BETHLEHEM, PA – The Johns Hopkins women's cross country team turned in a strong performance Friday morning at the Paul Short Invitational, hosted by Lehigh University. Competing in a highly competitive 40-team Gold Race, the Blue Jays placed 20^th overall with 602 points, finishing behind several nationally ranked Division I programs, including No. 15 Penn State and No. 20 Georgetown. Harvard, also receiving votes in the latest USTFCCCA Division I Coaches Poll, was among the top finishers as well.

Among the Division III contingent, the Blue Jays finished two spots ahead of top-ranked MIT, who combined for 652 points and a 22^nd-overall team finish.

Sophomore Carter Brotherton led the way for Johns Hopkins and was the second Division III runner to cross the line behind only MIT's Kate Sanderson, placing 44^th overall in a field of 352 runners. Brotherton clocked a personal-best 20:46.6, anchoring a pack of four Blue Jays who finished among the top-150.
 
Freshman Mia Kotler placed 137^th overall in 21:31.6. She was the fastest freshman in the Division III contingent and the 28^th-fastest freshman overall. Sophomore Storrie Kulynych-Irvin and senior Eleni Alvarez also cracked the top-150, placing 144^th (21:32.9) and 150^th (21:34.2), respectfully.
 
Junior Natalie Boquist rounded out the scoring five for Johns Hopkins, finishing just outside of the top-150 with a 151^st-place finish in 21:34.4.
 
The Blue Jays, ranked No. 5 in the latest USTFCCCA Division III Week 3 Coaches Poll, will return to action on Saturday, October 18, at the Border Battle hosted by Rowan University in Gloucester, New Jersey.