Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Cross Country Opens 2006 Season at Bison Open
8/31/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Aug. 31, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's cross country squad will begin its 2006 season on Friday when it plays host to the Bison Open at the Bucknell Golf Course beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Bison, who were picked fifth in the Patriot League preseason poll, will look to make a run for their seventh Patriot League title.
"We're excited about the upcoming cross country season, mainly because we had a really nice outdoor track season and our guys had a great summer," said head coach Kevin Donner.
The Bison, who return five of their top seven finishers from the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Regional meet, will be led by two experienced runners in senior Matt Forys (Howell, N.J./Howell) and junior Wallace Campbell (Montgomery, Ala./Montgomery Academy) this season. Forys, who will serve as one of Bucknell's two captains in 2006, was the top finisher for the Bison in five of seven meets last season. In the spring, he ran a season-best 14 minutes, 34.67 seconds in the 5000-meter run and a 9:09.72 in the steeplechase. Campbell was the No. 1 runner for the Orange and Blue in two cross country meets in 2005, including the Patriot League Championships. He enjoyed success both indoors and outdoors last year, posting a season-best time of 8:17.24 for a seventh place finish in the 3,000 at the indoor IC4A Championships and posting a top time of 14:32.95 in the 5,000 outdoors.
"Matt and Wallace give us potential to have a couple front runners and they'll supply us with a good one-two punch," Donner commented. "The real strength of our team, though, will be our depth. Our depth might be as strong as it's been over the last few years."
Junior Andrew Corral (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) missed the 2005 cross country season, but, performed well during the track season, finishing fifth in the steeplechase at the Patriot League Championships.
Senior Sean Egan (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Fordham Prep) "came into his own as a runner last winter and spring," according to Donner. Outdoors in the 5,000, Egan posted a season-best 15:09.15 at the Bison Outdoor Classic.
Another one of Bucknell's runners with a solid time in the 5,000 last spring with his season best of 15:09.90 was William Holleran (San Rafael, Calif./ Saint Ignatius Academy).
"I believe he is ready to step up and supply us with some depth in his junior season," said Donner of Holleran.
Among others expected to make an impact for the Bison this fall are senior captain Mark Caroleo (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon), senior Derrin Pierret (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) and junior Michael Gibney (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River). "Mark is one of our best middle-distance guys and he's worked extremely hard to hopefully make our top seven," commented Donner.
Pierrett, who missed the indoor season due to injury, but has returned healthy for this fall, "has been a consistent varsity runner for Bucknell the past couple of years," Donner remarked, and he believes Gibney "made great improvement last year as a sophomore in cross country." He looks for him to contribute for the Bison in 2006 as well.
Donner feels confident that the Bison ¬¬have the depth and experience to move up in the Patriot League standings and perhaps make a return to the top 10 regionally.
"It's a very tough league with American being a national-qualifying team, while Army and Navy are always right on the edge of nationals and Lehigh is a much improved team. We've been fifth the last two years and we think we're ready to improve upon that. Our guys are committed to their training as well as the program. We'd also love to get back into the top 10 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships and if we can stay healthy and race with some consistency we can produce a great season."
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