Alexandra Lea Resets School Record in 400-Meter Dash; US National Champion Evelyn Bliss Establishes Facility & Meet Records at Kehoe Twilight

Friday, May 1

College Park, Md.

1 p.m.

Bucknell University

Kehoe Twilight

Photo by: Ann Ruether

Alexandra Lea Resets School Record in 400-Meter Dash; US National Champion Evelyn Bliss Establishes Facility & Meet Records at Kehoe Twilight

5/1/2026 11:23:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

COLLEGE PARK, Md.- Bucknell women's track & field unearthed moonlight magic at the Kehoe Twilight on Friday night. US National Champion Evelyn Bliss established her fourth facility and meet record of 2026 in the javelin throw and Alexandra Lea reset her school record in the 400-meter dash as part of the Orange & Blue's final tune-up before the Patriot League Outdoor Championships. Plenty of Bison athletes submitted their final resume boosters for the league roster against a host of strong regional competition.

Results

"Overall, we accomplished a lot of missions at this meet," said head coach Kevin Donner. "We had quite a few people compete very well and put themselves in the discussion to make our league lineup in two weeks. We had some others that ended their season on a high note with season or personal best marks and others just needed a little tuneup for two weeks from now. We can now determine our league lineup in the next few days and focus on final exams and training next week."

Bliss entered the competition on a strict quota of three throws before her day ended. The Bison superstar made the trio count. She opened the event with a solid 50.43m (165-5). Her next attempt found what the United States national champion sought - a new facility record and a 55-meter mark - as the javelin soared 55.93m (183-6).

"I didn't really think too much about it being my last in season meet before leagues," said Bliss. "I just wanted to hit a throw above 55 which I was able to accomplish."

Her final attempt of 54.43m (178-7) also surpassed the previous facility record of 166-8 set by Ann Krouse in 2007.

"Going in knowing I only got three throws I tried not to put too much pressure on myself thinking I needed to throw far," said Bliss. "Instead I just worked on hitting good positions and bringing speed in my approach. Today was like a working meet so I was just working on decent reps."

Bliss erected four new facility and meet marks at Williamsburg (William & Mary/Colonial Relays), Lewisburg (Bucknell/Bison Outdoor Classic), Philadelphia (Penn/Penn Relays), and College Park (Maryland/Kehoe Twilight) in 2026.

Lea broke the 53-second barrier and moved into 43rd in the East rankings and 73rd nationally with her event-winning run of 52.90. The sophomore smashed her old school record of 53.07 set at last year's Patriot League Outdoor Championships.

"I went into this meet just using it as sort of a tune up to give me some confidence heading into the league meet," said Lea. "I wasn't really trying to PR or anything, but Coach A just told me to try to win and it ended up working out that way."

Sprints coach Richard Alexander acknowledged that the goal wasn't necessary a personal record but Lea's superior speed and training provided that outcome. "Lea is a tough competitor. We talked about just coming into this race not looking to run a specific time but just looking to win the race. She was able to do that in school record fashion."

Lea started the outdoor season banged up from her indoor campaign but has enjoyed a healthy stretch and the results have shown. "I was still a little rusty coming off the indoor season because I took some time off, so I just have trusted my training these past few weeks. Also having some fast competition at the last few meets has helped."

The sophomore also anchored the revamped 4x100-meter relay team that finished seventh at the competition but ranked third at Bucknell. Grace Camerlingo, Jordan Muraglia, and Noelani Sadler joined their record breaking teammate in running 46.55.

Justley Sharp won the shot put by throwing a pair of 14.69m (48-2.50) tosses. The junior recorded four marks of 45+ feet.

Madison Fowler claimed second place in the discus and hammer throw. The sophomore threw 44.84m (147-1) in her final attempt to move from fifth to second in the former event. In the latter, her best mark of 55.38m (181-8) arrived in the fifth chance.

Bucknell enjoyed two new top ten times in the 800-meter run. Abigail Michaelson moved her way up the list as her third place time of 2:10.73 ranked seventh in Bison history. Katrina Torelli has been one of Bucknell's strongest athletes in 2026 and she wrote her name into her third top ten list. Her fourth place time of 2:11.18 slotted ninth at Bucknell.

Veteran runner Grace Vives added another top ten ranking to her career resume. The senior distancewoman recorded a third place finish on a time of 4:27.98 and moved into seventh all-time at Bucknell. She is the third Bison to enter the event's top ten list in 2026, joining Shaelan McNally and Katrina Torelli.

Kerry O'Day joined the chorus of distance runners making top ten lists. Her third place speed of 10:54.27 in the steeplechase notched ninth all-time at Bucknell.

Sadler notched third in the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles, registering 14.36 in the former and 1:02.47 in the latter.

Elizabeth Bryant claimed third in the pole vault. The senior cleared 11-9.75 in her first attempt to win the tiebreaker for the placement.

Megan Baggetta rounded out the jumpers' strong performance by finishing seventh in the triple jump. Her best mark of 38-5.50 arrived in her third try.

Frances Clulow placed eighth and set a personal best in the 3000-meter run with a time of 10:16.40.

Camerlingo finished ninth in the 100-meter dash, running 12.34.

Two jumpers slotted ninth in their events. Lilana Wakenshaw cleared 5-2.50 in the high jump. Emilia Smith set a personal best of 18-5.75 in the long jump.

Bucknell will rest and recharge before the Patriot League Outdoor Championships on May 15-16.