Bison Men Sit Second After First Day of ECAC Championships; Completes Virginia Challenge

Saturday, April 18

New Brunswick, N.J.

10 a.m.

Bucknell University

ECAC-IC4A Outdoor Championships

Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder

Bison Men Sit Second After First Day of ECAC Championships; Completes Virginia Challenge

4/18/2026 8:55:00 PM | Men's Track and Field

PISCATAWAY, N.J./CHARLOTTESVILLE Va.- Bucknell men's track & field sits second after the first day of the ECAC Championships. 14 All-East honorees and one event win drove the Bison's placement. The Orange & Blue scored 67 points and only trail host Rutgers, who is running a full squad. A select group of sprinters and hurdlers completed the Virginia Challenge with solid results.

Results (IC4A) | Results (Virginia Challenge)

"I thought day one went very well at the IC4As," said head coach Kevin Donner. "Although we went into this meet not worried about team scores, the majority of athletes that we brought finished above their ranking and many scored some points snd won some hardware. Lots of season and personal best marks despite being very windy. Great to see Keenan win the discus with a nice PB. Great to have Pecaitis back vaulting nicely after being injured for so long."

IC4A Recap

Keenan LaMontagne headlined a strong throws contingent with his victory in the discus throw. The senior easily won the event and All-East honors, throwing a personal best 52.44m (172-0) and reaffirming his third-best mark at Bucknell. LaMontagne threw the mark in his first attempt and the distance held up for the gold medal.

"Keenan was outstanding in the discus today," said throws Ryan Protzman. "From the warm up he was dialed in. A great series of throws, and a new PR is a pretty good day."

Bucknell dominated the 5000-meter run with three runners earning All-East honors. Cooper Hollinger finished second, racing 14:45.53. The rookie settled into second by 600 meters and, except for a temporarily dip to sixth, easily held the position. Grant Kern placed fourth, logging 14:50.66. He made a late run from tenth at 3800 meters to break into the top five. Trent Dinant completed his final IC4A Championships, notching sixth. The senior registered 14:51.54.

Two steeplechase runners placed in the top eight for All-East honors. Mason Barlow finished second, recording a time of 9:12.97. The Bison runner briefly led after lap two before alternating between second or third place. Ryan Pepperman collected eighth, logging 9:24.67.

Wade Shomper recorded another solid series in the shot put. The Bison record holder placed third and won All-East honors by throwing 17.86m (58-7.25). He cleared 50 meters in every attempt and his best mark arrived in the final throw. Braiden Pulver, his comrade-in-arms, slotted fifth, tossing 16.88m (55-4.75). Like Shomper, Pulver's best try came in his final chance.

Two more throwers unlocked All-East honors. Aiden Tacker finished fifth in the hammer throw, tossing 56.60m (185-8). Owen Allen placed sixth, throwing 55.57m (182-3).

The javelin throw saw two more Bison achieve All-East laurels. Julius Catuogno finished fifth, throwing 57.20m (187-8). Ronald Morgan notched sixth, hurling 56.97m (186-11).

"Javelin men rocked it as well," said Protzman.

Gabriel Pecaitis cleared a personal record 16-0.75 in the pole vault. The mark finished fifth, earned All-East honors, and improved his eighth all-time standing at Bucknell. Pecaitis cleared every level in his first attempt before the 16-4.75 height ended his streak.

Jayson Harmer slotted fifth in the 1500-meter run. The senior recorded a time of 3:55.61.

Virginia Challenge

Luke Petryna placed fourth in the 200-meter dash, running an impressive 21.73.

Preston Lubeski notched 19th in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.58.

Ethan Knight finished 28th in the 110-meter hurdles, racing 15.04.

Up Next

Bucknell completes the IC4A Championships tomorrow.