Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
BUCKNELL WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD WINS 13th PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
2/21/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Feb. 21, 2010
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Bucknell women's track and field won its eighth team title in nine years, defeating the defending champion Navy at the Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Championships at West Point's Gillis Fieldhouse on Sunday. The Bison also added to their list of individual champions, getting wins from Lindsay Appel (Wexford, Pa./North Alleghany), Chelsey Musante (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) and Casey Krause (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest).
Bucknell finished with 168 points to reclaim its team title it lost to Navy a year ago. The Mids took second with 96 points, followed by Lehigh (92), Holy Cross (80) and Army (79). Colgate (60), Lafayette (30) and American (15) completed the field.
As always, the Bison counted on their field events and the athletes did not disappoint. Musante won the shot put with a throw of 47 feet, 10 3/4 inches. Not only did the mark give the senior her second Patriot League title of the weekend after winning the weight throw yesterday, but it also improved on her own school record.
Sarah Bella (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) and Laura Rycek (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) helped complete Bucknell's dominance in the shot put. Bella finished second (44-11 3/4), while Rycek was in sixth (40-1 1/4).
Krause claimed her first career Patriot League title with a victory in the triple jump. The junior earned a mark of 37-8 1/2 in the event, which is the ninth-best distance in Bucknell history. Like the shot putters, the Bison jumpers occupied several of the scoring spots. Stephanie Evans (York, Pa./Central York) was third (36-11 1/2), while Amy Mantush (Drums, Pa./Hazelton) was fourth (36-9 3/4). Alexandra Romanelli (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) placed sixth (32-6) in her first championship meet to round out the group.
The triple jump was the third event in which Mantush racked up points for Bucknell. The senior also won the pentathlon on day one of the meet and the high jump on day two. For her efforts, Mantush was named the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Meet.
On the track, Appel led a group of three Bison in the 400 meters. The senior earned her first individual indoor title with a time of 59.19 seconds. Jamie Leacock (Howell, N.J./Howell) and Kalle James-Wintjen (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the event as well.
Bucknell had a number of other scoring performances. Among those finishing in the top three were Sasha Hornock (Dover, Pa./Dover) in the 60 meters. Hornock was second with a time of 7.91 seconds. Jennifer Pierce (Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J./Northern Highlands) was third in the 500 (1:17.68), while Allison Janda (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) was third in the 800 (2:18.09).
Bucknell continued to have strong outings at the longer distances as Sarah Moniz (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet Regional) earned a pair of top-three finishes. The junior finished second in the mile (5:02.23) and third in the 3000 (10:04.63).
The 4x400 relay team of Appel, Janda, Pierce and Leacock also claimed a second-place finish with a time of 3:58.01.
Bucknell's team title is the 13th in program history for the women. No other team in the Patriot League has more than four.
After their extremely successful weekend, the Bison will have a bit of time off before they return to the track. Bucknell will compete at the ECAC Championships in Boston, Mass., March 6-7.
