Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Track and Field Aims for Second-Consecutive Patriot League Outdoor Crown
5/4/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
May 4, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's track and field to will vie for its second-consecutive conference crown at this weekend's Patriot League Outdoor Championships, hosted by Lafayette in Easton, Pa. Action is set to begin on Friday, May 6, at 12 p.m., and continue on Saturday, May 7, at 9 a.m. The meet is also set to be aired on CSTV, one of only two conference meets scheduled to be covered by the station.
The Bison will be led by a group of seniors who have had arguably the best Patriot League run in school history, winning four-straight indoor titles, and two of three outdoor crowns, with an opportunity for a third trophy coming up this weekend. The Bucknell women have also won five of the last six outdoor titles. Bucknell and Army have dominated the league since 1991, claiming six titles apiece. Navy is the only other PL team to have won a title, taking the prize in 2003.
Bucknell boasts several individual title contenders on the women's side, including current Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week Melanie Buczko. The sophomore is one of only two Bison to qualify for the NCAA East Regional Championships, doing so by clearing a height of 12-9 ½ in the pole vault at last week's Penn Relays. Buczko, who was an NCAA qualifier indoors, is the top seed in the event this weekend. Defending outdoor champion Angie Hall, who has been sidelined due to a foot injury for most of the season, is questionable for the meet.
Buczko is also the second-seed in the 100-meter hurdles, while fellow sophomore Catherine Trentacoste will be running as Bucknell's top scoring hope in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Trentacoste owns the fifth-fastest time in the conference in the event.
Bucknell's Beverly Rogers is the other regional qualifier this season, with a personal-best heave of 148-7 ¼ in the javelin. The freshman owns the top Patriot League mark by over ten feet. The Bison look strong throughout the throws, as Bison sophomore Marjorie Grap owns the top marks in the PL in the shot put, discus and hammer. The Bison will be especially tough in the hammer, as the Bison account for four of the six best marks in the league this season. Senior Angie McFarland, another one of Bucknell's top throwers, is also ranked in the top five in all three events.
 Sophomore Marjorie Grap is the top seed in the shot put, discus and hammer.  |
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The Bison will hope to get an abundance of points in the middle distance events, with sophomore Christa Sawko leading the way with the top seed time of 2:09.52 in the 800-meters. Teammates Lauren Bricker, the indoor champion at the distance, Amy Calvo, and Jen Marsh are also ranked in the top six performances. Sawko will also try and make a dent in the 1,500-meters, with the third-best time in the event. Marsh isn't far behind, with the fourth-fastest 1,500 time in the league. The Bison also look to control to heptathlon, as sophomore Nina Reinhardt and junior Danielle Todman will represent the orange and blue as the event's top two seeds.
The horizontal jumps will also be a crucial event area for the Bison, with Ann Doty looking to take her second-consecutive triple jump gold as the event's number-two seed. The sophomore has yet to finish anywhere but first in the triple jump at a PL event, winning two indoor titles along with last year's outdoor crown. Bricker has also been one of Bucknell's top triple jumpers. Defending long jump champion Tolu Fayanjuola will look to retain her title as the second-seed in the event.
Fayanjuola has also been Bucknell's top 100-meter runner, going into the championships with the fourth-best time in the PL. The senior won the 100 crown last season. Seniors Rehana Lanewala and Monique Boley will try and close out their Bison careers with strong performances, entering the meet as Bucknell's highest seeds in the 200- and 400-meters, respectively.
 Senior Katie Pfeifer owns the best time in the PL in the 10,000-meters. |
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Senior Katie Pfeifer, last year's silver medalist, will vie for Patriot League gold in the 10,000-meters, entering the race with the top seed time of 36.59.53. The Bison will fight for points in the 5,000-meters with indoor champion Kayla Halloran representing the Bison with the third-best time. Halloran, who is coming back from an injury, will get help from freshman Erin Cranmer-Hart, who owns the fifth-fastest time in the league.
The Bison also enter the meet with the top time in the 4x400-meter relay. Bucknell also owns the third-fastest time in the 4x800-meter relay and the fourth-best mark in the 4x100-meter relay.
The meet will be televised for the first time ever, as CSTV will broadcast a 90-minute highlight package from May 12-14 and 17-20. The broadcast schedule is as follows:
CSTV Broadcast Schedule
Thursday, May 12 - 8 p.m.
Friday, May 13 - noon
Saturday, May 14 - 10:30 a.m. and noon
Tuesday, May 17 - 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18 - 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 19 - 6 p.m.
Friday, May 20 - 6 a.m.
Men's preview to come tomorrow.
