Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
4x800 Relay Repeats as Bucknell Women's Track & Field Takes Lead at Patriot League Championships
5/3/2013 8:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
May 3, 2013
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - With six events in the books, Bucknell women's track and field already has two individual victories and a slim lead in the team standings at the Patriot League Championships in Bethlehem, Pa. Alyssa Cardillo won the long jump, while the 4x800 relay collected its second straight gold medal. The performances helped give the Bison a one-point lead over Lehigh with one more day remaining.
With most of the points still available, Bucknell had already totaled 44. Lehigh was threatening with 43 and Navy was third with 38 points, making it an extremely close opening day. Lafayette remained in striking distance as well, rounding out the top half of the standings with 27 points for fourth place.
"It was a nice first day overall for both teams," said head coach Kevin Donner on Friday evening. "It was your typical Patriot League Day One where the projections are never accurate. We had a couple bad events, but we counteracted with a few huge events, and we have everyone we needed in the finals of the 100, 200 and high hurdles for both genders. Our jumpers also came up big."
Cardillo earned her first career Patriot League title and she could hardly have asked for a better performance to do so. The junior finished with a long jump mark of 18-7, giving her a career best. That distance is also sixth all-time at Bucknell, putting her on the top-10 list for the first time, and the best mark since Tolu Fayanjuola set the school record at 19-8 ¼ in 2004.
Alexandra Romanelli and Olivia Massey added points in the long jump as well. Romanelli was third at 18-1. Massey, who won the long jump title at the indoor league meet this winter, took fourth with a mark of 18-0 ¼.
While Cardillo was new to the top of the podium, the 4x800 relay is certainly no stranger to winning hardware. Emily Waksmunksi, Erin Horleman, Beth Braunegg and Caroline Tolli combined for the win in 8:53.67, besting second-place Lehigh by nearly two seconds.
Bucknell has a long history of success in the women's 4x800. The Bison have won the title each of the last two years as well as in seven of the last nine championship meets. Waksmunski, Braunegg and Tolli were all on the relay that won with a Patriot League record a year ago. The win is also the third of Tolli's career as she was also a member of the victorious quartet as a freshman in 2010.
Montana DiPietrantonio gave Bucknell its first points of the day. The sophomore has emerged as one of the Bison's top long distance runners this spring and placed third in the 10,000 meters on Friday. DiPietrantonio clocked in at 37:05.30.
Emily Ando earned All-Patriot League honors in the pole vault for the second consecutive year. Although she was unable to defend her title in the event, the junior placed second, clearing 11-8 ½ to lead the Bison.
In the preliminary races, several Bison lived to continue tomorrow. Chrissy Haney advanced to Saturday's 100-meter hurdles final with her prelims time of 15.35 seconds. Sasha Hornock and Kim Nagotko both advanced in the 100 and 200 meters as well, while Jennifer Zymet will join them in the 200-meter final. Hornock put together one of her finest 100-meter races, finishing second in the field with a time of 12.19. That time ranks seventh in program annals.
Also continuing tomorrow will be Michaela Read in the heptathlon. The freshman, who placed second in the pentathlon at the indoor league championships, was in fourth place after four events with 2,496 points.
Competition at the Patriot League Championships continues tomorrow at 9 a.m. with the Bison looking for their 13th title in program history and their first since 2011.
