Sept. 6, 2006

BETHLEHEM, Pa. After coming off a stellar junior season, Jenni Schappert started her final season as a Mountain Hawk with more than one award in the first week of cross country's season. In Lehigh's first meet on Friday, she won the women's race at the Lehigh Valley Cross Country Championship with a time of 22:31, 11 seconds better than the second place finisher. On Tuesday, Schappert was recognized in the Patriot League's weekly awards for having a honorable mention performance.

Schappert was among the first pack, which was composed of Lehigh and Kutztown runners, when the race reached the two mile mark. As she rounded the turn that led to the home-stretch, Schappert had a significant amount of distance between her and second place to seal her first individual crown of the 2006 season.

Schappert capped off her junior year by qualifying for the NCAA Championship meet-a feat never before accomplished in the program's history. She also had the team's top four times last season with her season and career best time of 20:44.9 coming at the Mid-Atlantic Regional meet that was held on the Goodman Campus. At the end of the season, Schappert earned her second All-Patriot League and All-Region selections as well as another Academic All-American selection. More recently, along with former teammate Andrea Luebbe '06, Schappert was an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selection.

The Mountain Hawks will hit the trail again with their second home meet on Friday, September 15 when they host the annual Lehigh-Lafayette Dual. Race time is slated for 5:00 pm.