Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Track & Field's Rycek, Heitzman Collect Patriot League Accolades, Bison Athlete of the Week Title
3/28/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
March 28, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell track and field's javelin throwers dominated the gold medal stand at the Towson Invitational last Saturday and the awards kept coming as Laura Rycek (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) and Ted Heitzman (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) were named Patriot League Field Athletes of the Week. Rycek was also selected as the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career.
Rycek won the women's javelin with an ECAC Championship-qualifying throw of 154 feet, 10 inches. That bettered her previous personal best by nearly nine feet and ranks her second all-time at Bucknell. He is only the second Bison in program history to surpass the 150-feet mark.
The Bison senior also recorded her best-ever throw in the shot put. Her 40-6 ¼ performance earned her third place at Towson. It was the first time during her outdoor career that Rycek threw better than 40 feet.
Heitzman had an easy day in the men's javelin with a throw of 221-10. The mark earned him the victory with more than 70 feet between him and his closest competitor. Heitzman remained in fourth on the program's record lists, but the career-best outing pulled him to within less than 10 feet of the school record, set by Joshua Kaehler in 2007 (230-6).
Rycek's Patriot League weekly award is the fifth of her career. She was named the league's Rookie of the Week three consecutive times in 2008 before earning her first Field Athlete of the Week honor March 30, 2010. She is also the first women's track and field athlete to be named the Bison Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season since Gillian Nordquist in 2009.
The honor for Heitzman is his first since twice being named the Rookie of the Week in 2009. He becomes the first Bison to be recognized as the Field Athlete of the Week since Kyle Anthony in 2009.
After the strong start to its outdoor season at the unscored Towson Invitational, Bucknell will continue at the William & Mary Colonial Relays this weekend. The meet runs April 1-2 in Williamsburg, Va.
