NEWS | Lehigh to host 2026 Paul Short Run
NEWS | USTFCCCA week 2 men's XC poll presser
NEWS | USTFCCCA week 2 women's XC poll presser
 
Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the 52nd annual Paul Short Run Friday in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Lehigh University hosts 10 college races Friday. Over two days, the LU Mountain Hawks will host 7,000 athletes representing more than 600 schools for high school and college races.
 
Lehigh is WU director of cross country and track and field Matt van Lierop's alma mater. On Friday, two-time national champion head coach Pol Domenech will have 35 Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad Bulldogs who are slated to compete in four different races. The No. 1 Wingate men have 20 student-athletes on the pre-meet rosters, while the No. 3 Bulldog women have 15.
 
52nd annual Paul Short Run schedule
Friday, October 2, 2026 in Bethlehem, Pa.
 
9:30 a.m. – College Men's Open 8K
10:15 a.m. – College Women's Open 6K
11 a.m. – College Men's Gold 8K (top 10 WU runners)
11:45 a.m. – College Women's Gold 6K (top 8 WU runners)
 
Looking back at the 51st annual Paul Short Run, October 3, 2025
Goodman Campus Cross Country Course, Lehigh University
 
- The No. 1 Wingate men finished fifth in the Gold 8K race
- The Bulldogs had 181 points to claim top D2 honors in a 40-team field
- Antonin Saint-Peyre ('26) took 25th place with his 8K time of 23:49.0
- The Bulldog men won the Open Division 8K race
- Niels Peeters finished third in the Open race with an 8K time of 24:06.0
- The No. 5 Wingate women finished 16th in the 40-team Gold 6K race
- Firdaouss Hriche led the 'Dogs with her personal-best 6K time of 20:48.9
- Twins Kiara and Abigail Bester were next on the WU charts
- Kiara recorded a time of 21:16.0, while Abigail posted a time of 21:16.2
- Baia Touza (22:50.5) and Maria Chacha (23:06.6) led WU in the Open race
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate senior student-athlete Riya Keshaw
 
"The ladies have all been putting in a lot of work since the summer. These last few weeks have been about getting in some good, consistent training in preparation for the upcoming season. Some of us opened the season a few weeks ago and raced really well, while for others, the Paul Short Run will be the first race of the season. It's been great seeing everyone progress in training…now we're excited to see what that work looks like when we're all racing together on Friday."
 
"I think that we are looking really good as a unified group this year…the team atmosphere has been great, too. Everyone has been pushing each other and supporting one another in practice. I think that this has helped us build a strong team going into this weekend. We are excited to go out there, race hard for each other and see what we can do both individually and as a team."
 
Wingate senior student-athlete Samuel Gilson
 
"I am excited for myself and the team for the Paul Short Run at Lehigh University. I think we have got a great bunch of guys this year. My preparation has gone well with the first few weeks going so much better than last year."
 
"We have three new guys who are looking very strong…if I had to pick one to give a shout-out…I am excited to see Ewen Guilmois compete Friday. He has come in and hit the ground running very strong. This is definitely an exciting meet with many of us opening up for the first time this season. It's a long road until December 4…when we hope to bring home another title."
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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