Lynchburg, Va. – The University of Lynchburg men's and women's cross country teams will make the six-hour trek to Bethlehem, Pa. on Friday, Oct. 2 to compete in the 51st edition of the Paul Short Run, an event that will feature over 7,000 athletes between the high school and collegiate races.

The Lynchburg men will compete in the men's white race at 12:30 p.m. against several top Division III opponents, and the women's white race begins at 1:15 p.m., boasting a similar field. For athletes outside of the team's top group, the men's open race commences at 9:30 a.m., with the women's open race slated to begin at 10:15 a.m.

Paul Short represents Lynchburg's first opportunity to race in an 8k or 6k: the proper NCAA DIII distance for men's and women's races, respectively. Early in the season, the Hornets focused on training and building fitness, while only competing in a pair of 5k and 6k races.

Goodman Campus Cross Country Course, situated on the campus of Lehigh University, features several rolling hills across grassy terrain. The first 800 meters include a flat, straight path, as athletes jostle for position before making their initial turns into the woods.

Temperatures will plummet into the 40s for Friday morning's early races. By noon, the temperature will reach 66 and eventually accelerate into the 70s by the afternoon. No rain is projected in the forecast, and wind gusts will remain under eight miles per hour.

Last season, Chasen Hunt claimed an individual victory in the men's white race with a 24:28.8 8k performance. The men's team placed fourth in the event, while the women's team placed ninth in the 6k.

Hornets distance coach Sam Llaneza competed in the past three editions of the Paul Short Run, and now on the sidelines, he hopes to eliminate any pressure for his athletes entering Friday.

"I know it's our first 8k and 6k, but we're not trying to hit a home run," Llaneza said. "We just need to be solid and compete with the DIII teams in the field."

In the newest UFTSCCCA poll, the men's team is ranked 22nd in Division III and looks to improve steadily with a strong showing. The women's team fell outside of the nation's top 30.

To follow live results from the 2025 Paul Short Run, click here.

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--LYN--