Bucknell University
Bison Outdoor Classic
Heitzman Sets School Javelin Record on First Day of Bison Outdoor Track & Field Classic
4/15/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
April 15, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The only thing shining brighter than the sun on a beautiful opening day to the Bison Outdoor Classic was Bucknell track and field as five program top-10 marks fell, including the men's javelin record, at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Friday. Ted Heitzman (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) became the Bucknell record holder in the javelin with a throw of 237 feet, 8 inches.
Heitzman's win in the event was the least impressive part of the junior's performance at the Orange and Blue's first home meet of the spring season. His 237-8 broke the school's previous record by more than seven feet and improved on his own previous personal best by nearly 16 feet. Heitzman is just the second Bison in program history to break 230 feet, joining Joshua Kaehler who had been ranked number one in program history since 2007.
Bucknell had two other individual wins as the meet got underway. Isaih Bell (Clarkston, Ga./Stone Mountain) took the top spot in the long jump (23-7 ¼), and Laura Rycek (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) claimed her third consecutive victory in the women's javelin. Her mark of 152-3 fell just shy of her career best. Tayler Siegrist (Madison, N.J./Madison) was third in the event with her top mark of the spring at 132-1.
The success continued to roll in the throws as Rebecca Misko (Morristown, N.J./Madison) placed third in the discus. Her distance of 152-11 moved her up the program record list from sixth to third. It was the first time in Misko's career that she broke the 150 plateau.
On the track, Leah Goeke (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) and Kelly Grosskurth put up two of the fastest times in program history in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Goeke's 11 minutes, 10.60 seconds is fourth in program annals, while Grosskurth also improved her standing on the list to fifth with a mark of 11:18.40.
In the women's 5,000 meters, Alysha Hooper (Meaford, Ontario/St. Mary's) added her name to the record lists for the first time in 17:18.98, which ranks sixth at Bucknell. Alaina Chodoff (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) just missed the top 10 with a time of 17:29.85. Both Hooper and Chodoff were part of a trio that earned three places in the race's top 20. Sarah Moniz (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet Regional) was ninth (17:06.31), while Hooper and Chodoff were 16th and 19th, respectively.
Bucknell will conclude competition at the Bison Outdoor Classic tomorrow. Action begins at 9:30 a.m.
