Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Track Sweeps PL Field Athlete of the Week Honors, Lupica Repeats as Top Rookie
1/23/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Jan. 23, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS (PHOTOS ADDED) | BUY PHOTOS (PHOTOS ADDED)
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell track's Tom Barr (Ambler, Pa./La Salle College HS) and Christian Lupica (Newtown, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) claimed their third Patriot League honor of the season, and Sarah Bella (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) joined the group for her first award after a strong showing at last weekend's Gulden Invitational. Barr and Bella swept the league's Field Athlete of the Week awards, while Lupica was the Patriot League Rookie of the Week and the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week.
Lupica and Barr have been recognized by the Patriot League after each of their three meets this winter. The most recent accolade for Lupica came after the freshman set three program top-10 marks and secured a victory in the 60-meter hurdles at the Gulden Invitational. Lupica won the hurdles in 8.24 seconds, a time that places him third in the Bucknell record books. He went on to take seventh in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.08 seconds. It was his preliminary mark of 7.06 seconds that is now sixth in program annals. It was the first time Lupica had competed in the 60. To wrap up his stellar outing, the sprinter took fourth in the 200 meter dash. His time of 22.32 ranks eighth at Bucknell.
Lupica was named the Rookie of the Week on Dec. 5 and Jan. 9, and he is now tied with teammate Justin Hicks for a Patriot League record number of rookie honors in a single season. It is also the first time in his career that he has been named the Bison Athlete of the Week. He is the first track and field athlete to claim the honor this year.
Barr, who was the Field Athlete of the Week on Dec. 5 and Jan. 9 as well, was named the Gulden Invitational Most Valuable Field Athlete on Saturday. The senior won the shot put and the weight throw, each with IC4A Championship-qualifying marks. His mark in the shot put of 53 feet, 3 ½ inches earned him the third victory in the event this season. He was also a repeat winner in the weight throw with a mark of 59-5 ¾. In three meets this winter, Barr has won the weight throw twice and placed second on a third occasion.
Bella earned her first weekly honor of the year with a second-place finish in the shot put. The senior threw a season-best 45-3 ½ to earn another ECAC-qualifying mark. It was also her best throw since the 2009-10 campaign. Bella was also seventh in the weight throw with a mark of 50-4 ½. It was the first time this season she cleared the 50-foot mark.
Barr and Lupica's performances helped Bucknell to a first-place finish in the team standings. The Bison came out of the meet with a 99-point lead over second-place Shippensburg. The Bucknell women's squad placed second out of six teams.
Bucknell will be back in action Jan. 27-28 when it competes at the Bison Open & Multi at Gerhard Fieldhouse and the Penn State National Invitational at University Park, Pa.
