Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Angry Birds Invite
Women's Track and Field Takes Team Title at Angry Birds Challenge
1/11/2020 6:39:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bucknell University women's track and field team edged host Lehigh by eight points en route to capturing the team title at the Angry Birds Challenge in the first action for the team in 2020 at Rauch Fieldhouse. Bucknell won the six-team meet with 176 points, followed by the Mountain Hawks (168). Sacred Heart (102), Fairleigh Dickinson (72), American (28), and St. Joseph's (16) rounded out the field. The Bison earned seven wins overall on the day at the venue that will host the Patriot League Championships on Feb. 29-March 1.
Results
"Considering the long layoff and the hard training we have been doing during our winter training camp, I was very pleased with the results," said Head Coach Kevin Donner. "I thought being at the site of the Patriot League Championships in seven weeks enhanced the intensity, and winning the meet on both sides was a nice bonus considering we did not go to the well and overwork our athletes. We will take this next weekend off and train through and get ready for the Gulden Invitational in two weeks."
Kaitlin Salisbury continued her impressive start to the season by winning the 60 (7.67). The senior from Hawthorne, N.J. has now won both of her 60m events this season after winning the Patriot League Championship a year ago, and picked up six points with a third-place finish in the long jump (18-3.75).
In the 400, freshman Valerie Fischer continued her momentum after running a leg on Bucknell's winning 4x400 team and finishing second in the 500 at the Bison Opener in December. The native of Gibsonia, Pa. took top honors (59.10) to edge out fellow freshman Jessie Castellano (59.30). Freshman Mackenzie Turner also posted a top-five finish (59.80) in the field of 28. The three freshmen, along with senior Becca Rooney, also contributed to Bucknell's second straight 4x400 victory (4:02.59).
Tara Lyons, the meet champion in the 800 at the Bison Opener, won her second straight race in the event (2:19.31), just edging out Mary Casey of Lehigh (2:19.77) for the top spot. Gianna Mincone (2:20.64) was third in her first action of the indoor season. Lyons also ran a leg on Bucknell's second-place 4000m Distance Medley Relay (12:39.17), along with Karly Forker, Bailie Rizzo, and Emily Deschler.
Bucknell also had a strong day in the field events to help take the team title at the meet, winning the shot put, the triple jump, and the high jump.
Delia Sipe (44-1.5) won the shot put, reaching the winning mark on her first attempt. Abby Whitaker took third (41-11.5). Sipe, a junior, also placed fourth in the weight throw (49-5).
Samantha Lopes (37-5) won the triple jump in her first meet of the season, with Gianna Macones taking third (36-9.75). Macones was also second in the long jump (19-0), garnering a new personal-best by nearly seven inches. The mark also now ranks fourth on Bucknell's all-time list. Macones becomes just the fourth Bucknell jumper indoors to reach the 19-foot mark.
In the high jump, Michaela Bracken took the top spot (5-5), a new personal-best that places her into a tie for seventh on Bucknell's all-time list. The event was a strong one for the Bison on the day, with outdoor Patriot League Champion Lexy Forrestal finishing second (5-5), and Alexandra Butz (5-3) taking fourth.
Hope Beyer placed third in the 3000 (10:46.72), with senior Lauren Gronbeck taking fourth (10:51.84). Madeleine Hunt was fourth in the mile (5:17.99), while freshman Mia Bellucci was third in the 5000 (19:09.01).
The Bison will have a week off before returning to Gerhard Fieldhouse on Jan. 25 for the Gulden Invitational.
Players Mentioned
