Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Rutgers Invitational
Bucknell Women's Swimming and Diving Collects Three First-Place Finishes, Wraps Up Rutgers Invitational in Second Place
11/21/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 21, 2010
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Freshmen Kelly Pontecorvo and Emily Wright as well as the 400 free relay posted victories for the Bucknell women's swimming and diving team Sunday on the final day of the Frank Elm Rutgers Invitational. The Bison finished the three-day event in second place in the team standings, behind only Pittsburgh.
Bucknell collected just one first-place finish (Molly Goebel - 50 free) in the first two days of the Rutgers Invitational, but claimed first in half of the swimming events contested Sunday.
Pontecorvo's victory was probably the most impressive as her time of 16 minutes, 55.26 seconds in the 1,650 free ranks her second in program history in that event. She shaved more than 36 seconds off her previous season best she swam against George Mason. Pontecorvo was one of five Bison in the top 14 finishers in the 1,650 free. Next up was classmate Melissa Besman, who finished sixth in 17:16.79, a time that ranks her eighth on the program's all-time list. Jamie Chakany, Anna Griest and Kelly Purcell also scored points for Bucknell.
Wright, who earlier in the weekend finished second in the 50 free, won the 100 free in a season-best time of 51.67. That puts her sixth in the program record book. Goebel was fifth in the same race, recording a season-best time herself (52.16).
Wright and Goebel teamed up with Elizabeth Porcellio and Kaitlyn Utkewicz in the 400 free relay and the foursome crossed the line in 3:30.19, good for fourth in Bucknell's all-time records. The Bison quartet beat out runner-up Central Connecticut State by a mere .14 seconds.
The 200 back, 200 breast and 200 fly were also contested and Jennifer Brennan (5th, 200 back), Porcellio (4th, 200 breast) and Alexandra Psaris (6th, 200 fly) were the Bison's top finishers in those events.
Bucknell will be idle next weekend and will return to dual-meet competition when it hosts La Salle at Kinney Natatorium on Dec. 4. Start time for that meet is 1 p.m.
Team Standings
1. Pittsburgh - 1,576.5
2. Bucknell - 1,157.5
3. Rutgers - 1,026
4. Delaware - 969
5. La Salle - 863.5
6. Central Connecticut State - 733
7. Fordham - 687
8. Columbia - 626
9. Saint Francis (Pa.) - 428
10. Wagner - 408
11. The College of New Jersey - 380.5
12. Sacred Heart - 88
13. Drexel - 59
14. Massachusetts - 47
15. Colgate - 42
