Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Track & Field's Heitzman, Rycek Named Patriot League Field Athletes of the Week
4/18/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
April 18, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell track and field's javelin throwers continued to collect the awards as Ted Heitzman (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) and Laura Rycek (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) were named the Patriot League Field Athletes of the Week on Monday. Both throwers won the javelin at last weekend's Bison Outdoor Classic, while Heitzman's performance also gave him the school record.
Heitzman finished the home meet with a best throw of 237 feet, 8 inches. Not only did it give him first place in Friday's competition, but it also put him in first on the program's record list. Heitzman topped the previous record held by Joshua Kaehler by more than seven feet.
The Patriot League runner-up in the javelin last year, Heitzman has won the event twice in three meets this season. His worst finish came at the Colonial Relays where he placed second overall. In each of those meets, the junior earned an IC4A Championship-qualifying mark.
Heitzman was named the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week for the first time in his career earlier this year on March 28 after throwing a then-career-best 221-10 for the win at the Towson Invitational.
Rycek kept her own streak alive in the javelin with her a third consecutive victory at the Bison Outdoor Classic. The senior, who has now been named the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week in each of her three eligible voting periods this spring, threw 152-3 for the win. Rycek also placed 11th in the shot put (37-9 ¼).
Rycek currently ranks second all-time at Bucknell in the javelin. The career-best mark came in the 2011 season debut at the Towson Invitational where she posted a throw of 154-10. Rycek is a three-time Patriot League runner up in the javelin.
Bucknell will host its final home meet of the spring this Saturday. The Bucknell Team Challenge is set for a 9:30 a.m. start at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
