Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Bison Win Patriot League Women's Track and Field Title
2/22/2015 8:33:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bucknell women's track and field team turned in a dominant performance on its way to winning the Patriot League title Sunday at Navy's Wesley A. Brown Field House. The Bison won eight events during the three-day championship weekend and out-scored second-place Boston University, 180-112.5.
Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner was named the Patriot League Women's Coach of the Year for leading Bucknell to its third title in four years. Freshman Christine Bendzinski had an outstanding meet and was voted the conference's Rookie of the Year.
“What a difference a year makes,” said Donner. “This was one of my proudest coaching moments and one of our greatest Patriot League meets ever. Our women were very focused and determined this weekend. They were really there for each other and never let up. It's a great weekend to be a Bison!”
Bendzinski, who anchored the Bison's 4x800 relay team that set a Patriot League record on Saturday, set another league record while winning the 1,000-meter run on Sunday. The freshman edged Navy's Meghan Harvey, crossing the line in 2:52.13. It was the second victory of the day for Bendzinski, who also won the mile with a time of 4:56.83.
Senior Kim Nagotko also turned in a record-setting performance for the Bison while winning the 400-meter dash. Her time of 56.45 bested the previous facility record, set by Morgan State's Ekumdayo Sogbesan in 2010.
Although she didn't win the event, Carli Lucke was also a record setter for Bucknell on Sunday. She took sixth in the 60-meter dash with the fastest time in program history (7.70).
Bucknell added two champions in field events on the final day. Freshman Efe Agege took first in the triple jump with a leap of 39-5 ¼, while Abigail Brundage won the shot put with a toss of 46-3 ½. Brundage's mark was good enough for third in the school's record book. Sophia Nnadi was third in the event.
Jen Silvestri rounded out the individual champions for Bucknell, taking the top spot in the 500-meter dash. Her time of 1:15.71 was the seventh best in school history. Laura Papili and Chrissy Haney were fourth and fifth in the event, respectively.
The Bison added a title in the distance medley relay. Sarah Chandler, Papili, Emma Cousins and Katie Jessee all ran legs on the winning team, earning All-Patriot League honors in the process. All-Patriot League status was awarded to the top two finishers in each event.
Players Mentioned
