Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Pittsburgh
Bison Women's Cross Country Wins Over Duquesne, Pitt
9/17/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 17, 2011
PITTSBURGH - Led by a trio of seniors, Bucknell women's cross country defeated Duquesne and Pittsburgh in a pair of duals at Schenley Oval Park on Saturday morning. Stephanie Fulmer (Pottstown, Pa./St. Pius X) led the Bison with a third-place finish, completing the five-kilometer course in 18:24. Alysha Hooper (Meaford, Ontario/St. Mary's) and Emily Liggett (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Lawrenceville School (N.J.)) also earned top-five finishes.
Bucknell defeated Duquesne 27-32 and Pittsburgh 15-50 at the meet. The Dukes also took a 15-50 decision over the Panthers in the team standings.
Although Bucknell earned team titles, it was Duquesne that took the top two spots in the individual results. Meg Ecker and Amber Valimont both finished in just over 18 minutes. Behind Fulmer's 18:24 were Hooper in fourth place and Liggett in fifth after both recorded a time of 18:26.
"Duquesne gave us a great meet. We really had to work for the win," said head coach Kevin Donner after the meet. "They had a couple front runners that we could not hang with. However, our tremendous depth allowed us to come out with the win.
"We had a 15-second gap between our first and seventh runners, which is great. However, to be competitive in the Patriot League and the Mid-Atlantic region, we will need a couple runners to improve and be near the front at those meets. Overall, it was a very solid effort, and I like where we are right now."
Leah Goeke (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley), Melissa Smith (Mercer, Pa./Mercer Area) and Kelly Grosskurth (Huntington Station, N.Y./Half Hallow Hills East) rounded out the top seven for the Orange and Blue. The three Bison were seventh, eighth and ninth overall.
Bucknell will return to action on Sept. 30 at the Paul Short Memorial Invitational, hosted by Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa.
