Bucknell University Athletics
She May be Small, but She is Successful
9/18/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 18, 2006
By Damien Williams, Bucknell Athletic Communications
She's not big, actually she stands a little over five feet, but she has the heart of a lion and the will to win no matter what it takes. That's why senior Leanna Nastase is a two-time captain and one of the biggest reasons why this season's Bucknell women's cross country team could repeat as the Patriot League champions.
Nastase started her running career at Forest Hills High School in Beaverdale, Pa. She never knew that cross country would be the sport she would choose in high school. Apparently she chose wisely, becoming a four-year letterwinner. She copped two all-state nominations as well as four all-conference accolades during her stellar high school career.
"I still have no idea," says Nastase when asked about why she chose cross country. "I attribute it to my high school coach. I knew him before I started running in high school and he told me that I should try long distance running."
Nastase also participated in track and field at Forest Hills. She was a four-year letterwinner and received numerous all-conference nominations. Nastase also earned all-state track honors and was the senior captain for her team.
"I would definitely choose cross country over track and field," comments Nastase while smiling when asked about which sport she prefers more. "But track is growing on me more and more."
Nastase took what she learned in high school and transferred it to Bucknell, where she has fit in great.
"The academic reputation appealed to me," says Nastase when asked why she chose Bucknell. "I knew the cross country program was great and it seemed like a good fit when I came to visit."
Maybe knowing the cross country and track and field coach spurred Nastase into attending Bucknell as well.
"I knew Leanna a few years before she arrived at Bucknell," says Bison head cross country and track and field coach Kevin Donner. "She used to come to many camps when I was the coach at Saint Francis (Pa.). I knew right then this was a girl I wanted to coach. When I accepted the job at Bucknell, she was a junior at the time, and that's when I started the recruiting process to get her here at Bucknell."
The biology major quickly became one of the team's top runners in her freshman year. She finished first for her team, and fourth overall, at the Detroit Invitational. Nastase scored for Bucknell in every race, as well as placing 22nd in the Patriot League Championships.
Unfortunately, Nastase would be sidelined with a stress fracture in her upper femur that kept her out of the season-ending Mid-Atlantic Regional and ECAC Championships, two of the premier races on the schedule.
"It was really frustrating," replies Nastase when recalling her freshman season. "I had doubts of even continuing collegiate running. I didn't know what would have happened if I continued to run, so I was pretty upset about it."
She recuperated from her leg injury and continued training for the track season where she would improve greatly.
"Since then, she has been one of the most consistent and strongest runners that I have ever had at Bucknell," says Donner.
It showed in her sophomore year when she was the top Bison finisher in five of seven races. She finished 12th in the conference championship and picked up All-Patriot League second-team honors.
The all-conference runner became a leader for the cross country squad her junior year. She was still consistent in her running, earning first-team plaudits from the Patriot League. Nastase finished second on the team, and sixth overall, in the conference championships while helping lead the team to its first Patriot League title since 2001.
Nastase spent this past summer on the Bucknell campus with fellow team captains Jenny Stevens and Erin Cranmer-Hart.
"This year, she's very fit," replies Donner. "She had a very outstanding summer of training with Jenny and Erin. Those three are our top runners and the three of them training together made for some improved performances this summer."
As well as being a returning letterwinner and Patriot League honoree, Nastase is also a returning captain. To everyone that knows Nastase, she is very hard working girl that leads by example. The squad took a team vote each of the last two years and the hard-working veteran who leads by example was picked unanimously both times.
"I think communicating with your team makes you a good leader," says Nastase. "I think being responsible and always being someone people can count on to call you no matter what type of situation they are in on or off the field makes you a good leader."
"She is one of the most consistent runners that I have ever had and I think that's how she leads by example," says Donner. "She gets along will with everyone on the team and she organizes a lot of team functions, which I think helps the team gel as a group and bond well."
This season the expectations are higher. The women's cross country squad is picked first in the Patriot League preseason polls as it strives to repeat its title for the first time since winning four straight trophies from 1998-2001. In addition to the conference crown, one of the biggest goals for the squad is to qualify the team for the NCAA championship meet at the end of the season.
"This has been a goal since the end of last year," says Nastase about their expectations. "We realize the potential for this team since we return our top five girls from last season. The whole attitude of the squad has changed to more of a goal-oriented mood."
After this season of cross country and track and field, Nastase will be a 2007 college graduate. She plans to continue her schooling and get a masters degree in nutrition. If she produces another outstanding year in cross country, or maybe even track, could she possibly qualify for the Olympic Trials?
"I don't put that type of pressure on myself," says Nastase laughing about the thought of the Olympics. "However, I would like to try a marathon at some point."
