Jessee Named Bison Athlete of Week; Bordash, Sharkey PL XC Rookies of Week

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- A banner day for the Bucknell cross country teams in Detroit on Saturday has led to three weekly awards for Bison runners on Monday. Senior Katie Jessee, the winner of the women's collegiate race at the Running Fit-Detroit Titan Invitational, has been named the Bison Athlete of the Week, and first-year runners Brennan Sharkey and Will Bordash earned M-F Athletic Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors.

Jessee, who was also named to the Patriot League Honor Roll this week, ran the 5,000-meter course in 18:18.39, good for a 20-second win over teammate Sarah Chandler. The Bison claimed each of the top five scored places and accumulated the minimum 15 points in a runaway team victory. Jessee was runner-up at the Bison Open the previous week and is off to an outstanding start in 2014.

Sharkey has now earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks to start her career. On Saturday she finished sixth overall and fifth among Bison runners in a time of 18:47.83.

The Bucknell men's team also secured the team title at the Titan Invitational. Bordash finished ninth overall and was Bucknell's No. 3 man after finishing the four-mile course in 20:51.72. Senior John Dugan, who won this event in 2012, was runner-up this time, and he was also named to the Patriot League Honor Roll.

The Bison look to continue their strong start to the 2014 season in two weeks at the Dickinson College Long Course-Short Course Invitational.