Women's Track and Field Sets Several Bucknell Top Ten Marks on Saturday at Virginia

Saturday, March 20

Charlottesville, Va.

All Day

Bucknell University

Virginia and Navy

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Women's Track and Field Sets Several Bucknell Top Ten Marks on Saturday at Virginia

3/20/2021 9:48:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Bucknell University women's track and field team competed on Saturday at the UVA Opener hosted by the Cavaliers in its first outdoor competition since 2019.

Results

"It was a solid opener for both our men and our women," said Head Coach Kevin Donner. "It was great to have some sense of normalcy back after not having an indoor season. UVA is a Power Five program of the ACC that competes at a national level, and they had a full indoor season in addition to the ACC Championships not too long ago. They were very sharp. We were busting a lot of rust, and just getting a gauge at where we are. Many of our athletes responded great, and some other struggled today. I do anticipate seeing a lot of improvement in our tri meet next Sunday at home."

Bucknell posted several program top tens in the event, with Michaela Bracken earning Bucknell's lone event victory of the day in the 400m hurdles in a field of five Bucknell competitors in the event (1:05.37).

Meghan Quinn earned a spot on Bucknell's all-time list in the 100 (12.20) in placing third behind a pair of Virginia runners including Anna Jefferson of Virginia, the 2019 ACC outdoor champion in the 400. Quinn also placed fourth in the 200 (25.13), with Jefferson also earning the top spot in that event. Quinn's time of 25.13 is just .02 behind Rehana Lanewala's 25.11 that sits tenth on Bucknell's all-time list.

Alexandra Butz, who capped off a strong junior season in 2020 by earning All-East honors in the high jump and the pole vault, improved upon her ranking in the Bucknell record books by clearing 12-5.5 in the pole vault, good for second all-time at Bucknell behind Bucknell Hall of Famer Melanie Buczko (13-3.5). Also recording a top ten height for Bucknell in the event was Jennifer Scott (11-5.75) which ranks in a tie for eighth. Butz and Scott finished third and sixth, respectively, in the event on the day.

Butz also cleared 5-3 in the high jump to finish third in that event. Joining Butz in clearing the 5-3 mark was first year Abby Kates, who finished second to Rebecca Hawkins of Virginia.

Delia Sipe competed in the shot put after breaking the Bucknell school record at the Indoor Championships in 2020. Sipe finished fifth (42-9) in the field of 10. Karly Forker placed fourth in the 1500 (4:33.15), just off the tenth spot in the Bucknell record books held by Julie Sweitzer (4:33.04).

First year Karen Hull (14.87) recorded a runner-up finish in the 100m hurdles (14.87), while senior Ashley Blair, an Academic All-League and First Team All-Patriot League selection in cross country, finished second in the 5000 (17:28.91).

The Bison will return to action on Sunday, March 28 when they host UMBC and Saint Francis (Pa.) for a tri-meet at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.