Bucknell University
Patriot League Championship
Bucknell Women's Track Jumps to Early Lead at Patriot League Outdoor Championship
5/3/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
May 3, 2002
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bucknell's women's track & field team battled blustery winds and forged an early 10-point lead after five events Friday afternoon at the Patriot League Track & Field Championship at Lehigh University's Goodman Track. The men's team is also in the running for the team title, as just 11 points separate the second-place Bison from Army.
The incredibly strong winds made competition difficult and forced meet officials to postpone both the men's and women's pole vault until Saturday.
The women's team, the three-time defending meet champion, captured two gold, one silver and one bronze medal on their way to accumulating a meet-high 44 points. Army sits in a close second place with 34 points, followed by Lafayette (26), Navy (14), Lehigh (11), Holy Cross (10), Colgate (8), and American (0).
On the men's side, 10-time defending league champion Army posted 55 points to grab the early advantage. With 44 points, the Bison the lead Lafayette (16), Lehigh (16), American (10), Holy Cross (8), Navy (6) and Colgate (2).
Repeating as outdoor Patriot League champions for the women's team were Maria Garcia in the hammer throw and the 3,200-meter relay team. Garcia registered a dominating performance, tossing her implement 175'1", just three inches shy of her own school record and nearly 20 feet better than her nearest competitor.
Joining forces in the 4x800 were junior Nicki Piper and seniors LaTonya McSwain, Kelly McConnell and Stephanie Bango. The foursome finished with a time of 9:11.77 and defeated their nearest competitor, Colgate, by six seconds. The team's victory marked Bucknell's fourth straight outdoor league championship in the event.
Also earning medals for the Bison women were senior Kristin Ferrell and sophomore Erin Lee. While Ferrell came away with the silver in the 10,000-meter run (37:07.92), Lee pocketed a bronze in the hammer throw (151'9").
Greg Costello and Noel Powell claimed one gold medal apiece to lead the men's team. Costello raced to victory in the 10,000-meter run, winning in a time of 31:02.19.
Tying his own school record in the long jump was Powell, who won the event with a leap of 24'8 ?".
Adding to Bucknell's medal-winning contingent was junior Adam Kaufman and senior Evan Honeyfield. Kaufman placed second to earn the silver in the hammer throw with a heave of 170'6". Honeyfield garnered a bronze with a third-place showing the 10,000, racing to a 31:29.47 clocking.
Both teams return to action tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m.
