Bucknell Men Tally Five Wins at the Bison Opener

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell men's track & field started the 2025-26 season with five victories at the annual Bison Opener on Saturday. The Bison athletes unlocked seven spots in the Bucknell top ten lists.

Results

Donner's Debriefing

"I was very pleased with how our men competed this weekend. We seem to have a much stronger team this year. When I look at development, I like to compare where we were one year ago today at the same meet. We were better in 75% of the events across the boards than our opener in 2024. I see that as a great sign for this coming year. All the event groups were very solid. I was especially impressed with Lucas Williams in the pole vault, CJ Simbiri in the triple jump, Nicholas Bouril in the 300-meter dash. Their marks are right up there in school history. I also like the depth we have in our high hurdlers with four in the final led by Ethan Knight. Tacker hitting 60 feet in a very competitive 35lb weight in his first meet is great to see as well."

Nicholas Bouril opened his Bucknell career in style by winning the 300-meter dash. The rookie raced an impressive 34.57 to move into second place in Bucknell history. Teammate Preston Lubeski finished third with a time of 35.40, good enough for eighth in Bison history.

Lucas Williams sparkled in the pole vault, finishing tied for first by clearing a personal record of 16-4.75. He moved into fourth in Bucknell history.

CJ Simbiri began his sophomore campaign by resetting his personal best mark of 48-10.75 in the triple jump. The mark easily won the event and improved upon his fifth-best mark in program history. He also led the Bison long jump effort, placing seventh (21-6.25).

Alexander Goonewardene won the mile run by over 14 seconds with a time of 4:28.28. He broke his previous personal record of 4:35.87.

Cooper Hollinger dominated the 3000-meter run winning the event by 16 seconds with his pacing time of 8:44.31. It was an excellent debut for the freshman.

The Bucknell "B" Team of Colin Burke, Ethan Fianko, Eamon Golden, and Bouril gathered a quartet of freshman into combining for a second place time of 3:24.70.

Ethan Knight enjoyed a sensational freshman campaign and he began his sophomore season by placing third in the 60-meter hurdles. His time of 8.30 moved him into seventh place in Bucknell history. Freshman Eamon Golden christened his Bison career logging 8.37 for fourth in the event and tenth in Bison history.

Knight was also the leading Bison runner in the 400-meter dash, finishing third with a time of 50.70.

JP Byrnes opened his 2025-26 season with a third place slot in the 800-meter run. The junior ran 1:59.04.

Jeffrey Cianfrocca cleared 6-4.75 in the high jump for a third place finish.

Luke Petryna placed fourth in the 60-meter race, rushing 6.91, to move into eighth place in Bucknell history. He also finished third in the 200-meter dash, racing 22.14.

Aiden Tacker threw 60-4.50 in the weight throw to unlock fourth place.

Will Feddeler completed the final two events in the heptathlon to finish fifth with 4597 points.

Wade Shomper finished sixth in the shot put, throwing 54-0.50.

Henry Didden competed in Boston's opening meet and ran the second fastest time in school history in the 5000-meter run at 14:05.94.

Bucknell returns to action in 2026 at the Nittany Lion Challenge on Jan. 17.

Bucknell Men Tally Five Wins at the Bison Opener

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Players Mentioned

Nicholas Bouril

Colin Burke

JP Byrnes

Jeffrey Cianfrocca

Henry Didden

Will Feddeler

Ethan Fianko

Eamon Golden

Alexander Goonewardene

Cooper Hollinger

Ethan Knight

Preston Lubeski

Luke Petryna

Wade Shomper

CJ Simbiri

Aiden Tacker

Lucas Williams