Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Bucknell Open
Runner-Up Finish for Bucknell Women's Swimming and Diving at Bucknell Open
12/6/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Dec. 6, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Megan Mongan (Malvern, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) finished second in the 100-yard freestyle and the Bucknell women's swimming and diving team had at least one top-four finish in four of the five individual swimming events Sunday during the final day of the Bucknell Open. The strong conclusion to the weekend-long event helped the Bison hold onto second place in the seven-team field.
Princeton easily won the team title, totaling 2,002 points. The Bison were second with 1,400, while Brown (1,134.5), La Salle (905.5) and Rider (820) rounded out the top five.
Bucknell swimmers combined for 11 top-10 finishes in the five individual events Sunday. Six top-five showings, including Mongan's runner-up finish in the 100 free, highlighted the day that featured 502 team points for the Bison. Mongan swam the distance in 51.95 seconds, just .10 off her career-best mark. Molly Goebel (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan), who took second in the 50 free on Friday, was not far behind in fourth place. Mongan's second-place finish equaled the best by a Bison during the three-day meet.
Two new top-10 times were recorded on Sunday as well. Freshman Elizabeth Porcellio (Fairport, N.Y./Penfield) took eighth in the 200 breaststroke in 2:25.47, but that mark is good enough for seventh on Bucknell's all-time list. Additionally, the 400 free relay squad of Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen), Mongan, Goebel and Abigail Atkinson (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) that features three seniors and a junior swam a 3:30.70, equaling it for third on Bucknell's top-10 list.
Bucknell was successful in the 1,650 free, claiming four of the top nine spots. The top finisher was Jamie Chakany (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), who owns the Bison record in the event and touched the wall fourth in 17:09.39. Anna Griest (Atlanta, Ga./The Westminster School), Kelly Purcell (Barnesville, Pa./Mahanoy Area) and Christine Shepherd (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) finished consecutively at 7-8-9.
Lauren Russell (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) and Atkinson scored some points for the Bison in the 200 back as they finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Macey Keath (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) also posted a fourth-place showing in the 200 breast, while Alexandra Psaris (Waterford, Va./The Madeira School) was Bucknell's lone top-10 finisher in the 200 butterfly, claiming 10th.
The women's one-meter competition concluded diving on Sunday and Allison FitzPatrick (Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) was Bucknell's top finisher. The senior listed seventh with a score of 223.05.
Scoring for the Bucknell Open was done through 24 places with each individual event having an "A", "B" and "C" final.
A total of seven events were contested Saturday and Princeton won five of them.
The Bison will be idle until next calendar year when they travel to Hamilton, N.Y., to face Patriot League rival Colgate on Jan. 9.
Final Team Standings
1. Princeton - 2,002
2. Bucknell - 1,400
3. Brown - 1,134.5
4. La Salle - 905.5
5. Rider - 820
6. Syracuse - 75
7. Columbia - 55
