Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Bison Open & Multi
Bucknell Men's Track's Tapper Wins at Penn State; Joseph, Yamnicky Lead at Bison Open & Multi
1/26/2013 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Jan. 26, 2013
| BUY PHOTOS
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Kevin Tapper ran one of the fastest times in program history to win the invitational heat of the 500 meters on the second day of the Penn State National Invitational at University Park, Pa., on Saturday. Bucknell men's track and field also put up a strong performance at its own Bison Open & Multi at Gerhard Fieldhouse as Robert Yamnicky took gold in the mile and Leonard Joseph recorded his second career best in the weight throw in as many days to finish as the top collegiate thrower yet again.
Joseph continued to climb the Bucknell record books with a throw of 65-0 ¾ at the Bison Open & Multi. That ranks second all-time and was just his first career mark at better than 64 feet. The senior was second overall at the meet but first among collegiate competitors.
It was the second consecutive day in which Joseph had set a career best in the weight throw. He was also third in the event at yesterday's Penn State Invite with a mark of 63-6 ¾ inches, more than six inches better than his previous best entering the weekend.
Just down the road at Penn State, Tapper continued his strong sophomore campaign with a victory in the invitational heat of the 500 meters. Tapper finished in 1:04.28, setting a career best and inking his name in the No. 7 spot on the Bucknell record lists. He was unranked entering Saturday's meet.
Although Tapper was the only Bison to win an event at Penn State, several others did put up some of the best performances of their careers. Among them were Ray Holmes and Alex Prieto, who finished eighth and 13th, respectively, in the triple jump. Holmes cleared 48-4 ½, which was just less than two inches better than his previous best and keeps him in third in program history. Prieto's mark of 47-3 ¾ was a three-inch improvement over his previous best and moves him up one spot to No. 7.
John Westwood saw his winning streak come to a close, but the freshman still put up the best 1,000 meter time of his career in the invitational heat at Penn State. Westwood clocked in at 2:29.24 for fourth place overall. Bucknell's other top-five finish came from Jacob Eaton Hall in the 500 meters where he was fourth (1:05.71) as well.
Top-five finishes were in plentiful supply at the Bison Open & Multi. Yamnicky was the team's lone winner on Saturday, taking the title in the mile with a time of 421.38. Just behind him in second place was teammate Chris Oesterlin with a time of 4:24.00.
Also claiming runner-up spots were Brian Charland in the 3,000 (8:37.66), Jason Brown in the high jump (6-6 ¼) and Sam Brandstadt in the heptathlon (4,477 points). Competing in his first multi event of the year, Brandstadt entered day two with 2,570 points. The sophomore secured his runner-up position by finishing among the field's leaders in the 60-meter hurdles where he was third (9.06) and ultimately the 1,000 where he was second (2:55.91).
Bucknell will return to action Feb. 1-2 at the Youngstown State Invitational. Just two meets remain in the road to the Patriot League Championships, which are slated for Feb. 15-17 at West Point.
PENN STATE NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
BUCKNELL RESULTS
400m
21. Anthony Menza - 50.55
500m Invitational
1. Kevin Tapper - 1:04.28
500m Open
4. Jacob Eaton Hall - 1:05.71
8. Griffin Robertson - 1:05.91
800m
7. Alex Jagelsky - 1:54.93
13. Ryan Johnson - 1:56.67
24. Dennis Logan - 2:03.26
1,000m Invitational
4. John Westwood - 2:29.24
Mile
7. Andrew Garcia-Garrison - 4:14.77
9. Dustin Horning - 4:16.29
13. Zachary Moon - 4:21.47
3,000m
9. D.J. Krystek - 8:36.10
10. Michael McGowan - 8:38.63
4x400
11. Bucknell - 3:22.42
Shot Put
6. Luke Webster - 52-1 ¾
9. Quinten Marcott - 50-7 ¼
10. Stephen Koullias - 49-5 ¾
Triple Jump
8. Ray Holmes - 48-4 ½
13. Alex Prieto - 47-3 ¾
