LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The regionally-ranked Lock Haven women'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. 10 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 women's race vs. the Nittany Lions is set for a 6 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 Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll on Aug. 22, with Lock Haven picked eighth of 17 total teams in the preseason rankings.
 
Slippery Rock was picked as the preseason favorite after finishing with eight first-place votes. Bloomsburg picked up six first-place votes and was slated second, while Shippensburg rounded out the top three after earning three first-place votes.
 
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.
 
Top Returners:
Under 23^rd-year head coach Aaron Russell, the Bald Eagles feature a deep roster of 19 student-athletes, with a strong mix of youth and experience.
 
In 2023, the Bald Eagles placed seventh of 18 schools at the conference meet. The Haven will be led by standout returners Aubrey Sechrist and Gwen Lloyd who finished 30^th and 48^th at the conference championships, respectively.
 
Lloyd (33rd) led the charge at last year's NCAA DII Atlantic Region Championships, finishing as the top runner for The Haven. Sechrist also cracked the top 50.
 
Newcomers:
Ashleigh Aukerman, Nicole Carroll, Khloe Cunningham, Sophie Dillon, Addison Farrer, Madalyn Farrer, and Kaydence Strange 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 a.m. The entire women's cross country schedule for the 2024 season can be found at GoLHU.com.