Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
Theresa Dennis and Greg Costello Earn Automatic Bids to NCAA's with Solid Performances at Regionals
11/10/2001 7:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 10, 2001
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Junior Theresa Dennis crossed the finish line 10th at the Mid-Atlantic Regional race, good enough to earn her an automatic bid to the NCAA championship, and the Bucknell women's cross country team placed third behind Georgetown and Villanova on Saturday afternoon at Lehigh.
"Once again, our women ran a very consistent race," said head coach Kevin Donner. "I think they did everything they could have done today. I truly believe they are one of the top 30 teams in the nation."
On the men's side, junior Greg Costello was also awarded an automatic bid to the NCAA championship with a seventh-place individual finish as Bucknell's top runner. Junior Bryan Johnston joined Costello on the All-Region squad with his 23rd-place finish.
The Bison women's team saw its top three runners earn All-Region honors by virtue of their top-25 finish. In addition to Dennis, senior Becki Marshall crossed the finish line 13th and senior Chris Crowe turned in a 16th-place finish.
Dennis ran her best race of the season in the field of 180 competitors. She crossed the line in 21:18.70 on her way to the 10th-place finish. Marshall took the course in 21:28.02, also a season-best. The race marked the first time since her sophomore season that Marshall was not Bucknell's top individual finisher. The Orange and Blue had a final competitor earn All-Region recognition as Crowe placed 16th in a time of 21:33.59 for her best run of the year. Bucknell's final two runners to score were senior's Kristin Ferrell and Kelly McConnell. Ferrell crossed the line in 22:19.88 for 42nd place and McConnell rounded out the scoring with a 48th-place showing in 22:30.23.
Costello paced the Bucknell men's squad for the fifth time this season, coming across as the seventh individual in a time of 30:49.81. With his finish, Costello will represent the Bison as an individual competitor at the NCAA Championship. Johnston turned in a 31:22.55 race for 23rd and All-Region honors. Rounding out the field for the Orange and Blue were junior Lou Palma (31st, 31:37.80), senior P.J. Ward (54th, 32:00.21) and senior Travis Etters (56th, 32:02.85).
"Our men ran with a lot of guts and determination," said Donner. "It's always nice to finish higher than your regional ranking, which we did by taking seventh. Greg ran a real smooth race, and I am looking forward to seeing how he performs at the NCAA's."
The women's team will await word from the NCAA on an at-large bid as a team into the NCAA Championship at Furman University on November 19. The men's team is in competition next at the IC4A's at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y.
Bucknell Individual Finishers: Women: 10. Theresa Dennis, 21:18.7, 13. Becki Marshall, 21:28.82, 16. Chris Crowe, 21:33.59, 42. Kristin Ferrell, 22:19.88, 48. Kelly McConnell, 22:30.23, 85. Nicki Piper, 23:11.9, 97. Katie Bishop, 23:34.73. Men: 7. Greg Costello, 30:49.81, 23. Bryan Johnston, 31:22.55, 31. Lou Palma, 32:37.8, 54. P.J. Ward, 32:00.21, 56. Travis Etters, 32:02.85, 60. Wes Reinhardt, 32:06.32, 74. Kevin Weatherill, 32:32.27.
Top 10 Overall Finishers: Women: 1. Marni Kruppa (Georgetown), 20:34.31, 2. Jill Laurendeau (Georgetown), 20:34.31, 3. Erin Sicher (Georgetown), 20:50.88, 4. Amanda Pape (Georgetown), 20:52.75, 5. Kalin Toedebusch (Villanova), 20:53.95, 6. Emily Kroshus (Princeton), 21:03.84, 7. Ioana Purusheva (Villanova), 21:13.5, 8. Renee Guuning (Villanova), 21:14.73, 9. Michelle Wale (Penn State), 21:15.95, 10. Theresa Dennis (Bucknell), 21:18.7. Men: 1. Adrian Blincoe (Villanova), 30:31.5, 2. Ryan Hayden (Villanova), 30:37.24, 3. Kevin Doyle (St. Francis), 30:38.78, 4. Rod Koborski (Georgetown), 30:40.75, 5. Chris Miltenberg (Georgetown), 30:44.12, 6. Todd Witzleben (LaSalle), 30:45.9, 7. Greg Costello (Bucknell), 30:49.81, 8. Erick Too (Fairleigh Dickinson), 30:51.75, 9. Matt Seymour (American), 30:52.8, 10. Tom Parlapiano (Villanova), 30:57.37.
Top 10 Team Results: Women: 1. Georgetown, 22, 2. Villanova, 69, 3. Bucknell, 129, 4. LaSalle, 135, 5. Penn State, 136, 6. Princeton, 157, 7. West Virginia, 230, 8. Navy, 245, 9. Pittsburgh, 245, 10. Pennsylvania, 253. Men: 1. Villanova, 75, 2. Georgetown, 90, 3. Princeton, 114, 4. LaSalle, 128, 5. Penn State, 143, 6. Fairleigh Dickinson, 150, 7. Bucknell, 171, 8. Navy, 200, 9. West Virginia, 249, 10. St. Francis, 269.
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