Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Bucknell's Joseph, Powell Win as Bucknell Men's Track & Field Moves into First at Patriot League Championships
2/18/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Feb. 18, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS | Video Highlights
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell claimed two individual titles and two school records fell as the Bison moved into first place at the Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Championships at Gerhard Fieldhouse on Saturday. Among the winners were Andrew Powell with his program-best 5,143 points in the heptathlon and Leonard Joseph in the weight throw. Justin Hicks also took over the school record in the 60-meter semifinals with a time of 6.84 seconds.
Powell put together one of the single best days in recent Bison history. The senior, who entered the second day of the heptathlon in the lead, held on to his position with a career-best time in the 60-meter hurdles and a top mark in the pole vault. He began his Saturday with an 8.48 in the hurdles, which moved him up to ninth in program history.
While competing in the heptathlon pole vault, Powell was forced to split his time at the high jump where he was competing for a second title. Alternating between the events, he ultimately cleared 12 feet, 11 ½ inches in the pole vault. He also finished second in the high jump with a clearance of 6-8 ¼.
By the time his day was over, Powell had broken his own school record in the heptathlon and claimed the event title for the second consecutive year. He also came within one-half inch of his personal best in the high jump. He finished his meet with 18 points for the Bison, which totaled 56 in the overall team standings.
Bucknell has a small lead over second-place Navy, which has 41 points after six events. Army and Lehigh are tied for third with 29 points apiece.
Joseph joined Powell at the top of the podium when he claimed gold in the weight throw. The junior threw a career-best 63-0. Along with Tom Barr, the Bison finished first and second in the event as Barr recorded a mark of 62-8 ½.
Other events to go final on Saturday included the long jump and 4x800 relay. Kevin Keller and Alex Prieto both placed in the field event. Keller was fourth with a distance of 22-9 ¼, while Prieto was close behind in fifth at 22-7 ¾. Both marks were the best of their careers.
The day ended with the 4x800 in which Bucknell placed second. Dustin Horning, Alex Jagelsky, Dennis Logan and Jordan Donaldson combined for a time of 7:35.14, just getting edged out on the final lap by Navy.
Also among those to tally points for the Bison was Sam Brandstadt who, like Powell, enjoyed one of the best days of his career in the heptathlon. Brandstadt worked his way up from eighth after day one into sixth at the final with a career-best 4,482 points. Jason Brown tied for third in the high jump with a clearance of 6-6 ¼.
Among those in action on tomorrow's final day of competition will be the Hicks, Christian Lupica and Kamal Riley in the 60 meters. Hicks secured the top time in the semifinals, crossing the line in 6.84 seconds, which gives him the school record by .01 seconds. Lupica and Riley also ran the best times of their career. Lupica enters the finals with the fourth-fastest time of 6.99, while Riley is tied for fifth at 7.00.
Hicks, Lupcia and Rob Arent are also among the favorites in tomorrow's 200-meter final. The trio posted the top three times in the prelims, each with a new program top-10 time led by Hicks' 21.95.
Action gets underway at 10 a.m. Sunday at Gerhard Fieldhouse. The awards ceremony, which will include the crowning of the 2012 Patriot League Champion, is set for 5 p.m.
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