Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Bucknell Women's Track & Field Wins 13th Patriot League Championships
5/4/2013 8:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
May 4, 2013
| BUY PHOTOS
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bucknell women's track and field won its 13th Patriot League Outdoor Track & Field Championships title in program history, topping second-place Navy by more than 40 points in Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday. Highlighting an impressive day was Jennifer Zymet who won her third consecutive 400 meter title with a school record, while she also helped the 4x100 relay to another win and another school record. Chrissy Haney won the Patriot League Rookie of the Meet honors, while Kevin Donner was named the Coach of the Year for the seventh time.
Bucknell finished with 183 points in the team standings to win the team title after sitting in second place by a single point on Friday. Navy was the runner-up with 141 points, followed by Lehigh (119.25 points), Holy Cross (85.25) and Lafayette (76.35). Army (66.25), Colgate (10) and American (1) rounded out the standings.
Zymet finished her 400-meter race in 54.98 seconds, making her the first Bison in program history to clock in under 55 seconds. The junior, who is undefeated in the 400 in three outdoor championships, topped the record previously held by Yetunde Daniels in 2000 at 55.50 seconds.
Zymet's 400 meter time was not her only record of the day. She also led off the winning 4x100 relay that set the school record at 46.68 seconds. Zymet, Sasha Hornock, Jess Bridle and Kim Nagotko combined for the first time under 47 seconds.
Zymet's day also included a third-place finish in the 200 meters (25.35). Kim Nagotko was second (25.17) and Hornock was fifth (25.47). Nagotko collected another Second Team All-Patriot League citation in the 100 meters as well, finishing in 12.12. Hornock was third (12.20).
It was second 4x100 relay of both Zymet's and Hornock's careers. Earning her first career title, however, was Sophia Nnadi in the shot put. The freshman threw a career-best 45-3 ½, giving her the third-best mark in program history.
Bucknell got even more wins and top-10 times in the 400 hurdles. Haney was the victory in 1:01.34, ranking third in the Bucknell record books. Jenn Silvestri was third in 1:03.22, which was good for 10th all-time. Allison Daley was also fourth (1:03.60) to give the Bison a points boost.
Haney was also third in the 100 hurdles (15.11). She is Bucknell's first Rookie of the Meet since Sarah Bella in 2009 and the third Bison since the start of the award in 2005.
The middle distances were also kind to the Bison, particularly Beth Braunegg and Caroline Tolli. One day after helping the 4x800 relay to a gold medal, Braunegg and Tolli both scored in the 800 and 1,500 meters. Braunegg won her first career individual title with a victory in the 1,500, crossing the line in 4:35.98. Tolli was right behind her in second in 4:36.50.
Tolli topped her teammate in the 800 later in the day. The senior finished in 2:13.04. Braunegg then placed fourth in 2:14.31.
Also collecting points on Saturday was Katie Jessee in the 5,000 meters, placing fourth in 17:53.21. Alexandra Romanelli was second in the triple jump, clearing 38-1 ¼. The distance was a career best and improved her own 10th-best mark in program history. Devon McDonald and Laura Lutzker tied for fourth in the high jump (5-1 ¼).
"This was a very special win for a very special team," said head coach Kevin Donner. "These ladies really rallied as a group and have improved all season long. We had great performances in all event areas and put down another blue-collar team showing."
Bucknell has now won a Patriot League-record 13 outdoor titles. The team trophy has also gone to the Bison in eight of the last 10 league meets. The Orange & Blue's success was not unique to the spring, however. Bucknell also won the Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Championships in February. It is the first time since 2010 the Bison completed the indoor-outdoor sweep.
Including the five individual champions on Saturday, Alyssa Cardillo (long jump) and the 4x800 relay also earned gold to open action on Friday.
The Bison will continue their run through the championship season next weekend at the ECAC Championships. The meet runs May 10-12 in Princeton, N.J.
