Track and Field Hosts Bison Opener on Friday and Saturday

Track & Field Earns 24 First-Place Finishes at Maroon & Gold Invitational

Track and Field Hosts Bison Opener on Friday and Saturday

12/3/2015 4:49:00 PM | Men's Track and Field

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell opens up the 2015-16 indoor track and field season when it hosts the Bison Opener on Friday and Saturday at Gerhard Fieldhouse. It will be the 13th consecutive season that the Bison open the season with the event.

The nine-team event begins Friday evening with the multi-event athletes. The men's heptathlon begins with the 60-meter dash at 5 p.m. Competition resumes on Saturday with the multi-events at 8 a.m., field events at 9:30 a.m. and the running events at 11 a.m.

The men's team won four individual events in last year's meet. Senior Grant Reynolds captured first-place in the 60-meter hurdles, while junior Jacob Ashkettle finished first in the 500-meter run.

Following this weekend's event, the Bison will have a month off before competing at the Penn State Relays on Jan. 9.

Below is a more in-depth season preview.

The Bucknell men's track and field program has had its share of success under Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner. The Bison have won four Patriot League Outdoor Championships and one Patriot League Indoor Championship under his guidance. The Bison lost numerous star athletes from a team that finished second during the indoor season and third at the conclusion of the outdoor season a year ago, but are still a team that expects to finish near the top of the league standings this year.

“Like cross country, many people will label 2016 as a rebuilding year based on the fact that we graduated over half of our points from last season,” said Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner. “We will need to stay healthy throughout the year and we will need some people to step up big. I believe we have the guys to do so. We also had a nice recruiting class with a few guys who I expect will contribute immediately.”

SPRINTS/HURDLES

Donner has praised the depth of the team's sprinters entering this season, led by Anthony Menza. The senior holds top-10 times at Bucknell in 300m, 400m and 500m races, has finished third in the 500m at each of the past two Indoor Championships, and earned All-East honors in the event last year. Jacob Ashkettle joined Menza on numerous PL scoring relays, while Gevirtz has postseason experience. Newcomers Wade Heidel, Billy Melchionni and Matt Barton are expected to contribute in their first season.

Grant Reynolds has had a terrific Bucknell career, including a runner-up finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the Outdoor Championships last year. Teammate Christian Lupica, who has now graduated was often one of the few athletes standing in Reynolds' way of more awards.

MID-DISTANCE

The middle-distance events were a strength for the team last season and Donner believes that could continue. The efforts will be bolstered by the return of Ryan Johnson, who missed last season with an injury, but earned three All-Patriot League honors during his first two seasons. John Westwood was a member of the 4x800 relay team that set a Patriot League Indoor record last year, and will be joined by Jordan Jackson, Louis Tobias and Cole Conte as top returners. Freshman Scott Gulizio joins the team after posting solid times in the 800m during his high school career.

DISTANCE

The men's distance runners hope to carry their momentum from a quality cross country season over to the track and field schedule. The group includes Zachary Williams - an IC4A qualifier last year - and John Kirna in the steeplechase, Will Bordash - an IC4A qualifier in the mile -- and Luke Giugliano and Peter Murray in the 5k and 10k.

JUMPS

With not much depth behind them, this is one area the Bison will have to stay healthy to have an impact during the championship portions of the schedule. Sophomore Nicholas Lombardo's versatility will be crucial for the group. He was the runner-up in the long jump at the Outdoor Championships in his rookie year and also scored points in the triple jump and high jump. He will be joined by two proven competitors, Adam Karl and Elijah Kay, in the high jump. Both jumpers scored points during championship meets last season. Steven Bolger is a freshman to watch. He cleared 6-6.25 in the high jump in high school.

POLE VAULT

Maxwell Prizant is the team's top returning pole vaulter. He finished just outside the top 10 at both the Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and will look to jump a few spots to score points this year. He will be joined by freshman Matt Fay, who cleared 15-9 in high school.

THROWS

Donner touts the historically consistent success of the Bucknell throwers, but also notes that this may be the most competitive set of events in the Patriot League. Junior Joseph Breen made huge strides in his second season with the Bison, including a third-place finish with a school record throw of 56-3 at the Outdoor Championships. He also owns the program's third best indoor shot put. The Bison lost a two-time NCAA East Preliminary qualifier in the javelin, Laddie Trees, to graduation, but Pat Mulrooney returns as an IC4A qualifier in the event. Olu Shoyoye will compete in the hammer and weight throws, Mark Stafurik competes in a variety of events, and Matt Wyman returns as one of the team's top throwers in the discus. Freshman Matt Dutton had a toss of 53-10 in the shot put during high school.

MULTIS

The Bison had three quality multi-athletes last year and two of them are back. Chris D'Aliso owns Bucknell's sixth best decathlon score and ninth best heptathlon score. He scored points in both events during the conference championship meets last season. Haupt has the program's eighth best decathlon and has scored in the event in two Outdoor Championships during his career.