Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Dickinson College Long Course-Short Course Invitational
Women's Cross Country Wins Dickinson Long/Short Invitational Title
9/20/2014 10:13:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's cross country team won both the 4k and 6k races en route to the overall team title at the Dickinson Long/Short Invitational on Saturday. The Bison have now won both of the scored invitationals they have competed in this season.
Chrissy Bendzinski had the top individual performance for the Bison, who topped 39 teams on their way to the team title. Bendzinski was the runner-up in the 6k race with a time of 23:04.45, leading a group of four Bucknell runners in the top 10. Kate Scott (23:18.60), Meghan Carroll (23:23.28) and Emma Cousins (23:28.92) finished fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
Kylie Pearse and Deanna Godby paced the Bison in the 4k race. Pearse took sixth with a time of 14:39.32, while Godby was right behind her in seventh, crossing the line in 14:48.55.
“Our women really showed what type of depth we have by winning both races as well as the combined race,” Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner said. “In the 6k, we showed tremendous patience on a warm day over the first 3k, and then the last 3k over the hills we were able to move up quite a bit into a winning situation. Chrissy Bendzinski now looks healthy after being hurt during pre-season camp and Kate Scott seems to be back in the groove after a tough first month. The 4k went very well with Kylie Pearse looking good and Deanna Godby in her first race of the season busting the rust after a sprained ankle took her out of most of the pre-season training.”
Competing in a field of 36 teams, the Bucknell men also finished near the front of the pack with a third-place showing in the overall team standings. The Bison took third in the 8k race and were fifth in the 4k race.
“In the 8k, we had the guys go out very conservative and as a pack for the first 3k because of the heat and the course being tough in the middle stages. They did a fantastic job running together thru 5k and then closing the last 3k. Some people closed better than others, but it was a nice effort,” Donner said.
“Luke Giugliano ran well and Peter Murray had a nice rust buster,” Donner continued. “It was good to see Michael McGowan open up his season in the 4k and he looks very good. The shorter distance was a nice rust buster for him and it's good to have him back near full strength. I was happy to walk away with a third-place trophy for the combined races score.”
McGowan was the top individual placer for the Bison men, taking ninth out of 260 with a time of 12:13.10. In the 8k race, which had 233 runners, Giugliano was 11th in 26:27.31 and Murray was 14th in 26:33.20.
Both the men and women's next competition will be at the Panorama Farms Invitational on Sept. 26 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The teams' top runner, which took this week off, will be back in action at the event hosted by the University of Virginia.
Players Mentioned
