Bucknell University Athletics
Cross Country Set to Compete at Dickinson Long/Short Invitational on Saturday
9/19/2014 12:09:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's and women's cross country teams return to action Saturday when they travel to compete in the 2014 Dickinson Long/Short Course Invitational. The rare two-course format will take place at Big Spring High School in Newville, Pennsylvania, and will open with the men's 8,000-meter race at 10:30 a.m.
Also included on the men's schedule is the 4,000-meter race at noon. The women's portion of the event begins with the 6,000-meter run at 11:15 a.m. and wraps up with the 4,000-meter race at 12:30 p.m. The overall team standings will include a combined score from both races. The first three runners from each team will count toward the scoring while the fourth and fifth runners will displace.
“This is a very unique and non-traditional type meet with two different races and two different distances for each gender,” said Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner, who is taking his teams to the event for the first time since 2008. “The 4k race gives some of our middle distance runners an opportunity to race at a high level and it can also be a great tune-up race for those who are not middle distance runners. Of course, the traditional 6k and 8k races will be competitive as there are a few nationally-ranked Division II and III schools at this meet.”
The top eight runners for both Bison teams will be held out this week as they prepare for the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational, hosted by the University of Virginia next weekend. But Donner still expects a strong performance from the runners competing at Dickinson.
“We have quite a few runners who are racing Saturday who are starting to kick into gear and could potentially be in our top seven by the time the league and regional races come around,” Donner said. “This is a great meet to evaluate our team depth.”
The Bison had last weekend off but in their most recent event the men and women swept races at the Running Fit-Detroit Titan Invitational. Katie Jessee was named the Bison Athlete of the Week after winning the women's race, while Brennan Sharkey and Will Bordash earned female and male Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors following their respective sixth- and ninth-place finishes.
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