Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Track and Field Set For Patriot League Indoor Championships this Weekend
2/17/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Feb. 17, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The championship portion of the indoor track and field season begins for the Bucknell track and field teams this weekend with the Patriot League Championships hosted by Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. The Bison women will be attempting to earn their fourth-consecutive league crown while the Bison men will be trying to bring another high finish back to Lewisburg.
Women's Preview
The Bison boast three defending PL champions in the jumping events in sophomore Melanie Buczko in the pole vault, sophomore Ann Doty in the triple jump, and senior Tolu Fayanjuola in the long jump. Buczko holds the PL best mark in the pole vault with a NCAA provisional qualifying mark on 12-11 1/2. Angie Hall, the defending PL outdoor champion in the vault, will also contend for points with the second-best jump in the league. Doty, along with last year's runner-up Lauren Bricker, will look to repeat their one-two performance in the triple jump while Fayanjuola and sophomore Nina Reinhardt will try and make a big Bison impression in the long jump. Reinhardt is also expected to add points in the pentathlon along with junior Danielle Todman.
The Bison look strong in the throws with sophomore and three-time Patriot League Athlete of the Week selection Marjorie Grap ranked first in both the shot put and the 20-pound weight throw. Grap, the current school-record holder in the weight, garnered two bronze medals at last year's championships. Senior Angie McFarland has also proven to be force in the throwing events posting the second-best mark in the weight and the third-best in the shot. Senior Liz Pendleton, owner of the third-best weight mark in the PL, also looks to close out her Bison career with a big PL performance.
The Bison also appear to be one of the PL favorites in the middle distance events with six returning scorers from last year's championships. The Bucknell mid-distance crew has posted the top three times in the 800-meters, the two times in the 1,000-meters, and the second, third, and fourth best marks in the 500-meter dash. Defending PL 800 champion Christa Sawko will look to be a big player in the mid-distances along with fellow PL scorers Monique Boley, Bricker, Amy Calvo and Jen Marsh.
Though the Bison have no runaway favorites in the distance events, the blue and orange will undoubtedly contend for much-needed points. All-Patriot League cross country selection Leanna Nastase could be a big help to the Bison effort with big performances in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs. Patriot League veterans senior Katie Pfeifer and junior Kayla Halloran will look to repeat last year's scoring performances.
The sprinting events will be a heated battle between Bucknell, Army and Navy with Fayanjuola, the defending 60-meter champion, vying for a big piece of the sprinting points along with Calvo, the defending 400-meter champ, and teammates Sarah VandenBroek and Rehana Lanewala. Buczko, last year's 60-meter hurdle champ, will attempt to repeat in the event while fellow hurdler Catherine Trentacoste will also strive for a scoring spot.
Men's Preview
The Bison men will need to fight for every point they can get in a challenging Patriot League field. Bucknell was ranked third in the preseason PL poll after a third place finish at last season's championship meet. The Bison will count on the experience of their upperclassman and the talent of the younger team members to make an impact this weekend.
Senior Mike Mellas will look to improve upon his third place finish in the heptathlon at last season's championships. The Bison will also rely on Mellas to contribute in a flurry of other events. Mellas is currently ranked fourth in the long jump and tied for the ninth-best time in the 60 hurdles.
In the distances, a veteran set of runners will attempt to earn points with some big races. Senior Dan Lounsbury and junior Kevin Fortkiewicz are both ranked in the top-ten in the 5,000. Lounsbury has some scoring experience with a top-three performance at last season's PL outdoor championships.
The Bison will also have a young group of athletes vying for points in the jumping events. Sophomore Rob Gradoville and freshman David Mante have both posted top-ten marks in the pole vault while freshman Mike Contino has the fifth-best mark in the long jump. Sophomore Tyler Palumbo is also a candidate to score in the triple jump with a PL top-ten performance this season. Freshman Matt Johnson has a top-ten mark in the long jump and has also been one of Bucknell's top sprinters this season.
Action will begin on Friday at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. Friday's events will begin at noon and consist of the men's heptathlon and the women's pentathlon. Competition continues through Sunday with sessions beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Patriot League Championships - Schedule of Events
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