Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Bucknell Women's Track and Field Sits in First After Day One of Patriot League Championships
5/1/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
WEST POINT, N.Y.-- Bucknell's women's track and field team is sitting comfortably in first place after the first day of competition in the Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championships concluded Friday. The event, hosted by Army at Shea Stadium, has the Bison in first with 40 ½ points for first place ahead of Lafayette with 28 and Holy Cross with 27.
The most exciting race of the first day was a come-from-behind victory from the women's 4x800-meter relay, that included sophomore Amanda Steinke, freshman Stephanie Fulmer, and seniors Jenny Dalzell and Megan Hathaway for the Bison. The fast pace brought the baton through three exchanges to Hathaway, who came from behind on the final turn to overcome first place, held by Lehigh's Sarah Serwo, to claim a Bison victory and produce the second fastest mark in Bucknell outdoor track history.
"The four by eight was really inspiring," sophomore Rebecca Frey said. "It really inspired us to push ourselves." Frey responded big, with her own victory in the pole vault, where she cleared 11 feet, 9 ¼ inches.
Other big day one marks from the Bison included sophomore Laura Rycek's runner up performance in the javelin throw, with a toss of 127-9 and junior Chelsey Musante taking third in Friday morning's hammer throw, with a throw of 165-10 ½. Musante will be back to compete in tomorrow's discus throw and shot put, at 11:30 a.m. And 2 p.m. Junior Amy Mantush took a fourth-place finish in the long jump, clearing 17-3 ¼ to round out top scoring marks for the Bison in the field events.
In the last track event of the night, senior Gillian Nordquist fought back from a non-scoring position in the latter stages of the 10,000 to grab a scoring spot in sixth place and finish with a time of 37:51.32.
The Bison women will be back for day two tomorrow with the heptathlon javelin throw kicking off at 9 a.m.
