Bucknell University Athletics
Cross Country Ready for Tough Test at Panorama Farms Invitational on Friday
9/25/2014 2:51:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
Live Results | 8k Course Map (Men) | 6k Course Map (Women)
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's and women's cross country teams are set to take on their toughest competition of the season so far when they travel to Earlysville, Virginia for the Panorama Farms Invitational, hosted by the University of Virginia on Friday morning.
Both the men's and women's races will feature two nationally-ranked teams. No. 12 Iona and No. 13 Virginia highlight the competition for the men, while No. 10 Virginia and No. 26 William & Mary are expected to be the toughest test for the women's team.
Neither race has a weak team, but the men's event in particular is loaded with some of the nation's top runners. Every one of the 12 teams scheduled to compete are ranked in the top 15 of their respective regions. The Bison are currently listed ninth in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
“This will be the first time in a while that we have had our top guys in the same race healthy, so we are obviously excited to see how we respond to the pressure of high-caliber competition,” Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner said. “The men are excited, and we just need to perform to our capabilities and show that we belong.”
The 10-team women's race features seven teams that appear in the regional rankings. The Bison, who have won each of the first two invitationals of the season, are the 13th-ranked team in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
“Our women have been training and racing very well, and this will definitely be a much tougher meet than our others. However, I believe they are ready for the challenge and will show that they belong,” Donner said.
Both Bucknell's men's and women's teams have racked up conference awards through the first three weeks of the season. Will Bordash and Kyle Adams have given the Bison men back-to-back Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards. The Bison women have won all three PL Rookie of the Week honors, as Brennan Sharkey earned the award the first two weeks, and Christine Bendzinski received the honor last week.
Following Friday's race, Bucknell will run again on Oct. 4 when it travels to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the Paul Short Invitational.
Participating Men's Teams
Bucknell (No. 9 Mid-Atlantic)
No. 12 Iona (No. 2 Northeast)
No. 13 Virginia (No. 2 Southeast)
William & Mary (No. 5 Southeast)
Duke (No. 8 Southeast)
High Point (No. 9 Southeast)
Liberty (No. 10 Southeast)
Furman (No. 12 Southeast)
Wake Forest (No. 13 Southeast)
Clemson (No. 14 Southeast)
Arizona (No. 11 West)
Auburn (No. 2 South)
Participating Women's Teams
Bucknell (No. 13 Mid-Atlantic Region
No. 10 Virginia (No. 1 Southeast)
No. 26 William & Mary (No. 4 Southeast)
Arizona (No. 6 West)
Auburn (No. 6 South)
Furman (No. 7 Southeast)
Wake Forest (No. 8 Southeast)
Clemson
High Point
Liberty
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Players Mentioned
