Bucknell University Athletics
Hartigan Captures Sixth Career Bison of the Week Nod
2/21/2022 12:10:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
The senior (center with trophy) won two gold medals at the PL Championships
LEWISBURG, Pa. – On the strength of her performance at the Patriot League Championships, Maddie Hartigan was honored as the Bison Athlete of the Week for the sixth time in her decorated career.
The senior was sensational, helping the Bucknell women's swimming & diving team secure its second-straight runner-up showing by winning three individual and two relay medals. She also set two individual school records and finished second among all swimmers with 54.5 points.
On Feb. 17, Hartigan came from behind to tie Navy's Martina Thomas, the 2020 and 2019 outright champion in this event, for first place in the 500 freestyle. She also broke her own school record, clocking in with an NCAA 'B' cut time of 4:45.85 to match the three-time NCAA qualifier. On Feb. 19, the meet's final day, she outraced the 1,650 freestyle field to earn her second career gold medal in this event.
In addition, Hartigan captured a bronze medal in Feb. 18's 200 freestyle. She was a member of two silver medal winning relay teams, including the 400 freestyle relay squad that helped the Bison hold their slim lead over Army West Point in the team standings behind a school-record time (3:22.02).
Hartigan will graduate as an eight-time Patriot League individual medalist, having previously earned one gold in the 1,650 freestyle (2019), two silvers in the 500 freestyle (2020, 2019), one silver in the 1,650 freestyle (2020) and one bronze in the 200 freestyle (2020).
In 2022, Hartigan became the first Bison to win two gold medals at one championship meet since Emma Levendoski swept the backstroke races for the record fourth-straight time in 2016. In addition, she was a member of four career medal-winning relay teams, having captured bronze on 800 freestyle relay squads in both 2020 and 2019 before winning silver in this event and in the 400 freestyle relay in 2022.
Hartigan, who was named the Bison Athlete of the Week for the first time this school year after the Bucknell Invitational, is the lone member of the women's swimming & diving team to earn this award in 2021-22. She accounted for two of the team's three Bison of the Week awards in 2018-19, one of its two in 2019-20 and its lone one during the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.
Hartigan and the Bison return to action at the ECAC Championships, which will be held from Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27 at Lejeune Hall.
Hartigan at the 2022 Patriot League Championships
School Records:
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:47.29) (swam as lead-off leg of 800 freestyle relay)
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Gold Medals:
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
1,650 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (16.37.48)
Silver Medals:
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
800 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Kayla Lichtner, Caroline McGann, Sabrina Vumbacco (7:18.70)
Bronze Medals:
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:48.17)
The senior was sensational, helping the Bucknell women's swimming & diving team secure its second-straight runner-up showing by winning three individual and two relay medals. She also set two individual school records and finished second among all swimmers with 54.5 points.
On Feb. 17, Hartigan came from behind to tie Navy's Martina Thomas, the 2020 and 2019 outright champion in this event, for first place in the 500 freestyle. She also broke her own school record, clocking in with an NCAA 'B' cut time of 4:45.85 to match the three-time NCAA qualifier. On Feb. 19, the meet's final day, she outraced the 1,650 freestyle field to earn her second career gold medal in this event.
In addition, Hartigan captured a bronze medal in Feb. 18's 200 freestyle. She was a member of two silver medal winning relay teams, including the 400 freestyle relay squad that helped the Bison hold their slim lead over Army West Point in the team standings behind a school-record time (3:22.02).
Hartigan will graduate as an eight-time Patriot League individual medalist, having previously earned one gold in the 1,650 freestyle (2019), two silvers in the 500 freestyle (2020, 2019), one silver in the 1,650 freestyle (2020) and one bronze in the 200 freestyle (2020).
In 2022, Hartigan became the first Bison to win two gold medals at one championship meet since Emma Levendoski swept the backstroke races for the record fourth-straight time in 2016. In addition, she was a member of four career medal-winning relay teams, having captured bronze on 800 freestyle relay squads in both 2020 and 2019 before winning silver in this event and in the 400 freestyle relay in 2022.
Hartigan, who was named the Bison Athlete of the Week for the first time this school year after the Bucknell Invitational, is the lone member of the women's swimming & diving team to earn this award in 2021-22. She accounted for two of the team's three Bison of the Week awards in 2018-19, one of its two in 2019-20 and its lone one during the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.
Hartigan and the Bison return to action at the ECAC Championships, which will be held from Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27 at Lejeune Hall.
Hartigan at the 2022 Patriot League Championships
School Records:
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:47.29) (swam as lead-off leg of 800 freestyle relay)
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Gold Medals:
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
1,650 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (16.37.48)
Silver Medals:
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
800 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Kayla Lichtner, Caroline McGann, Sabrina Vumbacco (7:18.70)
Bronze Medals:
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:48.17)
An 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗖 championship final...
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) February 18, 2022
... a 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗡 performance. 🥇
In her last 500 freestyle at the @PatriotLeague Championships, senior Maddie Hartigan came from behind to earn the top spot on the podium.
🏊♀️#rayBucknell🏊♀️ pic.twitter.com/sLWHdtRLSz
𝘚𝘐𝘓𝘝𝘌𝘙 🥈 & 𝙂𝙊𝙇𝘿 🥇
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) February 20, 2022
Maddie Hartigan and Sabrina Vumbacco went 1-2 in the @PatriotLeague 1,650 freestyle!
🏊♀️#rayBucknell🏊♀️ pic.twitter.com/a4iUrMd0l5
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Swimming and Diving
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Breast/Fly/IM
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