LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The regionally-ranked Lock Haven men's cross country team is set to kick off its 2024 season on Friday (Sept. 6) when the Bald Eagles welcome Penn State to the West Branch Cross Country Course.
 
On Wednesday (Sept. 4) the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its 2024 Division II Preseason Atlantic Region Rankings and picked the Bald Eagles as the No. 6 team in the region.
 
Setting the Stage:
Lock Haven will open the 2024 season in traditional fashion as the Bald Eagles play host to local NCAA Division I power Penn State on Friday, Sept. 6 in Dolan Duals action. The men's race vs. the Nittany Lions is set for a 6:30 p.m. start.
 
The Bald Eagles will follow by hosting the 23^rd annual Lock Haven XC Open/Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 28 on the West Branch Cross Country Course, located at the Stern Athletic Complex.
 
Digital Programs – Visit our new Gameday Hub – GoLHU.com/programs 
The Lock Haven Department of Athletics, in partnership with the Athletic Communications and Marketing office, is excited to offer fans and followers of the Bald Eagles a new way to access game day information while in attendance with the introduction of digital programs at home events for the 2024-25 academic year.
 
Preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Rankings:
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced the 2024 Preseason Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll on Aug. 22, with Lock Haven picked seventh of 15 total teams in the preseason rankings.
 
Shippensburg landed 14 of 15 total first-place votes and were picked as the preseason favorites. Slippery Rock was tabbed second after receiving one first-place vote. IUP, East Stroudsburg, and Kutztown rounded out the top five.
 
A Look at the Schedule:
Lock Haven will open the season on Friday, Sept. 6 in Dolan Duals action vs Penn State. The season-opening meet is the first of several home events scheduled on the West Branch Cross Country Course. The Bald Eagles will follow by welcoming around 80 schools when they host the 23^rd annual Lock Haven XC Open/Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 28.
 
The Haven will compete at Kutztown, Slippery Rock, and SUNY Geneseo to round out their trek before returning to Kutztown University to compete in the 2024 PSAC Cross Country Championships.
 
The Bald Eagles return home for the final time of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 2 when they host their annual Go Fast River Run.
 
Following the Go Fast River Run, Lock Haven remains home to compete in and host the 2024 NCAA DII Atlantic Region Championships at the West Branch Cross Country Course. Rager (50th) and Gavitt (68th) again led the charge at the regional event, finishing as the top two runners for The Haven.
 
Top Returners:
Under 23^rd-year head coach Aaron Russell, the Bald Eagles will feature a deep roster of 27 student-athletes, including eight rookies entering their first collegiate season.
 
Lock Haven will be led by standout returners Jakob Rager and Morgan Gavitt who finished 25^th and 27^th at the championship event hosted by Bloomsburg University.
 
Rager (50th) and Gavitt (68th) led the charge at last year's NCAA DII Atlantic Region Championships, finishing as the top two runners for The Haven.
 
Newcomers:
Anden Atkins, Joey Bauer, Kaiden Braught, Kristian Mizdail, Colin Simander, Colton Wagner, Ryen Webster, and Ryan Williams make up Lock Haven's 2024 recruiting class.
 
Up Next:
Following the Lock Haven Invitational on Sept. 28, The Bald Eagles will head to Houghton, New York for the Highlander Invite on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11:45 a.m. The full 2024 Lock Haven men's cross country schedule can be found at GoLHU.com.