Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Maryland Invitational
Bucknell Women's Track & Field Wins Six at UMBC, Maryland Invitationals
3/30/2013 8:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
March 30, 2013
BALTIMORE - Bucknell women's track and field collected six wins across two meets and four program top-10 times fell as the Bison opened their outdoor season at the UMBC Big Dawg Invitational and Maryland Invitational on Saturday. Among the victors was Jennifer Zymet, who in addition to taking gold in the 400 was also a member of the 4x100 relay that ran the third-fastest time in Bucknell history.
Zymet crossed the line in 57.24 seconds to win the 400 at UMBC in her first individual race of the outdoor campaign. The junior was also a part of the 4x100 relay that took second at the meet with a time of 47.93 seconds. That time ranks third in program history. Each of the top three relays on the top-10 ledger now includes at least one current Bison. Zymet and Sasha Hornock are included in all three.
Chrissy Haney won the 400-meter hurdles in her first collegiate race at that distance. The freshman bested the field in 1:-4.80. Also winning at UMBC were Beth Braunegg in the 800 meters and Kylie Pearse in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. With a time of 2:15.09, Braunegg went 1-2 with Caroline Tolli (2:16.84) in the middle-distance race. Pearse's time of 11:25.63 ranks eighth in Bucknell history.
The rest of Bucknell's gold medals came in the field events and in few places were the Bison more dominant than in the pole vault. At the end of competition, Emily Ando stood atop the podium having cleared 11-3 ¾. Her teammates also took second through fifth with Yanelis Mestre clearing 10-10 and Eden Wondra, Rebekka Vuojolainen and Kristin Sundy finishing up at 10-4.
At the Maryland Invitational, Abby Monaghan and Sophia Nnadi created a solid 1-2 punch for the Bison. Monaghan was the winner in the discus with a throw of 146-6, while Nnadi was fifth with 123-6. Nnadi really left her mark in the shot put, however. The freshman finished third in her first collegiate outdoor meet. Her distance of 43-2 ½ in the event ranks ninth all-time at Bucknell.
Monaghan's day did not end with the discus. The senior was also second in the hammer throw, registering a mark of 142-2. Bucknell also took second through fourth in the javelin with Erin Norris (127-2) leading the group.
"It was a very solid day for both teams. We were `bustin' some rust' after a long layoff and considering the bad weather the past two weeks and a training cycle where we reloaded quite a bit, I was very pleased," said head coach Kevin Donner after the meet. "We traditionally do not come out sharp out of the gates during the outdoor season and we expect to see a lot improvement the next two weeks. We were basically getting a gauge to see who will go to the Colonial Relays next weekend."
The Colonial Relays hosted by William & Mary are next on Bucknell's schedule. The Bison will make the trip to Williamsburg, Va., for the two-day meet April 5-6.
