Bucknell University Athletics
Melanie Buczko Named Lewisburg Hotel Bison Athlete of the Week
1/24/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Jan. 24, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Sophomore Melanie Buczko (Butler, Pa./Butler) has been named the Lewisburg Hotel Bison Athlete of the Week after clearing the NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the pole vault, Saturday at the Bucknell Heptagonal held at Gerhard Fieldhouse. Buczko's leap of 12 feet, 11 and a half inches, (3.95 meters) earned her the victory in the event as well as new school and facility records.
Saturday's first place finish is the fourth of the indoor season for Buczko, who remains undefeated in the pole vault during her sophomore campaign. Buczko has already notched victories at the Bison Opener on Dec. 4, Gulden Relays on Jan. 8, and the Penn State Relays on Jan. 15.
Her record-setting leap bested her own school and facility records of 12'10," set earlier this season at the Bison Opener. Her performance is also the best in the Patriot League this season, nearly a foot higher than the next closest competitor. She is also the only female athlete from the Patriot League to hit a provisional mark so far this season.
Buczko has also qualified to participate at the ECAC Championships in March. The standard of 11' 9 ¾" is a mark that Buczko has bested in every competition this season.
The women's track and field team has been well represented in the Athlete of the Week voting as Buczko's teammate Marjorie Grap took the honor last week for her record-setting performance in the 20-pound weight throw.
The Bison will split their squads next week with some athletes heading to the Penn State National Invitational in State College, Pa., while the remainder of the Bison teams will compete at the Bison Open and Pentathlon. Both meets will begin on Friday, Jan. 28 and conclude on Saturday, Jan. 29.
