Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Gettysburg Invitational
Bison Men's Cross Country's Dugan, Kuchta Post Top Finishes at Pre-Nationals, Gettysburg Invite
10/13/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 13, 2012
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bucknell men's cross country placed second at the Gettysburg Invitational but suffered some tough breaks at Pre-Nationals in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, placing 39th in the team standings at the major meet. Andrew Kuchta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) claimed a top-10 finish at Gettysburg, while John Dugan (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) was 146th overall to lead the Bison at Pre-Nationals.
“We had a lot of bad luck. We were involved in some falls just after the start,” said head coach Kevin Donner. “Michael McGowan went down, but did a good job getting back up and salvaging a race. Glen Williams hurt his ankle due to the fall and could not finish, and D.J. Krystek dropped out due to an injury. Our other guys ran pretty well despite the bad luck. The meet was an experience we really needed.”
Dugan's 146th-place finish at the E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park came with an eight-kilometer time of 24:48.3. The sophomore has now led the team in three of his four meets this fall. McGowan ultimately finished 177th in 25:05.1 after the tumble early in the race.
With 944 points as a team, Bucknell was 39th in a field of 40 teams, including eight nationally ranked squads. Colorado won the team title in the seeded race with 72 points.
Results were more to Bucknell's taste at Gettysburg where the Bison were second out of 35 teams with 70 points. Lock Haven took the top spot with 50.
Kuchta was ninth in the 8K race with a time of 26:02, while David Strauss (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) also earned a spot in the top 20. The junior was 18th overall, clocking in at 26:09.
Bucknell will now turn its attention to the Patriot League Championships, which are set for Oct. 27 in Hamilton, N.Y. Colgate will host the event at the same site of the early-season Harry Lang Invitational. The Bison placed fifth at the league meet a year ago.
BUCKNELL FINISHERS – PRE-NATIONALS (8K)
Seeded Race
146. John Dugan – 24:48.3
177. Michael McGowan – 25:05.1
188. Charles Seigneur – 25:08.4
190. Andrew Garcia-Garrison – 25:10.1
243. Tyler Erhard – 25:54.7
-- D.J. Krystek – DNF
-- Glen Williams – DNF
Unseeded Race
116. Eric Balaban – 25:50.4
127. Robert Yamnicky – 25:57.2
181. Brian Charland – 26:32.7
TOP BUCKNELL FINISHERS – GETTYSBURG INVITATIONAL (8K)
9. Andrew Kuchta – 26:02
18. David Strauss – 26:09
22. John Kirna – 26:21
23. Andrew Kirna – 26:28
24. Chris Applegate – 26:28
31. Dylan Cowell – 26:39
32. Dustin Horning – 26:40
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