Bucknell Men's Track & Field Collects Five Wins at Bison Opener

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison men's track & field team commenced the 2024-25 season collecting five wins at the annual Bison Opener. The Orange & Blue posted three new top ten times while setting a school record all of which made for great presents for Head Coach Kevin Donner on his birthday.

Results

Donner's Debriefing

"It was a very nice opener for us although we did hold out some of our top sprinters out of carefulness. I believe we will be very good if we stay healthy. It was great to see Wade break our school shot put record and I thought Scotto was fantastic in the hurdles."

Wade Shomper entering his junior year continued his shot put success by setting the school's indoor record. His 56-8.50 mark came on his third attempt and placed the thrower third in the competition. Joseph Breen's 2017 result of 56-7.25 previously held the top spot. Shomper was previously fifth all-time. The junior also participated in the weight throw finishing fourth. His 57-2 result narrowly missed the all-time top ten.

Senior Brian Scotto hit the 2024-25 season hale and healthy and proved it winning the 60-meter hurdles. His 8.03 time won the event by 0.11 seconds and ranks second in Bucknell history. Scotto previously slotted fourth (8.12) in the Bison ranks.

Freshman CJ Simbiri debuted on the collegiate stage by winning the triple jump. The new Bison is now seventh all-time with his mark of 48-2.75. His result came on the fifth attempt.

"I felt really happy that my hard work was able to show," said Simbiri. "I give all glory to God and I hope I can keep moving up that all-time list!"

Colby Belczyk picked up the win in the 800-meter run racing 1:55.02. The Bison runner won the event by nearly two seconds.

Hayden Singer set a personal record while winning the mile run with a time of 4:22.17. He led the field by three seconds.

David Carillo collected a dominant win in the 3000-meter run by finishing in 8:57.44. The Orange & Blue runner had a lead of nearly 40 seconds.

Luke Petryna began his Bison career finishing third (35.83) in the 300-meter dash. He missed top ten inclusion by 0.04 seconds. He also placed sixth (6.98) in the 60-meter dash, narrowly missing another top ten ranking.

The Bucknell 4x400-meter relay team of Amani Ndegwa-Brown, Zachary Jelinek, JP Byrnes, and Belczyk won bronze collaborating for a time of 3:26.88.

A personal record was set in the pole vault when sophomore Michael Chernova now focusing exclusively on the event earned third place while vaulting 15-5.

Jeffrey Cianfrocca slotted third (6-6.25) in the high jump.

Josh Tipton gathered third place (21-11.75) in the long jump.

Garrett Backus set a personal record in the 60-meter dash placing fourth (6.94). The time sits tenth in Bison history.

Ndegwa-Brown grabbed fourth (22.46) in the 200-meter dash.

Gardy Philogene earned fourth (52.03) in the 400-meter dash.

The heptathlon finished on Saturday and William Feddeler finished seventh with 4382 points.

Penn State's Ajani Dwyer set a Gerhard Fieldhouse record by running a blistering 6.55 in the 60-meter dash. P. Obuon (VMI) ran 6.72 back in 2004 to set the previous mark.

Up Next

The Bison will rest and refuel before resuming competitions in January.

Bucknell Men's Track & Field Collects Five Wins at Bison Opener

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Players Mentioned

Garrett Backus

Colby Belczyk

JP Byrnes

David Carillo

Michael Chernova

Jeffrey Cianfrocca

Zachary Jelinek

Luke Petryna

Gardy Philogene

Brian Scotto

Wade Shomper

CJ Simbiri

Hayden Singer