Bucknell University Athletics
Indoor Track & Field Kicks Off Winter Campaign with Bison Opener Saturday
12/2/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Dec. 2, 2011
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - It's hard to believe, but track and field season is already here with the Bucknell women's squad hosting the Bison Opener at Gerhard Fieldhouse on Saturday. Field events at the first meet of the season will get underway at 9:30 a.m. with running to begin at 10:15. Joining the Bison will be a field of 11 other schools, including local foes such as Bloomsburg and Susquehanna.
"Although it's the first meet of the season and very early, I have found that the opening meet is a very good indicator of how good our teams will be this year," said head coach Kevin Donner. "We will be forming an identity and will find out which newcomers are ready for NCAA Division I competition.
"Many of our distance runners will be sitting out due to the long cross country season. However, I see this meet as an opportunity for our sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, throwers and multis to prove themselves after practicing all fall," Donner continued. "The meet is very sprint heavy with some very good full-dimensional programs from the Division I, II and III levels. We will run a few distance runners who are looking to get a nice early season time."
Bucknell will host six meets this winter, including the Patriot League Championships Feb. 17-19.
Below is a more in-depth look at the Bucknell women's track and field 2011-12 season:
Bucknell has long been a force to reckon with in women's track and field. As the defending Patriot League Champions outdoors and with the hosting duties for the 2012 indoor championship meet, the Bison are poised to continue their run for another trophy. As always, however, they are fully aware of the challenges that come with being a frontrunner.
"I believe we have a very strong women's team both indoors and outdoors," said Donner. "The indoor championships are at Bucknell this year, which should be worth a few extra points, but we think that it's going to be a pretty good battle between us and Navy."
Sprints - "This year we're going to have a tremendous amount of depth in the sprints, which is something we haven't had in awhile," said Donner.
Part of the reason for the change is the trio of Sasha Hornock, Christina Muccio and Jennifer Zymet. Hornock won the 60-meter title at the Patriot League Championships last winter, and Zymet was the outdoor 400 champion. All three helped set a school record in the 4x100 record while claiming gold in that event as well.
After starting her career as one of the Bison's top short sprinters, Muccio made the switch to focusing on the 400 last year. The move paid off, and the senior should continue to be a force at that distance. New to the sprints unit are versatile freshmen Emma Rice, Victoria Mold and Kim Nagotko, who should fill in the relays and provide points early in their careers.
Hurdles - Despite losing some depth in the hurdles, the Bison will still have Taylor Funk and Hannah Jones to rely on. Funk, who also helped the 4x100 relay to the school record last spring, has turned into one of Bucknell's top high hurdlers and took third in both the 100 and 400 hurdles at last spring's league meet. Jones came on strong late during the outdoor season and scored with a career-best time in the 400 hurdles at the PL Championships.
Mid-Distance - Bucknell has limitless options at the middle distances with experienced veterans like Caroline Tolli along with underclassmen like Hana Casalnova and Beth Braunegg. Casalnova proved herself as one of the team's top 800 runners and capped off her year with a trip to the USA Junior Nationals in the event. Braunegg should shore up the mile and 1,500 meter distances, while Tolli adds strength in each of those events as well.
Adding to the depth are sophomores Erin Holbrook, Erin Horleman, Emily Waksmunski and Chelsea Lodato. The quartet made a formidable 800 unit and should continue to grow stronger as they develop through cross country season.
Distance - Depth should not be a concern for the Bison in the long distances either as they return two ECAC qualifiers and two more All-Patriot League performers. Stephanie Fulmer has built a career running at the front of the pack. Highlighting her last campaign were trips to the ECACs in the 3,000 both indoors and outdoors.
Emily Liggett enjoyed a breakout season in 2010-11 evidenced by her seven new marks in the program's top 10. The senior racked up PL points indoors in the mile and 1,000 and outdoors in the 1,500 and 5,000.
Alysha Hooper also inked her name among the best in program history in the 5,000 meters, while Melissa Smith punch her ticket for ECACs in the 10K last spring. Both return and are expected to anchor unit in the longer races in 2012.
Leah Goeke and Kelly Grosskurth swept the top two spots in the steeplechase at last year's league meet, and that domination should continue.
Rookies Madeline Dulac and Ali Foote should provide some help as well.
Multi - Bucknell returns both of its primary multi-event athletes in Leah Bettner and Victoria Schmidt. It's been a learning process for the duo to this point, and it looks as if that work will be paying off.
"Both got a tremendous amount of experience last year and should be in a position where they can contend for some Patriot League points this year," predicted Donner.
Throws - The Bison have made a name for themselves in the throws over the years, and that won't stop in 2012 despite losing PL champion and NCAA national qualifier Laura Rycek to graduation. The squad still has regional qualifiers Kat Folger and Tayler Siegrist in the javelin. Sarah Trahan will also look to move into the mix.
Sarah Bella won the league title in the indoor shot put, giving the senior her second career gold medal. Close behind was versatile thrower Rebecca Misko, who took second in the discus and the shot put indoors and outdoors.
Abby Monaghan is a two-time scorer in the PL discus. She will also anchor the weight throw while doubling up with the hammer throw in the spring. Joining Monaghan in the hammer and weight throws will be Kathryn Wahls.
Jumps - A quartet of Bison in Olivia Massey, Alexandra Romanelli, Sarah Canfield and Alyssa Cardillo give Bucknell several options in the horizontal jumps. Massey and Romanelli were PL scorers in the triple jump, while Romanelli took fourth in the event both indoors and outdoors. Canfield surprised with a fifth-place finish in the outdoor long jump with a leap that put her among the program's top 10 for the first time in her career. Incoming freshman Jessica Mattsinger is also expected to contribute in the triple jump from the start.
Another surprise at last spring's outdoor meet was Emily Ando, who scored her first time competing in the high jump. The squad's top returner will be Laura Lutzker. Lutzker added to the team's points total at the indoor meet with one of the best marks of her career. Bettner and Schmidt have also contributed points in the high jump in the past.
Pole Vault - Ando will also be a key pole vaulter again for the Bison. As a freshman, she placed fourth at the indoor and outdoor league championships. Autumn Schellenberger should also to contend as she continues to improve.
"With a little more experience, we think she's going to be right in the hunt," said Donner.
