Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Track & Field Sweeps Patriot League Preseason Poll
3/22/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
March 22, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After sweeping the indoor championships in February and each of the last two outdoor championships, both Bucknell men's and women's track and field were picked first in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, the league announced on Thursday. Both squads took the top spot with 94 points and 10 first-place votes. The Bison will open their 2012 outdoor campaign on March 31 at the Towson Invitational.
The men claimed the No. 1 spot in the preseason poll after winning back-to-back outdoor titles for the first time in program history. After bringing the trophy home to Lewisburg in both 2010 and 2011, Bucknell became the first men's team to win consecutive titles since Army won 16 straight from 1992-2007. In the 2012 poll, the Black Knights were picked third behind Bucknell and second-place Navy. The Midshipmen claimed 89 points and six first-place votes, while Army had 75 points. Lehigh was fourth (61 points), followed by Lafayette (51), Colgate (30), American (27) and Holy Cross (21).
The women earned the No. 1 ranking for the sixth time in eight years. With 94 points, they topped second-place Navy, which totaled 89 points and six first-place votes. Lehigh was third (73), followed by Army and Holy Cross (48) in a tie for fourth. Colgate (42), Lafayette (40) and American (14) rounded out the preseason standings.
Bucknell has won each of the league's last three outdoor championships. The Bison have won four consecutive league titles twice in program history, first from 1999-2002 and again from 2004-07. Bucknell's 12 total titles are the most in league history.
The Patriot League Preseason Poll is determined by a vote of the school's head coaches and sports information directors who cannot vote for their own team.
The 2012 Patriot League Outdoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for May 4-5 in Worcester, Mass. Bucknell has a full schedule planned before it makes the trip to Holy Cross, however. Included on the schedule are a pair of home meets, the Bison Outdoor Classic (April 13-15) and the Bucknell Team Challenge (April 21) at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
2012 Patriot League Men's Outdoor Track and Field Poll
1. Bucknell - 94 (10)
2. Navy - 89 (6)
3. Army - 75
4. Lehigh - 61
5. Lafayette - 51
6. Colgate - 30
7. American - 27
8. Holy Cross - 21
2012 Patriot League Women's Outdoor Track and Field Poll
1. Bucknell - 94 (10)
2. Navy - 89 (6)
3. Lehigh - 73
T-4. Army - 48
T-4. Holy Cross - 48
6. Colgate - 42
7. Lafayette - 40
8. American - 14
First-place votes in parentheses
