Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Harry Lang Invitational
Bucknell Women Second, Men Fifth at Harry Lang Cross Country Invitational
9/2/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 2, 2012
HAMILTON, N.Y. – Bucknell women's cross country took second in the team standings and the men were fifth at the Harry Lang Invitational, hosted by Colgate on Saturday. The usual suspects were at the front of the pack for the Bison with Caroline Tolli (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) and John Dugan (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) leading the way.
Bucknell's top returning runners from last year's Patriot League Championships, Tolli and Dugan were the first Bison to cross the finish line in their respective races yesterday. Sophomore Dugan placed 15th with a 6,400-meter time of 20 minutes, 41 seconds. Senior D.J. Krystek (Pitcairn, Pa./Gateway Senior) was 18th in 20:46.
“Our top two guys ran a very good race as they moved through the pack very well after a slow start,” said head coach Kevin Donner after the race. “Our depth looked tired after a very hard training cycle, which caused a large gap after our top two. I am confident we will have some guys back soon who need to be up with Dugan and Krystek.”
Andrew Kuchta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) (32nd, 21:18), Charles Seigneur (Allison Park, Pa./Allison Park) (34th, 21:20) and Tyler Erhard (Millerstown, Pa./East Juniata) (40th, 21:27) made up the last of Bucknell's scoring five.
Tolli was eighth overall on the women's 4,200-meter course, finishing in 16:21. Unlike the Bison men, however, the women were packed more closely. Katie Jessee (Concord, Mass./Concord Carlisle) was ninth in 16:28, while Alison Billas (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) and Montana DiPietrantonio (Mount Laural, N.J./Bishop Eustace) were 12th and 14th, respectively. Deanna Godby (Cleveland, Ohio/Mayfield) and Beth Braunegg (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) tied for 16th, and Leah Goeke (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) was 20th, completing Bucknell's top seven.
The Bison's pack running helped them in the team standings where they were second with 60 points. They trailed first-place Syracuse (24 points), but edged out third-place Navy (67). Although the Midshipmen placed two runners, including the race's individual winner Annie-Norah Beveridge in 15:51, ahead of Tolli, Bucknell had all seven of its top finishers across the finish line before Navy's lead four.
“The women ran a very conservative race early and really came on strong at the end,” said Donner. “We accomplished all of our goals for the day, and now we know the course very well.”
Knowing the course should prove to be an advantage in late October when Bucknell returns to Hamilton, N.Y., for the Patriot League Championships, which Colgate will host at the same site.
On the men's side on Saturday, Syracuse also took the team title with 22 points. Navy was second (56), followed by American (78), Buffalo (118) and Bucknell (122). A Patriot League foe also took the men's title as American's John Pope finished in 20:03.
Bucknell will return to action next Saturday when it travels to the Running Fit-Detroit Titan Invitational in Northville, Mich.
TOP BUCKNELL FINISHERS
Men:
15. John Dugan – 20:41
18. D.J. Krystek – 20:46
32. Andrew Kuchta – 21;18
34. Charles Seigneur – 21:20
40. Tyler Erhard – 21:27
43. Eric Balaban – 21:29
44. David Strauss – 21:30
Women:
8. Caroline Tolli – 16:21
9. Katie Jessee – 16:28
12. Alison Billas – 16:42
T14. Montana DiPietrantonio – 16:49
T16. Deanna Godby – 16:52
T16. Beth Braunegg – 16:52
20. Leah Goeke – 16:58
Players Mentioned
