Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Bucknell Women's Cross Country Team Wins Second Straight Patriot League Championship
10/28/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 28, 2006
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Led by senior Leanna Nastase's (Beaverdale, Pa./Forest Hills) time of 23 minutes, six seconds, which was good for the individual title, the Bucknell women's cross country team posted its second straight Patriot League title and its fifth championship in eight years. The Orange and Blue scored 28 points, with five of its top seven runners placing in the top 10. Navy (79) and Colgate (82) rounded out the top three postitions. Lehigh (92), Army (119), American (148), Lafayette (184) and Holy Cross (224) finished fourth through eighth.
Nastase becomes the third runner to win the Patriot League individual competition in Bucknell history. Julie Sweitzer won back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998, while Becki Marshall won three-straight titles from 1999-2001. Nastase improved upon her fifth-place finish from last year's championships. This is also Bucknell's first Partiot League title this year after posting eight in 2005-06.
Behind Nastase, senior Erin Cranmer-Hart (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock) finished second overall with a time of 23:25, while fellow senior Jenny Stevens (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) posted a sixth-place finish with a time of 24:03. Sophomores Nicole Falcaro (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley) and Gillian Nordquist (Clarkstown, Mich./Clarkstown) finished ninth and 10th overall with times of 24:28 and 24:30, respectively.
Rounding out the top seven were junior Christine Totten (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) and senior Christa Sawko (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Valley). Totten notched a 12th-place finish with a time of 24:32, while Sawko crossed the line with a time of 25:06, which was good for 24th place.
"It was the best race of the year for our ladies," said Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner about the team performance. "They did a fantastic job on holding their focus in the very muddy conditions."
The Bucknell women's cross country team will gear up for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, which will take place on Nov. 11 at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa., beginning at 11 a.m. The Bison tied for fifth place last year in the event.
