Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams Prepare for Patriot League Championships
10/25/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 25, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa - The Bucknell men's and women's cross country teams will be competing in the 2006 Patriot League Championship this Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Harry H. Lang course in Hamilton, N.Y., on the campus of Colgate University. The women will look to repeat as league champions, while the men will be in search of their first title since 1999.
The Bison women, who were picked first in the preseason rankings, will look to seniors Jenny Stevens (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley), who placed fourth in the championships last season with a time of 21 minutes, 13 seconds, and Leanna Nastase (Beaverdale, Pa./Forest Hills), who placed sixth with a time of 21:37, and junior Erin Cranmer-Hart (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock), who crossed the line ninth with a time of 21:47.
In 2006, Nastase has taken first for Bucknell in three of four races, which includes a fifth-place finish at the Lock Haven Open, a 19th-place showing at the Paul Short Invitational and a 66th-place result at the NCAA Pre-National Championships. Stevens opened the season with a first-place finish at the Bison Open, while crossing the line 11th in the Lock Haven Open before being sidelined with an injury. She bounced back from her injury and captured 144th at the NCAA Pre-Nationals. Cranmer-Hart placed second on the team, and 41st overall, in the Paul Short Invitational and 137th at the NCAA Pre-Nationals.
The Orange and Blue will also look to senior Christa Sawko (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area), junior Christine Totten (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge), and sophomores Gillian Nordquist (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) and Nicole Falcaro (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley) to make a big impact in the championships.
"We have been very consistent all season," said head coach Kevin Donner. "If we can run another solid race, we should be very successful. We are the defending champions, however, Navy has a veteran team and is having a great season. Colgate is much improved and you can never count out Army and Lehigh."
The men will attempt to better their fifth-place performance from a year ago. Leading the way for Bucknell will be senior Matt Forys (Howell, N.J./Howell), who has been the Bison's top finisher in every race he has competed in this season. He had a fifth-place turnout in the Lock Haven Invitational, while he posted a 73rd-place finish at the NCAA Pre-Nationals. Junior Wallace Campbell (Montgomery, Ala./Montgomery Academy) won the Bison Open and came in second on the team at the Paul Short Invitational as well as the NCAA Pre-Nationals. Junior Andrew Corral (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) finished 16th at the Lock Haven Open and claimed third on the team behind Forys and Campbell in the Paul Short Invitational and the NCAA Pre-Nationals.
Bison seniors Mark Caroleo (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and Sean Egan (Yorktwon Heights, N.Y./ Fordham Prep) and sophomores Joe Foley (Howell, Mich./Flint Powers Catholic) and Donald Sanner (Meyersdale, Pa./Meyersdale) are expected to give a strong showing at the championships as well.
"The league is very tough and we need to be on top of our game for a high place," said Donner. "American seems to be the favorite with Navy as a darkhourse. Lehigh and Army have good solid teams as well.
The Patriot League Championships will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the women's race, while the men's race will start at 11:30.
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