Bucknell University Athletics
Barr Wins Record Fifth Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week Award, Earns First Bison Athlete of the Week
2/6/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Feb. 6, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell track and field's Tom Barr (Ambler, Pa./La Salle College HS) set his second record in three days as he was named the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week for the fifth time on Monday, more than any other athlete in league history. The honor comes just days after Barr posted the top shot put mark in Bison history. Helping Bucknell to complete the Patriot League awards sweep was Track Athlete of the Week Jordan Donaldson (Saxton, Pa./Tussey Mountain) and Rookie of the Week Alex Jagelsky (Rutland, Mass./Wachusett).
Barr set the new school shot put record at 54 feet, 11 ¼ inches at last weekend's Youngstown State Invitational. The performance, which was more than 10 inches better than the previous record set by Timothy Medlock in 2008, earned him second place in the meet.
Earlier in the meet, Barr also won the weight throw with a mark of 63-5. It was the third weight throw victory this year for the senior. He has also won the shot put four times this winter.
With his five Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week honors, Barr passes former Bison Tyler Hoffman for the single-season record. Barr was named the league's top field athlete on Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Jan. 23 and Jan. 30, giving him the award after every weekend he competed. Even with all the recent success, today marks the first time in which Barr has been named the Bison Athlete of the Week. However, he does keep the honor with the track team for the third consecutive week.
Donaldson showed similar dominance in the middle distances at the Youngstown State Invite. The senior won the 500 with a time of 1 minute, 4.22 seconds and placed second in the 800 meters in 1:53.21. Both times were his best of the season, and his 800 marks moves him into 10th place in program history.
In five individual races this winter, Donaldson has claimed three victories and has never finished worse than second. He also won the 500 at the Gulden Invitational and the 800 at the Bison Opener earlier this winter. Despite the success, the Runner of the Week honor is the first of Donaldson's career. His last Patriot League accolade was a Rookie of the Week citation in 2009.
Jagelsky also collected his first career league award as the Rookie of the Week on Monday. The freshman set career-best times in the 800 and 1,000 meters. His finish of 2:27.68 in the 1,000 earned him the first win of his career. Jagelsky was also sixth in the 800 with a time of 1:54.09.
Monday was the second time this season that the Bucknell men swept the Patriot League awards. Dave Brown (Westborough, Mass./Westborough), Barr and Christian Lupica (Newtown, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) claimed all three honors to open the season on Dec. 5. No other team has swept the awards this season.
The Bison will compete next on Saturday when it hosts the Bucknell Winter Classic at Gerhard Fieldhouse. Action begins at 9:30 a.m. The meet will be the final tune-up for the Orange and Blue as they head into the Patriot League Championships, which will also be held at Gerhard Fieldhouse Feb. 17-19.
