Capes Paces Women's Cross Country at Bison Open

Friday, August 31

Lewisburg, Pa.

5:30 p.m.

Bucknell University

Bison Open

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

8/31/2018 9:42:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

Bucknell Hosted 10 Teams on its Home Course

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Sophomore Payton Capes finished 12^th to pace the Bucknell women's cross country team at the season-opening Bison Open on Friday evening. The field was larger and much more competitive than in years past, including two Ivy League teams and numerous Patriot League teams that wanted a look at the course before this year's league championship meet.

Capes was one of six Bucknell runners in the top 30 of the 132-runner, 10-team field. Senior Margaret Thomson was the next Bison finisher, taking 19^th in the 4k race.
"Payton is in good shape right now and ran a nice race," Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner said. "It was good to see Thomson pour it on in the second 2k. She is coming off an injury and will only get better."

Senior Christine O'Kane crossed the line in 24^th, while the other three Bucknell runners in the top 30 were freshmen. Leading the group of rookies was Emily Deschler in 22^nd, while Olivia Dyer and Nora Bennett were 28^th and 29^th, respectively.

"Our freshmen were very good," Donner said. "We held out four or five runners who can potentially be in our top seven, so once we get them back I believe we will be a very good team."

Navy's Grace West won the race with a time of 14:07. She was six seconds better than the runner-up, Lehigh's Hannah Bonaguidi. Penn had seven of the top 10 runners.

Up next for Bucknell is the Detroit Mercy Invite on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Bison won the team title when they last competed at the event two seasons ago. Jenna Farmer, Lauren Gronbeck, and Christine O'Kane all finished in the top-10.