Update from Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach Kevin Donner -- February 2024

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Bucknell Cross Country/Track & Field:

As we approach the month of February, the second semester and the indoor track and field season are starting to heat up, and the performances from the Bison have been very good considering how early we are in the season. We tend to see some very good performances later in the season in February and March, and with the start we have had we expect to see many more quality performances before the season is through. So far, we have had five individual performances make our all-time top-10 list on the men’s side and 10 individuals and one relay on the women’s side after just four meets. We are ready to add to this list quite a bit.

Additions to the Men’s All-Time Top-10 List as of February 1, 2024

Brandon Foust               60 meters             6.83 #2 all-time
Cooper Hyken                60 meters 6.92 #7 all-time
Ethan Wolford Tuffy 300 meters 35.00          #5 all-time
Ethan Wolford Tuffy 400 meters 47.88          #4 all-time and Gerhard Fieldhouse Record
(Old fieldhouse record – Kerry Boyle, 48.22, Bucknell, 2007)
Wade Shomper shot put 3-6.25 #10 all-time

Additions to the Women’s All-Time Top-10 List as of February 1, 2024

Meghan Quinn               60 meters 7.56            #2 all-time
Karen Hull 60-meter hurdles 8.69            #2 all-time
Meghan Quinn 300 meters 39.55 school record and Gerhard Fieldhouse record
(Old record -- Jessica Bridle, 39.75, Bucknell, 2015)
Abby Paczewski mile 4:54.05 #6 all-time
Caryn Rippey mile 4:54.64 #8 all-time
Abby Paczewski, Colleen Linko, Anna Posh, Caryn Rippey DMR 11:47.92    #8 all-time
Karen Hull long jump 19-6 school record
(Old record -- Katie Salisbury, 19-3.5, 2020)
Lila Gaughan long jump 19-1.5 #3 all-time
Karen Hull high jump 5-8     ties school record
(tied Amy Mantush 2010 and Michaela Bracken 2022)
Christine Ajao 20 LB WT 55-2.75 #5 all-time
Justley Sharp shot put 47-5.25 #5 all-time

Here is our remaining Indoor track & field schedule and we would love to have people come out and watch:

Saturday, Feb. 3        Sykes Sabock Invitational Penn State University
Saturday, Feb. 10 Spire Collegiate Games Spire Center, Cedarville, Ohio
Friday, Feb. 16   Bucknell Tune-up Lewisburg, PA
Sat.-Sun., Feb. 24-25        Patriot League Championships Boston University
Sat.-Sun., March 2-3 IC4A-ECAC Championships Boston University

This is just a friendly reminder that we are hosting the Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday-Saturday, May 3-4. We will also be hosting an Alumni Tailgate throughout the meet and even a bit beyond. We will have food and drinks at various times that will be announced at a later date. I am hoping we can get a very large crowd at this meet to support the team and to meet old friends as well as make new ones. All family members are invited. More details will be sent in April, but please save the date.

We had a great time hosting the Colorado Alumni reception on Tuesday, December 12 at Wonderland Brewery in Broomfield, Colo. The turnout was fantastic and included 16 alumni, three coaches from our staff (myself, Coach Protzman, and Coach Brown), and two former assistant coaches (Mario Wilson 2002-2007, presently at UVA, and Bobby Wilson 2007-2010, presently at Angelo State, TX). A great time was had by all.

Track & Field Alumni

In closing, we have a significant 24-hour period approaching for our program. The annual One Herd One Day 24-Hour Giving Challenge will be on March 26-27 from 10:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Our program has historically been among the top three every year in the challenge, but we are hoping to take that to the next level this spring and win both the category for the most donors and the category for the most dollars raised. If you have not made a gift to Spiked Shoe or would like to help us win the challenge with an additional gift, please consider supporting these athletes in the One Herd One Day event.

Go Bison!

Sincerely,
Kevin Donner

Kevin Donner
Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
Bucknell University
kdonner@bucknell.edu

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