Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Cross Country to Race at Saint Francis on Saturday
10/7/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 7, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. – A week after a racing at one of the biggest meets in the country, Bucknell cross country will take a more low-key approach when it competes at the Father Bede Invitational, hosted by Saint Francis (Pa.) in Loretto, Pa., on Saturday. The women will open action for the Bison on the five-kilometer route at the Immergrun Golf Course at 12:30 p.m., followed by the men at 1:15 p.m.
Although Bucknell cross country rarely makes the trip to Saint Francis, the area couldn't be more familiar to head coach Kevin Donner. Donner enjoyed a very successful career as the head coach of the Red Flash from 1995-2001. Among his accolades were seven Northeast Conference Coach of the Year citations in cross country and track and field.
Donner left Saint Francis to take up his current post at Bucknell. Now 10 years later, the Bison men are ranked 13th in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mid-Atlantic Region Poll. One of four Patriot League teams ranked in the region, Bucknell trails No. 5 Navy, No. 7 American and No. 8 Lehigh. The women dropped to 12th in the poll, which was released on Monday. They find themselves behind No. 6 Navy and No. 10 Lehigh after last week's Paul Short Memorial Invitational.
It was a story of young men and veteran women for Bucknell at the Paul Short Invite. Four of the Bison's top seven finishers on the men's side were freshmen. Leading the group of newcomers was John Dugan (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey), who was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week after placing fourth on the team and 266th overall on the 8K course in Bethlehem, Pa. Andrew Garcia-Garrison (Detroit, Mich./Catholic Central), Glen Williams (Landenberg, Pa./Kennett) and Andrew Kirna (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) were also among the squad's leading seven.
On the women's side, the first five Bison were seniors. At the front of the pack was Stephanie Fulmer (Pottstown, Pa./St. Pius X), Emily Liggett (Grosse Pointe, Mich./The Lawrenceville School (N.J.)) and Melissa Smith (Mercer, Pa./Mercer Area). Kelly Grosskurth (Huntington Station, N.Y./Half Hallow Hills East) and Alysha Hooper (Meaford, Ontario/St. Mary's) followed. It was Smith's second consecutive meet scoring for Bucknell, while Grosskurth broke into the top five for the first time this fall.
The first non-senior to cross the finish line for the Bison was Madeline Dulac (Baltimore, Md./McDonough School). Dulac, who has been Bucknell's top freshman in all three races this fall, was sixth among the team's finishers at the Paul Short Invitational.
After the trip to Loretto, Bucknell will have one last tune-up opportunity before heading to the Patriot League Championships on Oct. 29 in Bethlehem, Pa. The Bison will compete at the Penn State National Invitational at University Park, Pa., on Oct. 14.
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