Bucknell University Athletics
Bendzinski, Fiamoncini Earn Patriot League Weekly Honors
4/3/2018 1:27:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Lewisburg, Pa. - As Bucknell prepares for this weekend's Loyola-Hopkins Invitational and Virginia Quad, it was announced on Tuesday that senior Christine Bendzinski has been named M-F Athletic Patriot League Female Track Athlete of the Week, while freshman Maura Fiamoncini has been selected as the M-F Patriot League Female Rookie of the Week.
Bendzinski put on quite a display in the 5,000-meter run at the Raleigh Relays this past weekend. The Hebron, Connecticut native won her heat while breaking Colleen Buckley's year-old school record by 12 seconds with a time of 16:17.66. Bendzinski placed 12th overall out of 136 competitors and put herself in solid positon to qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary Meet in late May. She now owns three outdoor school records (800m, 1,500m, and 5,000m) and has the 23rd-fastest time in the country in the 5K.
Fiamoncini competed at the Jim Taylor Invitational and had an impressive performance in the javelin throw. The Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania., native destroyed Laura Rycek's seven-year-old record by over 25 feet, with a toss of 184-5. Rycek held the previous mark of 158-7 since 2011. Fiamoncini put herself in position to qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary Meet and now has the second-best throw in the country. Alyssa Olin of North Dakota State, who tossed (191-5) this season is the only one with a better throw. At last year's NCAA Championships, that throw would have placed fourth, trailing only Irena Sediva, Virginia Tech (1st, 192-9), Marija Vucenovic, Florida (2nd, 192-2), and Ashley Pryke, Memphis (3rd, 186-9).
The Bison will return to action on Friday when some team members will compete in the Loyola-Hopkins Invitational. Others will participate on Saturday at the Virginia Quad.
Players Mentioned
