Bucknell University Athletics
Melanie Buczko Named Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week
5/2/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
May. 2, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Melanie Buczko (Butler, Pa./Butler) was named the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week, announced by league offices on Monday. The sophomore punched her ticket to the NCAA East Regional Championships last week, clearing a height of 12-9 ½ (3.90m) in the pole vault at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa.
Buczko's efforts were good for third place in an elite field, including Amy Linnen of Kansas, the NCAA champion this past indoor season, as well as Laura Chmielewski of Northeastern and Stacie Manuel of Arkansas, both NCAA qualifiers. Buczko becomes only the second Bison to hit a regional standard this spring. The height also met the ECAC qualifying mark.
This is the second PL award of the season for Buczko, who garnered the prize on April 5. She also earned the honor on one occasion during the indoor season. The Bison women have dominated the weekly awards all season, claiming Field Athlete of the Week honors in five of six weeks, and earning the Track Athlete nomination twice.
Buczko and company head into the Patriot League Championships this weekend, hosted by Lafayette College, in Easton, Pa. The event is slated for May 6-7. Buczko is the top seed in the pole vault competition. The Bison women will look to win their second-consecutive outdoor championship, and the sixth outdoor PL crown in the last seven years.
