Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Bison Women's Track & Field Comes from Behind to Win 14th Patriot League Indoor Championship Title
2/19/2012 7:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Feb. 19, 2012
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's team battled its way from third place up to its 14th Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Championship title in program history to remain undefeated in conference meets at Gerhard Fieldhouse on Sunday. The Bison, which entered the final day of competition trailing 2011 champion Navy by more than 20 points, came back for a 40-point win over the Midshipmen. Kevin Donner was named Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his career.
When action began on Sunday, Navy led in the team standings with 56 points and Bucknell was third with 33. Sarah Bella then gave the Bison their first event victory of the championships as she defended her shot put title with a career-best 47 feet, 0 ¾ inches. The mark, which came on her last attempt in the finals, was her best since 2010 and moved her into second in program history. Rebecca Misko also took fifth in the shot (40-11 ½). With Navy in second and third, however, Bucknell was unable to make up any ground on the Mids in the team standings.
That changed with Bucknell's strong showing in the triple jump. Alexandra Romanelli earned her second silver medal of the meet when she placed second with a career-best 38-9 ¾. Jessica Matsinger was fourth (37-0 ½), and the duo's 12 points brought the Bison closer to Navy.
The next event to be scored was the pole vault, which was dominated by Emily Ando and Autumn Schellenberger. Although Ando was crowned the winner in the jump-off with her teammate, both cleared 11-9 ¾. Thanks to their 18-point contribution, Bucknell moved into a tie with Navy at 75 points apiece.
By that point it had become a two-team race, and neither squad was able to hang on to a lead for much time as action moved to the track. After the 400 meters, Bucknell held a three-point advantage. It then became Navy's turn to go up by three in the next event, the 500 meters. Led by Hana Casalnova in second (2:13.88), the Bison placed three in the 800 to take a 123-112 edge over the Mids and that was the last push Bucknell needed. Behind Casalnova in the race were Chelsea Lodato(2:17.48) and Emily Waksmunksi (2:17.72) in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Caroline Tolli and Beth Braunegg made sure the team advantage stayed with Bucknell in the 1,000 meters. After leading for much of the race, Braunegg was overtaken by Holy Cross in the final lap. Tolli then came from even farther behind and ended up with the win down the final stretch. She finished with a time of 2:56.37, while Braunegg was ultimately third in 2:57.11.
Although they were already guaranteed the team trophy by the final event, the Bison put the finishing touches on the weekend's performance with a win in the 4x400. Jennifer Zymet, Casalnova, Kim Nagotko and Sasha Hornock combined for a time of 3:54.53 to take first place on an already impressive day.
Bucknell has now won a league-best 14 indoor titles. It was the sixth time the Bison had hosted the Patriot League Championships, and all six of those have ended with Bucknell in first place. In 2012, the Bison finished with 164 points, while Navy was second with 124. Lehigh dropped to third with 108 points, followed by Holy Cross (70) in fourth. Colgate and Army tied for fifth with 56 points, and Lafayette was seventh with 42.
With four event wins at the meet, much of Bucknell's success came from its consistency farther back in the pack. Taylor Funk was second in the 60-meter hurdles, equaling her career-best time of 8.84 in the finals, and while Hornock anchored the winning 4x400, she also placed second in the 60 meters for the second consecutive season. Nagotko was third in the 400 and fifth in the 200, and Zymet was third in the 200 and 500 before joining Hornock on the 4x400.
Tolli added a third-place finish with the distance medley relay and a fifth-place finish in the mile to her resume. Just ahead of her in the mile was Maddie Dulac. Dulac was fourth in the mile in a career-best 4:57.26 and sixth in the 3,000 with a time of 9:57.79.
Donner earned his seventh career Coach of the Year award at the indoor women's championships as he had won ever title from 2002-07. He was also named the Coach of the Year on the men's side on Sunday for the first time in his career.
"It was just an incredible weekend for the entire program," said Donner after the meet. "The student-athletes were so supportive of each other in every event area, and they responded great to the alumni, parents, spectators, support staff and coaching staff. It was a great weekend to be a Bison."
Bucknell will be back in action March 3-4 when a select group of Bison will make the trip to Boston, Mass., for the ECAC Championships.
Final Team Standings:
1. Bucknell - 164 points
2. Navy - 124
3. Lehigh - 108
4. Holy Cross - 70
T5. Colgate - 56
T5. Army - 56
7. Lafayette - 42
Major Award Winners:
Rookie of the Meet: Alicia Minella, Colgate
Field Athlete of the Meet: Joelle Neilson, Lafayette
Track Athlete of the Meet: Chelsea Burns, Colgate
Coach of the Year: Kevin Donner, Bucknell
