Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women Take First, Men Earn Second in Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Preseason Poll
12/2/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Dec. 2, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell indoor track and field claimed spot among the league's best in the Patriot League Preseason Poll with the women's squad being voted first and the men coming in second, it was announced on Thursday. The Bison women earned their seventh straight selection as the preseason number one, receiving 98 points and 14 first-place votes. The men, who were chosen second for the first time since 2002, received 82 points and three first-place votes.
The women's squad was crowned the Patriot League Champions for the 13th time in program history and the 11th time in the last 13 years last winter. The title came in convincing fashion as the Bison had 71 points more than second-place Navy. Among the point scorers returning in 2010-11 are seven All-Patriot League selections, including first-team honorees Stephanie Fulmer (Pottstown, Pa./St. Pius X), Casey Krause (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) and Caroline Tolli (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport).
The men took second at last indoor season's Patriot League Championships, falling to Army by a mere six points. The finish turned out to be one of the closest in the history of the league meet, but the Bison were runners-up for the third time in as many years. Back for another season in 2010-11 are five All-Patriot League athletes, including first-team selections Robert Arent (New Providence, N.J./New Providence), Justin Hicks (Wilmington, Del./Tower Hill School), Evan Novakowski (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) and John Picardo (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton Central).
Trailing Bucknell in the women's preseason poll was Navy in second with 85 points. The Midshipmen were the only other team to garner any first-place votes, earning two. Army was third with 71 points, and Lehigh was fourth with 62. Holy Cross (46), Colgate (39), Lafayette (33) and American (14) completed the preseason poll.
The Bucknell men's squad was picked second prior to the 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons. Just as they were voted runners-up to Army in those polls, the Bison trail the Black Knights again in 2010. Army's 95 points and 11 first-place votes put them at the top of the standings. Rounding out the top half of the poll were Navy with 81 points and two first-place votes, and Lafayette with 60 points. Lehigh (51), American (38), Colgate (21) and Holy Cross (20) took fifth through eighth place, respectively.
Bucknell kicks off its season this weekend with the Bison Opener. Action at Gerhard Fieldhouse begins on Saturday, Dec. 4 with field events at 9:30 a.m. Running events will get underway at 10:15 a.m.
Men's Preseason Poll
1. Army - 95 (11)
2. Bucknell - 82 (3)
3. Navy - 81 (2)
4. Lafayette - 60
5. Lehigh - 51
6. American - 38
7. Colgate - 21
8. Holy Cross - 20
Women's Preseason Poll
1. Bucknell - 98 (14)
2. Navy - 85 (2)
3. Army - 71
4. Lehigh - 62
5. Holy Cross - 46
6. Colgate - 39
7. Lafayette - 33
8. American - 14
