Bucknell University Athletics
Feature Story: Twenty-Seven Years Later Kailey Granger Breaks Her Mother's Record
8/5/2026 1:05:00 PM | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
Bucknell has always been a family-driven affair. From the support parents have lent their children in entering Bucknell, to the generations of Bucknellians stretching back decades who have sent their kids and their children's children to the banks of the Susquehanna. The familiar ties have always been at the forefront of Bucknell Athletics.
On April 19, 2026, those familiar ties wove together an impressive tale as Kailey Granger of the women's cross-country and track and field team broke and shattered her mother's 27-year-old record in the women's 3,000-meter run at the historic ECAC Championships. What added to the occasion was her mother and father's presence at the event.
It was quite a moment for the trio. Not one that was spontaneous but that was designed and planned months ago. Kailey Granger has been one of the distance group's shining stars, a consistent member of the league roster for cross-country and track and field. She's pushed the Bucknell program forward with her finishes.
Julie Granger, maiden name Sweitzer, is a Bucknell long-distance legend. She's in the Athletic Hall of Fame for her cross country feats becoming Bucknell's first NCAA Championship qualifier in 1997 and was the Patriot League individual champion in 1997 and 1998. For track & field, Sweitzer was named Patriot League Athlete of the Meet at the 1998 PL Indoor Championships, and her seven indoor gold medals are tied for fourth-most in program history. Even more remarkably, tying into the Bucknellian connection, she married a fellow Bucknell runner, Dave Granger. Dave held his own on the track, winning league crowns in the steeplechase and 5000-meter run. Now, Dave is present at competitions taking photos, and it's his snapshots that are the sole pictorial record for Kailey's impressive victory.
Sweitzer set the record in 1999 at another historic East Coast meet: the Penn Relays. The 3000 was a step up from her usual race distances (800, 1000, 1500, or mile) but the opportunity to run an open event at the competition was too much to miss. Usually, she only ran the 4x800-meter or distance medley relays. Legendary coach Art Gulden offered her the opportunity and she seized it, racing 9:40.32.
"I honestly remember finishing and having no clue whether my race was good, bad, or mediocre," Julie said. "I just recall knowing that I left it all on the track and that Coach Gulden seemed quite pleased. I definitely had plenty of competition, good weather, and I wasn't doing it on an injured leg."Â
Adding to the ultimate full circle moment was Dave's presence at the Penn Relays. He had graduated from Bucknell by 1999 but drove up I-95 from Washington D.C. to watch Julie run.
The Grangers continued their running long after graduation and starting their family. However, they never forced their children into the harrier lifestyle. Kailey explored gymnastics and soccer before embracing running during her junior year of high school. Both Dave and Julie secretly rejoiced over the decision. The development led to closer mother-daughter bonding sessions.
"Kailey and I have spent many hours running together, or recently me biking and her running," Julie recalled. "During those hours of running, we have celebrated successes, discussed fears, solved problems, planned ahead, and most importantly become great friends. The time we have spent on the roads and trails has truly helped me to sincerely know Kailey and it's why I speak of her with such pride and admiration."
The 3,000-meter run is not commonly scheduled anymore, and so the few races that place it on the dance card are rare. Granger, noticing that the ECACs would host a 3,000-meter run, collaborated with head coach Kevin Donner on her training to coincide with that and take a stab at her mother's historic record.
"When she accepted the offer to run for Bucknell she told Coach Donner that she would come to Bucknell as long as she would be given an opportunity to beat my record," Julie said. "Dave may have planted that seed during the recruiting process, but Kailey watered it and made it grow!"
Of course, all of this planning would have been for moot if Kailey could not deliver on her goal. First and foremost was staying healthy, an often-dangerous pastime for runners. Stress fractures are common from the mileage and training that long-distance running piles upon the body. Kailey stayed healthy and entered that weekend facing another unforeseen challenge, inclement weather. The rain splotched down all weekend at Rutgers University, the host of the ECACs, which moved from its traditional postseason date to an in-season slot.
"I had already raced a lot during the season and hadn't had a weekend off yet, so Coach Donner and I decided to make a game time decision," Kailey recalled. "The week of the meet, I was not feeling burnt out so I decided to go for it. The day of the race wasn't ideal conditions with the rain and wind, but I had already convinced myself that I was going to break it that day so I went for it."
