Smurla Repeats as Landmark Conference Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian University junior Tara Smurla has been repeated as the Landmark Conference Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week for her performance last week.
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian University junior Tara Smurla has been repeated as the Landmark Conference Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week for her performance last week.
Smurla placed second of 197 runners in the Lebanon Valley College Invitational with a time of 18:22.7 on the 5,000-meter course. The Greyhounds finished second of 19 schools in the meet run on the course at Union Canal Tunnel Park that will host the Landmark Conference Championship in November.
"With Saturday only being a 5K, we discussed taking a few more risks in the race than we might otherwise in a 6K," noted Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jesse Baumann. "Tara did this by taking the lead even before the mile mark because she wanted to aim for a PR even though tactically it was risky with a really strong field. In the end she set a 30 second lifetime PR even while leading the majority of the race, and she beat some extremely good runners who have been All-Region, and even a D3 track All-American. Additionally, it moves her up to 7th on our All-Time list, even in front of some Moravian Athletics Hall of Famers and Cross Country All Americans, which speaks to what a great race this was for her!"
The Hounds are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, September 14 in the Stockton University Osprey Open beginning at 10:30 a.m.
