Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Women's Cross Country Aims for Fourth Straight Patriot League Title in 2008
8/27/2008 8:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Aug. 27, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The 2007 Patriot League Women's Cross Country Championship was the closest in history, with Bucknell and Navy tying for the title, with third-place Colgate a mere nine points back.
Each of those three teams graduated two of its top five runners from last year's league meet, so on paper, the 2008 title is up for grabs heading into the season. Developing depth and staying healthy are always keys to cross country success, and those factors will be even further magnified this year.
"Based on who we have returning, I feel our women will be strong contenders for a Patriot League championship," said head coach Kevin Donner, whose team has won the last three conference titles, including last year's draw with the Mids. "Navy returns many great runners, and Colgate and Army will be right there."
The first chance for the Bison women's squad to test itself will be on Friday at the Bison Open, where runners from Bloomsburg, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Susquehanna will also compete. The Bison composed the entire top five at last year's Bison Open, and eight of the first 11 to complete the race were Bison. Three of those top five, Nicole Falcaro, Gillian Nordquist and Alexa Griffiths, return this year.
Donner says that without a true frontrunner, the Bison will have to rely on effective pack running to be successful. Teamwork will be vital. But even though there is no dominant runner, that does not mean Bucknell will be without talent, even after the graduation of All-Patriot Leaguers Erin Cranmer-Hart and Christine Totten, the team's top two from last year's conference meet.
Senior co-captain Nordquist finished ninth in the PL last year to earn her second straight top-10 finish and all-league certificate, and fellow seniors Falcaro and Kim Hassett also have a ton of postseason experience. Hassett was fourth in the Patriot League 10,000 meters last spring, while Falcaro recorded a top-10 time in the Patriot League Championships two seasons ago.
Sophomore Sarah Moniz was one of the Patriot League's top rookies a year ago. She placed 16th at the PL meet and was Bucknell's No. 1 finisher on two different occasions. Moniz is also coming off a fantastic freshman year in track and field, when she recorded the fifth-fastest time in school history in the 3,000 meters.
Griffiths, who won a Patriot League Rookie of the Week Award, and Alaina Chodoff also had strong rookie seasons. Griffiths was 21st and Chodoff 44th at the Patriot League Championship.
Donner is also excited about a very strong recruiting class, headed by Caitlin Cavanaugh from nearby Danville, Pa., and Stephanie Fulmer from Pottstown, Pa., a 1,600-meter state champion.
Just like the men's team, the women follow the Bison Open with a trip to the Detroit Invitational a week later. The team will compete every other week the rest of the way, starting Sept. 20 at the Buffalo Stampede in Buffalo, N.Y., then at the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh on Oct. 3 and the Princeton Invitational on Oct. 18.
Two of those three meets will give the Bison an advance look a championship courses for later in the season. Lehigh will host the Patriot League Championship on Nov. 1, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship will be at Princeton on Nov. 15. Indiana State hosts the NCAA Championship on Nov. 24.
