May 2, 2008

Results

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Bucknell women's track and field team completed day one of the 2008 Patriot League Outdoor Championships, Friday afternoon, in first with 58 points, followed by second-place Lafayette (37), third-place and host Navy (33.33), fourth-place Army (27), fifth-place Holy Cross (15), sixth-place Lehigh (14.66) and seventh-place American (1).

Bucknell took the top-two places in the javelin throw. Senior Beverly Rogers (Finleyville, Pa./Ringgold) led the way, taking the title with an NCAA East-Regional mark of 146-9. She was followed by freshman Laura Rycek (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) with an NCAA East Regional Distance of 145-6 for second. Rycek posted a career best and the second-best mark in program history, behind Rogers' school record of 154-3, which was set last season.

Senior Amanda Mockbee (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) notched an ECAC-qualifying distance of 166-2 in the hammer throw for a career best and the fifth-best distance in Bucknell history. She placed third to score for the Bison. In the pole vault, freshman Rebecca Frey (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) notched a second-place finish with an ECAC mark of 11-11 ¾, to tie her career best, which is also the third-highest mark in program history. Additionally, Bucknell's 4x800 relay squad notched an ECAC-qualifying time of 8:59.42 to place second.

Two Bison qualified for the final in the 100-meter dash. Sophomore Stephanie Evans (York, Pa./Central York) led the way for the Orange and Blue with a fifth-place finish in 12.41, while sophomore Kristin Steele (Shiremanstown, Pa./Trinity) placed eighth with a time of 12.61. Evans went on to qualify for the final in the 200-meter dash. She placed sixth with a career-best time of 25.43, which is also the eighth-fastest in program history.

In the long jump, sophomore Jennifer Pierce (Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J./Northern Highlands) placed second with the sixth-best mark in program history (18-6). She was followed by sophomore Amy Mantush (Drums, Pa./Hazleton), who placed third with a distance of 18-3 ¾, to score for Bucknell. Mantush went on to qualify for Saturday's final in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.15, good for a sixth-place finish in the prelim. Junior Kim Hassett (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) led the way for Bucknell in the 10,000-meter run, placing fourth with a time of 38:44.05.

After day one of the heptathlon, junior Rebecca Eppleman (Chester Springs, Pa./Great Valley) compiles 2,342 points. Eppleman ran a time of 17.12 (583) in the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles, went 5-3 (736) in the high jump, 30-1 ½ (476) in the shot put and 29.10 (547) in the 200-meter dash.

The Patriot League Championships will conclude on Saturday in Annapolis, starting with combined events at 9 a.m., track events at 10:45 a.m., and field events at 11:30 a.m.