Amazing Day for Bucknell Track and Field at Bison Outdoor Classic

Orange and Blue Qualify Eight for ECAC/IC4A Championships

Christa Sawko qualified for the ECAC's on Friday.

April 15, 2006

Results

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell track and field completed a very successful first of the two-day Bison Outdoor Classic late Friday evening at the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. The Orange and Blue qualified four athletes for the women's ECAC Championships, and two for the men's IC4A's.

Qualifying on the women's side, junior Christa Sawko (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville) set a new school record (beating her previous record-holding time) in the 1500-meter run, 4 minutes, 28.28 seconds, placing second overall, while classmate Lauren Bricker (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area), also qualifying, took fourth in the event and second in Bucknell's record books (4:30.14).

Junior Jenny Stevens (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) and senior Leanna Nastase (Beaverdale, Pa./Forest Hills) qualified in the 5,000, with times of 17:20.88 (ninth overall) and 17:27.41 (12th overall), respectively. Steven's time earned her a fifth-place ranking in the school's records, while Nastase landed in sixth place.

Earning a place at the IC4A's was sophomore Wallace Campbell (Montgomery, Ala./Montgomery Acad.) in the 5000, with a time of 14:32.95 (ninth overall), while junior Mark Caroleo (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) qualified in the 1500, clocking in a time of 3:51.28 (11th overall).

Also turning in outstanding performances for the Bison were juniors Marjorie Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten), of the women, and Josh Kaehler (Hanover, Pa./South Western) of the men. Grap won the hammer throw and set a personal best mark of 183 feet and also qualified for the NCAA Regionals, while Kaehler won the men's javelin, setting a third-best school mark of 210 and also qualified for the Regionals.

Sophomore Beverly Rogers (Finleyville, Pa./Ringgold) won the women's javelin (135), while junior Matt Forys (Howell, N.J./Howell) set a personal best in the 5000 (14:34.67).

"It was a great evening of track and field for everyone," said head coach Kevin Donner. "Everyone set a lifetime best tonight. I was very pleased with the results."

The Classic will resume Saturday morning and conclude in the evening.