Bucknell University Athletics
Double Championship Winner Justin Hicks Named Bison Athlete of the Week
5/6/2013 8:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
May 6, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Thanks to two individual titles and a school record at last weekend's Patriot League Championships, Justin Hicks (Wilmington, Del./Tower Hill School) was named the Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday. The senior swept the 100 and 200 meters, setting the new program standard in the 200 at 21.16 seconds as Bucknell men's track and field won its fourth consecutive conference title on Saturday.
Hicks dominated in the short sprints when the Bison headed to Bethlehem, Pa., for the Patriot League Championships. Setting IC4A Championship-qualifying times in both events, he won the 100 meters in 10.70 seconds. He also was the top finisher in the 200 meters, crossing the line in 21.16 seconds.
That 200-meter time broke the school record by eight-hundredths of a second, topping the previous No. 1 mark set by Kerry Boyle in 2007 at the Patriot League Championships that were held in Bethlehem that year. Hicks had entered Saturday's final ranked fourth in program history and knocked .26 seconds off his previous personal best.
Although it was the second consecutive year in which a sprinter had won both the 100 and 200 at the Patriot League Championships, Hicks became just the seventh athlete in league history, and the second Bison, to sweep the events. Bucknell's Noel Powell also the 100 and 200 at the 2002 league meet.
Hicks' 100-meter title was the second of his career. He was also the top finisher as a sophomore in 2011.
Hicks' success was not limited to the individual sprints. His duties included a turn with the 4x100. The relay finished fourth with an IC4A-qualifying time of 41.58 seconds. Hicks was joined on the unit by Jacob Eaton-Hall, Kamal Riley and Christian Lupica.
As a team, Bucknell won its fourth consecutive Patriot League Outdoor Track & Field Championships team trophy. The Bison led second-place Army by 14 points in the team standings. Bucknell and Army are the only two teams in conference history to win consecutive titles.
The Bison Athlete of the Week award is the third of Hicks' career. He also received the award on Feb. 19, 2012 as well as May 8, 2011 after helping Bucknell to the outdoor title that spring.
Bucknell has collected several honors over the last four days. The Bison won five individual titles at the championship meet, including Hicks' double, and Leonard Joseph received Patriot League Field Athlete of the Meet after winning a third consecutive hammer throw title and placing fourth in the discus. Kevin Donner was also named Coach of the Year on both the men's and women's side.
Hicks and several of his teammates will now turn their attention to the IC4A Championships. The meet in Princeton, N.J., runs May 10-12.