She had to overcome miserable weather, a lingering quad injury, and the challenge of racing largely alone. With her parents watching and her father taking photos, Kailey bolted from the opening gun, quickly gaining the lead and holding it for most of the competition against a horde of skilled Eastern runners, including four from Big Ten Rutgers.
"Watching Kailey run that 3000 was inspiring and emotional, Julie exclaimed. "She knew the splits she needed to hit, and she was clearly determined to break that record despite the rain and wind. I ran that time at Penn Relays with a full field of fantastic competition and there I was watching Kailey hit the splits and leading the race despite battling a quad issue. The look of determination on her face was truly inspirational."
As she circled each lap, Kailey surged ahead of the required record-breaking pace she needed. Monmouth's Emily Simko passed her in the final 400 meters, but the rain and second place couldn't dampen her joyous reaction at dethroning her mother as the top 3,000-meter runner in Bucknell women's history with a time of 9:38.55. She had achieved her main objective, placement was secondary.
"With the cold and driving rain, we had no idea what to expect," Dave admitted. "Then Kailey took the race out on her own without no one helping, so that was also going to make things difficult. When she went through the mile at, I believe 5:08 or so, I knew she was going to have a chance as she still looked pretty fresh. Although she struggled a little on her sixth lap, she looked really determined the rest of the way." Â
As Kailey crossed the finish line, Julie watched with rain and teardrops freely intermixing down her face as Kailey, somehow retaining excess energy, raced across the track to envelop her in a celebratory embrace that nearly sent Julie tumbling to the ground. Dave's camera ubiquitous camera froze the moment in eternity.Â
Julie was initially surprised that her record remained paramount. However, she reasoned with the continuing evolutionary technology in running – she fully admitted to running cluelessly back in her prime - and since the 3000-meter steeplechase mostly replaced the 3000-meter run, neglecting the latter to only a few meets, thus cutting down on the opportunities to break it. Several Bison runners had come close to dethroning her. Colleen Buckley ran 9:40.36 in 2017, missing the record by 0.04 seconds. Sarah Moniz recorded a time of 9:41.15 in 2010.
Kailey finally broke through the barrier and while few athletes – due to competitive natures – enjoy seeing their records fell, in this case, Julie felt elation.
"Seeing Kailey run in that Bucknell jersey always brings back many memories and makes me emotional, but seeing her name ahead of mine on the record books gives me immense joy," Julie said. "I can honestly say I have never been so happy to be beat!"
Ironically, shortly after breaking the record, Kailey discovered that she had a stress fracture in her femur and her season abruptly ended. The injury only fueled a hunger in the rising senior for a fantastic final year. Granger was recently elected captain of the cross country team and will lead her charges in pursuit of a Patriot League title. The Bison finished second last year but have the runners to make a push for the crown.
Is the plan for the next generation of female runners to break the record? To start a family tradition? Kailey won't commit either way. Like her parents, she plans to let her future children run their own path.
"I haven't really thought about that to be honest," Kailey admitted. "Like my parents raised me, I plan on letting my kids choose what they want to do with sports… whether that's soccer or swimming or whatever they want to try. Similar to my parents, if my children choose running as their sport, I'd be thrilled to share that with them. However, I don't want them to feel pressured to do it simply because I did."
Then again, the record might not last that long for marriage, baby carriages, and growing up. The Bucknell women's track & field program continues to progress every season with stronger throwers, faster runners, determined harriers, and higher jumpers. Kailey is satisfied with that development.
"While it would be another cool full circle moment, I honestly don't think the record will stand all that long. Our women's program continues to keep getting better and better each year and our times as a whole just keep dropping. I wouldn't be surprised if we see that record taken down again in the next few years. Honestly, I would feel fortunate to share that experience with a fellow teammate because, even though we are not blood, this team has become a true family to me over the last few years."
Whatever happens in her final lap, Kailey will always have the memories of sloshing her way to Bison immortality and the celebration of a joyous family. Julie explained the runner's creed: "It's not always about where you end up, but how you got there. The journey is often more rewarding than the finish."
