Bucknell University
Patriot League Championship
Bucknell Cross Country Participates In Patriot League Championships
11/2/2002 7:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 2, 2002
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Bucknell University men's and women's cross country teams competed in the Patriot League Championships, Saturday afternoon. The women's team placed second out of seven teams, while the men's team finished third.
The women's team completed the 6k race second with 43 points, only one point behind first-place American, and it was that single point that ended the Bison's run at four straight women's championships. The Bucknell men's team completed the race third with 82 points. Top runners for the Bison included men's individual champion Bryan Johnston and women's runner-up Theresa Dennis.
"The women's team ran a wonderful team race. They did all that they could do to win the Patriot League Championships, but unfortunately we came one point short," mentioned head coach Kevin Donner. "American ran an outstanding race and deserves the win, but Bucknell deserves a lot of credit."
Johnston set the pace in the men's race, finishing first with a course-record time of 25:43.18. He is Bucknell's fourth Patriot League individual champion and the first since David Bronfenbrenner in 1999. Dennis crossed the line second in the women's race at 22:35.56, behind only American's Samia Akbar (21:53.72).
The women's team completed the championship with three runners placing in the top 10 slots, earning First Team All-Patriot League status. Nicki Piper (6th, 23:17.10) and Alison Cole (8th, 23:23.00) assisted Dennis in the top 10 finishers. Katie Pfeifer (13th, 23:46.45), Jamie Gow (14th, 23:48.29), Kayla Halloran (19th, 23:57.70) and Rachel Tutmaher (22nd, 24:07.27) rounded off the top 25 finishers for the Bison.
"I was very proud of senior Theresa Dennis for making All-Conference for the third year, as well as senior Nicki Piper and freshman Alison Cole, for the first time," stated Donner.
On the men's side, including Johnston, Stephen Schaefer (18th, 26:34.53), Nick Mousetis (21st, 26:41.42), Wes Reinhardt (22nd, 26:45.91), Eric Furst (24th, 26:49.84) and Lou Palma (25th, 26:52.57) scored for the Bison in the 8k meet.
Coach Donner remarks, "Bryan Johnston ran a tremendous race and is position to qualify for the NCAA Championships. We were disappointed in the men's team race for the fact that we hoped to finish better than third place. As a team, we need to regroup."
Bucknell will next participate in the Mid-Atlantic Regional meet on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Team Finishers: Men: 1. American, 28; 2. Army, 46; 3. Bucknell, 82; 4. Colgate, 108; 5. Holy Cross, 145; 6. Lehigh, 147; 7. Lafayette, 224. Women: 1. American, 42; 2. Bucknell, 43; 3. Army, 55; 4. Lehigh, 120; 5. Lafayette, 128; 6. Colgate, 151; 7. Holy Cross, 181.
Additional Bucknell Finishers Men: Jesse Graytock, 31st, 27:12:53 Dan Lounsbury, 37th, 27:23.19 Kevin Walsh, 38th, 27:25.23 Doug Creveling, 40th, 27:26.02 Kevin Brown, 53rd, 28:21.40
Women: Lauren Kinsey, 28th, 24:31.12 Julie Jackaboski, 31st, 24:38.67 Megan Schollenberger, 41st, 25:13.40 Nicole Lynn, 47th, 25:48.93 Jennifer Malcolm, 50th, 25:53.73
