Bucknell Cross Country Begins 2005 Season with Bison Open

Friday, September 2

Lewisburg, Pa.

5:45 PM

Bucknell University

Bison Open

Bucknell Cross Country Begins 2005 Season with Bison Open

9/2/2005 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country

By: TBD

Sept. 2, 2005

Results

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's and women's cross country teams kicked off their seasons at home with the Bison Open late Friday afternoon on the Bucknell University Golf Course. The Bison men raced against Lock Haven, Susquehanna, Bloomsburg, Dickinson and Saint Francis (Pa.). In addition to those teams, the women also competed against Elizabethtown.

In the women's race, tying in second place overall and first for the Bison, were juniors Leanna Nastase and Jenny Stevens, with times of 18 minutes, 5 seconds. Winning the race, from Dickinson, was Caitlin Bradley (18:01).

Newcomer Gillian Nordquist finished fifth overall and third for the blue and orange with a time of 18:23.

Sophomore Christine Totten finished eighth overall as the fourth Bison finisher with a time of 18:50. Finishing one second behind Totten, and as the last runner in Bucknell's top five, was junior Molly Harms (ninth overall).

For the men, junior Matt Forys led the blue and orange with a time of 14:58, finishing second overall, behind Dickinson's Tom Rhodes (14:50). Sophomore Wallace Campbell, Bucknell's second finisher, finished fourth overall at 15:09.

Tying for tenth place overall, and for the Bison's third slot were junior Derrin Pierret (15:12) and senior Kevin Fortkiewicz. Just behind the duo was Bucknell's fifth finisher, sophomore Michael Gibney (12th overall, 15:13).

Rounding out Bucknell's top seven were senior Kevin Brown, (14th overall, 15:22) and junior Chris Norcea (15th overall, 15:24).

Using the Open as a low-key practice race to prepare its runners for the season, Bucknell had both the men's and women's teams running a shorter, three mile run. The event was a non-scoring race and some of the Bison's top runners sat out during the event, in order to prepare for next week's Detroit Invitational.

Both the men's and women's team will be traveling to Northville, Mich., for the Detroit Invitational, which is scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m. for the women and 11:45 a.m. for the men.