Bucknell University
Youngstown State Invitational
Bucknell Track & Field Sets More Records in Successful Youngstown State Invite Finale
2/4/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Feb. 4, 2012
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Tom Barr set a new Bucknell shot put record and 18 more top-10 marks fell as Bison track and field continued to dominate at the Youngstown State Invitational on Saturday. Barr became the new mark to beat at 54-11 ½ on the final day of competition when Bucknell also combined for nine victories.
After flirting with the shot put record for much of the season, Barr finally took over the No. 1 spot in the record book. Although he placed second in the meet, the mark put him over 54 feet for the first time in his career and bested the previous record holder, Timothy Medlock's 54-0 ¼. Barr also won the weight throw yesterday.
Barr became the second Bison to set a school record this weekend at the Youngstown State Invitational. Hana Casalnova became the new record holder in the 1,000 meters yesterday with a time of 2 minutes, 52.96 seconds.
Among the 19 total top-10 marks set at the Watson and Tressel Training Site was Stephen Koullias, also in the shot put. The junior's 51-4 ¼ moved him into sixth all-time at Bucknell as he finished fourth at the meet. Quinten Marcott was fifth (51-0 ¼).
In other field event action, Alex Prieto won the triple jump with a career-best 47-0 ¾. He now ranks eighth all-time at Bucknell. Alexandra Romanelli placed second in the women's triple jump with her own personal record. The junior's 37-8 ½ is ninth in program annals. Three top-10 marks fell in the women's pole vault. Although it was Emily Ando with the top finish for the Bison with third at 11-3 ¾, Autumn Schellenberger (11-3 ¾), Yanelis Mestre (10-10) and Rebekka Vuojolainen (10-10) are now tied for sixth and ninth, respectively, in the Bucknell record books. All four Bison finished among the top 10 in the meet as well.
On the track, Bucknell could hardly have asked for better results in the men's 60-meter hurdles. Christian Lupica placed second in the finals, while Jason Brown was sixth and Andrew Powell was eighth. All three ran personal records. Lupica's 8.18 seconds keeps him in third place on the program ledger, and Brown's 8.50 keeps him in ninth. Powell's 8.53 broke him into the top 10 for the first time this season.
Lupica also posted a top-10 time with a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters. At 22.12, the freshman was just behind teammate Justin Hicks' 22.08, which earned him third overall and fifth on the program record list.
Among the other top times to be recorded at Youngstown State were Caroline Tolli's 4:58.69 and Emily Liggett's 4:59.15 in the mile. It was the first career sub-5:00 finish for both and the duo took first and second, respectively, in the race.
Tyler Erhard guaranteed a sweep in the mile with his own win in 4:15.11. The meet eventually concluded with yet another sweep, this time in the 4x400 as the men ran the seventh-fastest time in school history, 3:18.54, to win their heat. The women's victory came in 3:55.56.
Saturday's other wins included Sasha Hornock in the 60 meters (7.78), Beth Braunegg in the 800 (2:14.84) and Robert Arent in the 400 (48.39). Dave Brown was also a winner in the seeded heat of the 3,000 meters (8:30.67).
"This may have been one of the best regular-season meets we have had in awhile when you combine the results of the men and the women," said head coach Kevin Donner. "I was very pleased with lots of the performances, but more importantly, we seem to be developing an identity, which I believe is very critical this time of the year."
The Bison will return to action next weekend with the Bucknell Winter Classic on Feb. 11 at Gerhard Fieldhouse. It will be the team's final tune-up before hosting the Patriot League Championships Feb. 17-19.
