Bucknell University
Youngstown State Invitational
Bucknell's Casalnova Kicks Off Youngstown State Track Invite with School Record
2/4/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Feb. 4, 2012
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Hana Casalnova (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) broke the third school record in two weeks as Bucknell track and field got competition underway at a pair of meets on Friday night. Casalnova took over the top spot in the 1,000 meters at the Youngtown State Invitational with a time of 1:52.96, while the Bison claimed nearly a dozen victories at the two meets.
Casalnova ran the fastest 1,000-meter time in school history, taking over the record set by fellow sophomore Beth Braunegg (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) just last weekend. Casalnova rocketed up the record list with her 1:52.96. Prior to Friday's race, where she placed second in the field, she was not even among the program's top 10. Casalnova broke Braunegg's short-lived record by less than one second.
Abby Monaghan (La Plata, Md./La Plata) and Jennifer Zymet (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) also set new top-10 marks at Youngstown State. Zymet won the 500 meters in 1:15.69, giving her a career best and the seventh-fastest time at Bucknell. Monaghan was second in the weight throw. The junior moved from ninth to seventh on the record list with a throw of 53 feet, 0 inches.
While no new records were set on the men's side, the Bison did collect their share of victories. Jason Brown (Plainville, Mass./Bishop Feehan) came out on top in the high jump, clearing 6-6 ¼, while Tom Barr (Ambler, Pa./La Salle College HS) added a second field event victory in the weight throw. The senior just missed out on another personal best with a mark of 63-5.
On the track, Jordan Donaldson (Saxton, Pa./Tussey Mountain) helped complete the Bucknell sweep in the 500 meters by winning the event in 1:04.22. Alex Jagelsky (Rutland, Mass./Wachusett) and Dustin Horning (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area) took 1-2 in the 1,000 meters. Jagelsky crossed the line first in 1:27.68, with Horning just behind in 2:28.59.
D.J. Krystek (Pitcairn, Pa./Gateway Senior) and Melissa Smith (Mercer, Pa./Mercer Area) dominated in the 5,000 meters. Krystek led the way on the men's side with the top time of 14:56.48, while John Dugan (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey), Robert Yamnicky (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) and Michael McGowan (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) took third through fifth, respectively. Smith won the women's side with a time of 17:48.13.
A smaller contingent of Bison also competed at Susquehanna's Crusader Classic but with equal amounts of success. The men were particularly strong in the field events. Brandon Reynolds (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) won the weight throw (49-11 ¼) and took third in the shot put (47-6 ¼) to lead the Bison's throwing unit. Ben Burgess (New Lebanon, N.Y./New Lebanon) was second in the triple jump (41-1) and third in the long jump (20-6 ½).
Eden Wondra (Perry, N.Y./Perry) was the lone winner for the Bison on the women's side at Susquehanna. The freshman tied for first in the pole vault, clearing 9-6 ¼. Zoe Gaston (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) and Stefanie Spanfeller (New York, N.Y./Nightingale-Bamford) took two of the top five spots in the mile. Gaston was second overall (5:30.11). Spanfeller was fifth (5:36.41).
Ali Foote (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) placed second overall in the 3,000 meters, finishing in 11:02.45.
Bucknell will continue action at the Youngstown State Invitational on Saturday morning. Events begin at 8:30 a.m.
