Track and Field Returns to Action Saturday at the Penn State Relays

1/9/2015 4:13:00 PM | Men's Track and Field

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. – After a month-long break since the season opener, Bucknell's men's and women's track and field teams are back in action Saturday as they travel to University Park for the Penn State Relays.

The 14-team event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Set to compete in the loaded field are Lock Haven, Maryland, Norfolk State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Robert Morris, St. Francis, St. Joseph's, St. Peter's, UMBC and West Virginia.

“We have been back on campus since Sunday after shutting the program down for a couple weeks and we are definitely getting in some good training,” Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner said. “I am looking at this meet more as a rust buster and we are taking a conservative approach. We're not too worried about times and distances, but more with just being competitive and coming out healthy. The times and distances will come as the season progresses.”

Led by a school record in the 300-meter dash by senior Kim Nagotko, the Bucknell women had seven individual winners in the season's kickoff event, the Bison Opener, all the way back on Dec. 6. Joining Nagotko with individual titles were Lauren Hudson (high jump), Jenna Calandro (pole vault), Kafilat Oladiran (60-meter hurdles), Seline Tan-Torres (800), Allison Sharkey (500) and Deanna Godby (5,000).

Calandro, who made her first appearance in the program's record book with the sixth-best height in the pole vault (11-9 ¾), was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week for her performance. She also joined Godby as the Bison's first two ECAC qualifiers of the season. Nagotko was voted the 5^th Quarter Fresh Bison Athlete of the Week.

The Bison men had four individual champions and three IC4A qualifiers. Jack Fellows (weight throw), Kevin Tapper (300), Grant Reynolds (60-meter hurdles) and Jacob Ashkettle (500) all won events.

Fellows and Brian Monahan both qualified for the ECAC Championships in the weight throw, while Reynolds qualified in the 60-meter hurdles.

Bucknell will make its first appearance at the Penn State Relays since the 2004-05 season. Next up after the trip to Penn State is another home event as the Bison will host the Gulden Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 24.