Bucknell University Athletics
Arent, Joseph, Casalnova Lead Bucknell Track & Field to Trio of Patriot League Honors
1/17/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Jan. 17, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Robert Arent (New Providence, N.J./New Providence), Leonard Joseph (Whitesboro, N.Y./Clinton) and Hana Casalnova (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) claimed a trio of weekly honors for Bucknell track and field on Monday. For the second time this season, Arent was named the Patriot League Track Athlete of the Week and Joseph the Field Athlete of the Week, while Casalnova's Rookie of the Week accolade is the first of the year for the Bison women.
Competing at Saturday Night at the Armory in New York on Saturday, Arent earned two victories and a third-place finish. The wins came in the 400 meters and as part of the 4x400 relay. In the open 400, Arent ran a time of 49.20 seconds to qualify for the IC4A Championships in March. Later as the anchor of the Bison's relay, the junior helped the team come from behind and win in a time of 3:19.29. That mark is also an IC4A-qualifying standard and ranks seventh all-time at Bucknell.
The impressive marks continued in the 60-meter hurdles, where Arent placed third in 8.21 seconds. That tied his personal-best, which already was the second-fastest time in program history. Arent ran an identical time at the Bison Opener earlier this year, earning a spot at the IC4As.
For the second consecutive week, Joseph was named the league's top male field athlete. This time, the sophomore was second in the weight throw with a mark of 55 feet, 9 ¼ inches. Despite being about a foot shy of his career-best, which he set at last week's Gulden Relays, Joseph achieved an IC4A-qualifying mark for the third consecutive meet.
Arent's and Joseph's production played a major role in Bucknell taking first place as a team in the meet at the Amory. In a field that included 17 squads, the Bison finished with 121 points and bettered second-place Army's 96 points.
Casalnova became the first female Bucknelllian to be cited by the Patriot League, thanks in large part to a second-place finish in the 800 meters at the Armory. It was the first open 800 of the year for the freshman, and she crossed the line in a time of 2:14.57, good for ninth all-time in the Bucknell record books.
Casalnova also led off the 4x400 relay, which placed eighth (3:58.65) on Saturday. With the team's performance, Casalnova scored in her second event of the day.
Bucknell's women's team finished sixth in a field of 14 squads.
The Bison will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Bucknell Heptagonal at Gerhard Fieldhouse. Action gets underway at 10 a.m.
