Bucknell University
Gulden Invitational
Bucknell Men's Track & Field Wins Gulden Invitational
1/21/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Jan. 21, 2012
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell men's track and field swept the MVP honors and Christian Lupica set three program top-10 marks as the Bison powered their way to a first-place team finish at the Gulden Invitational on Saturday at Gerhard Fieldhouse. Chris Sacks was named the meets Most Valuable Runner, while Tom Barr was the Most Valuable Field Athlete in the first scored meet of the season. Bucknell finished with 241 points, nearly 100 more than its closest competitor.
Bucknell bested second-place Shippensburg, which finished with 142 points, and Duquesne with 109. Fourth place in the team standings went to Mount St. Mary's (32 points), while Saint Francis (Pa.) was fifth (29).
The dominance in the team standings came thanks in part to a number of individual gold medals including two each from Sacks and Barr. Sacks took first place in the mile and as the anchor leg of the 4x800 relay. The sophomore's mile time of 4 minutes, 11.49 seconds earned him a spot at the IC4A Championships in March as did the relay's 7:48.87.
Barr was recognized as the meet's top field athlete after winning the weight throw and the shot put for the second time this winter. The senior also won both events at the Bison Opener in December. This time, he finished with marks of 59 feet, 5 ¾ inches in the weight throw and 53-3 ½ in the shot put. Both marks met IC4A-qualifying standards, although Barr had already punched his ticket to the championships in previous meets.
Although he was not formally recognized at the meet, Lupica was not outdone in his performances. The reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week won the 60-meter hurdles for a second time this season and did so in a personal-best 8.24 seconds in both the prelims and the finals. The time moved him up to third all-time in program history.
Lupica later inked his name in the record books in two new categories - the 60-meter dash and the 200 meters. He was fourth overall in the 200, with his time of 22.32 seconds going into the No. 8 slot on the program ledger. He crossed the line in 7.08 seconds in the 60 meters, taking seventh in the race and sixth in the record books.
Robert Arent joined Lupica in bolstering the hurdles. Arent was second behind his teammate in 8.26 seconds. He later won the 400 in 49.95, while Kevin Tapper was second in the event with a time of 50.51.
Daniel Markwalter won the pole vault in his third consecutive meet. The junior equaled his personal best of 15-3, nearly one foot better than the second-place vaulter. Nathaniel Witter tied for second, clearing 14-3 ¼. In other field events, Jason Brown won the high jump and the Bison took first through seventh place in the shot put. Following Barr's lead in the throws event, Quinten Marcott and Jack Fellows were second and third, respectively, in the shot. Stephen Koullias, Luke Webster, Brandon Reynolds and Brian Monahan rounded out the group.
Leonard Joseph was also second in the weight throw behind Barr. The Bison duo has combined to go 1-2 in the event in each of the team's three meets this winter. On Saturday, Joseph finished with a mark of 58-2.
Back on the track, Bucknell showed strength at the middle distances. Dustin Horning and Alex Jagelsky were first and second in the 800 meters, and Jordan Donaldson was the top finisher in the 500. Those three also joined Sacks on the winning 4x800.
"The men had a very solid meet and our depth really showed today," said head coach Kevin Donner at the close of competition. "We have to clean up a few weaknesses. However, for mid-January meet, I was pleased with the intensity."
Bucknell will have plenty of opportunities to work out any kinks when it competes at both the Bison Open & Multi and Penn State National Invitational next weekend. Both meets run Jan. 27-28.
