 5th/10 (118 pts.)
8. Maura Lenhart (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh), 22:10.6
30. Gabby Keith (Reading, Pa./Exeter), 23:29.5
32. Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy), 23:38.9
33. Faith Belote (Easton, Pa./Easton), 23:40.2
46. Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run), 24:21.7
48. Lizzie Brown (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan), 24:24.0
58. Nina Castellano (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights), 24:56.2
64. Maya McDonnell (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South), 25:19.3
74. Aubrey Ressler (New Holland, Pa./Pequea Valley), 26:04.6
79. Kadia Stover (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), 26:30.1
83. Allie Pavone (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown), 27:02.0