PHILADELPHIA – The Adams State Grizzlies Men's and Women's Cross Country teams head to Philadelphia, PA for their first premier meet of the season, competing at the Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh University. For most of the athletes competing this weekend, it will be their first race in over a month since running at the Joe I. Vigil meet in Alamosa back in early September.
 
As it is every year, the Paul Short Run should be a great test for this year's Men's and Women's Cross Country teams, who each have high expectations. They will face off against Division I programs this Saturday in the race, but have never had an issue holding their own and having success in the past against elite competition.
 
The men come into this week ranked fifth nationally, with only a small sample size thus far on the year. They are led by senior Kale Adams and Redshirt Sophomore Isaiah Rodarte who both look to have big performances against solid competition. Dane Blomquist looks to have a big day as well and try to match, if not best his performance at the Joe I. Vigil a month ago.
 
The women come into Saturday ranked the head and shoulders number one team in the nation. They are now getting healthy and are ready to tear up any competition that comes in their way. The Grizzly women are stacked with upperclassmen who look to continue their run of dominance on any surface or conditions you throw them into, and historically have had great success at the Paul Short Run. The race Saturday should be telling of how dominant they truly are and can be.
 
A big storyline coming into the race is that of Head Coach Damon Martin who has taken a short leave of absence to go coach Team USA at the World Championships in Doha. In his place, Assistant Coach Brian Medigovich will lead the Grizzlies into Philadelphia this weekend, and they should not miss a beat. Medigovich was a fantasic runner for the Grizzlies in his own right, and has been a head coach at the Division II level before joining the Adams State coaching staff.
 
The 46^th annual Paul Short Run kicks off Saturday, October 5^th from Bethlehem, PA at the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course at Lehigh University. The men kick off the 8k in the Gold Division at 11 o clock Eastern Time, with the women following right after, also in the Gold Division at 11:45 Eastern. Broadcast will be provided by the hosting school's website at lehighsports.com. For more information on the meet visit the link: https://lehighsports.com/news/2019/10/2/lehigh-universitys-paul-short-run-to-be-held-saturday-morning.aspx