Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Cross Country Set to Run in Tri-Meet at Duquesne on Saturday
9/17/2010 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 17, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell cross country will make its first road trip of the season, traveling to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on Duquesne and Pittsburgh in a tri-meet at Schenley Oval on Saturday. The Bison are coming off a strong performance on their home course in which they claimed the individual winners on both the men's and women's sides two weeks ago. Bucknell will look for that success to continue this week as the women race at 9 a.m., followed by the men at 9:45.
MEN'S NOTEBOOK
- Chris Sacks (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) led a dominating Bison pack at the Bucknell Open on Sept. 4. The freshman won his first intercollegiate meet in a time of 14 minutes, 56 seconds, earning him Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors.
- The Bison claimed 10 of the top 12 places at the Bucknell Open. Included in the Orange and Blue's top five finishers were Sacks and Evan Novakowski (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury), who with a time of 14:57 was just :01 behind his younger teammate for a second-place finish overall. The two Bison were the only runners to break 15 minutes on the three-mile course. D.J. Krystek (Pitcairn, Pa./Gateway Senior), Christopher Boyd (Gaithersburg, Md./Thomas Sprigg Wootton) and Joshua Clark (Vincetown, N.J./Seneca) claimed fourth through sixth places, respectively.
- As of Sept. 14, Bucknell found itself ranked 11th in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mid-Atlantic Region Poll. The Bison men are joined in the ranks by Patriot League foes Navy (fourth), American (fifth) and Lehigh (14th). This week's meet host Duquesne is seventh in the latest poll.
- In an earlier ranking, Bucknell was selected fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Bison earned 63 points, just one behind third-place Army. Navy was picked to win the Patriot League this season, taking 97 points.
- Bucknell also named its team captains prior to the start of the season. Leading the Bison during the 2010 season are seniors Boyd, Clark and Justin O'Brien (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain).
- While this weekend will be the first time this season that Bucknell sees Duquesne and Pittsburgh, the Dukes and the Panthers have already raced against each other once in 2010. Duquesne defeated Pittsburgh 17-46 at the Duquesne Duals on Sept. 4. The Dukes, which were picked sixth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, went 9-0 at the meet, while the Panthers finished 6-3 going up against opponents such as Saint Louis, Xavier and Saint Joseph's, among others.
WOMEN'S NOTEBOOK
- Like their male counterparts, the Bison women controlled the competition at the Bucknell Open two weeks ago. The Orange and Blue claimed 12 of the top 13 spots, including each of the first eight, at the home meet. Leading the way were Stephanie Fulmer (Pottstown, Pa./St. Pius X) and Sarah Moniz (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet Regional), who finished first and second, respectively.
- Fulmer posted a three-mile time of 17:13 for the victory, barely edging out Moniz's 17:14 finish. The duo had a comfortable lead over third-place teammate Alysha Hooper (Meaford, Ontario/St. Mary's), who clocked in at 17:44. Freshmen Stephanie Bryan (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) and Kady Weisner (St. Mary's, Pa./Elk County Catholic) were fourth and fifth, respectively, in their first collegiate meet.
- Bucknell was ranked eighth in the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Poll, as of Sept. 14. The Bison lead all Patriot League schools in the region, including Navy (10th), Lehigh (12th) and Lafayette (13th). The Duquesne women's squad was picked 14th in the latest standings.
- After winning the 2009 Patriot League Championships, Bucknell was selected first in the league's preseason poll. The Bison earned 96 points, besting second-place Navy, which claimed 79.
- Bucknell's 2010 team captains were also named before the season got underway. Moniz will serve as a Bison captain for the second year. She will be joined in the leadership role by senior Stephanie Hardenstine (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area).
- Duquesne's women's squad, which was picked fifth in the 2010 Atlantic 10 preseason poll, went 6-1 at the Duquesne Duals on Sept. 4 with its only loss coming to Saint Joseph's. Pittsburgh's women went 0-7 at the same meet. Duquesne won head-to-head against the Panthers, 15-48.
LOOKING AHEAD
Bucknell's next meet will be the Paul Short Memorial Invitational, hosted by Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa., on Oct. 1. Races begin at 10 a.m. A complete schedule is available at LehighSports.com.
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