Bison Women Set for Title Defense at the Patriot League Championships

2/18/2016 3:36:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's track and field team is set for its title defense in the three-day Patriot League Championships at Boston University's Track and Tennis Center. The meet is schedule to begin Friday with the pentathlon and concludes Sunday with the 4x400-meter relay.

The All-Patriot League teams are determined by the results from the championship meet, with the winners in each event, including the relays, earning First Team honors and the second-place finishers taking home Second Team accolades.

Bucknell owns the season's top marks in six events. Christine Bendzinski leads the way for the Bison as the top seed in the mile, 1,000m and 3,000m events. Kate Scott (5,000m) and Sophia Nnadi (weight throw) have the top marks in their respective events, as does the distance medley relay squad. Jess Bridle has the second-best mark in three events, including the 60m, 200m and 400m, while Kafilat Oladiran holds the second-best mark in the 60m hurdles.

Bendzinski returns as the reigning Rookie of the Year after winning gold medals in three events. The sophomore is the defending champ in the 1,000m, winning last year's title with a time of 2:52.13, which was a new league record. Bendzinski won the mile with a time of 4:56.83, and anchored the Bison's 4x800 relay team that set the Patriot League record (8:55.51).

Jen Silvestri is the defending champ is the 500m run, winning last year's event with a run of 1:15.71, which ranks top-10 in school history.

The Bison tallied 180 points to earn their fourth indoor championship in sixth years (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015). Boston University finished second with 112.50 points, with Lehigh (107), Holy Cross (104.50) and Navy (101) rounded out the top-five finishers.

Bucknell was picked to repeat as indoor champs in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, receiving 15 first-place votes. Boston University was selected to finish second, while Lehigh was picked to finish third.