Roster (Men's) | Roster (Women's)| Schedule
The Bucknell Bison cross-country programs enter 2024, seeking a return to the Patriot League’s top trinity. Both squadrons have the depth and talent to turn their visualization into reality. Long-tenured head coach Kevin Donner knows his business, and if development occurs as it should and health holds up, the Bison teams can make some noise in the always competitive and hard-running Patriot League.
For cross country novices: the men’s and women’s squads typically run the same schedule. The Bison will not run on friendly territory for the second consecutive season. The 2024 schedule is strictly a barnstorming campaign, albeit with no event further away than the Bronx. Every other race, barring a National Championship appearance, resides in Pennsylvania, and the Orange & Blue will visit two courses twice.
The season starts at the Father Bede Invitational hosted by Saint Francis University on August 31. The race will not be held in Loretto, Pa., but in local Tyrone. The meet is small with four teams participating, but it allows the Bison freshmen to gain collegiate experience. The following weekend, Sept. 6, sees the Lafayette Invitational in Easton, Pa. Scheduling this meet was an excellent strategy since the 2024 Patriot League Championships are in Easton, and all the Bison runners will compete. On Sept. 13, Bucknell travels down PA State Route 45 to reignite the Route 45 Rivalry at Penn State’s Spiked Shoe Invitational. Once again, becoming familiar with a course highlights this decision, as the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals will be held there.
The teams will rest and refuel for three weeks until the annual Paul Short Run on Oct. 5. The traditional choice on the cross country dance card is hosted by Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. On Oct. 18, the teams head to the Bronx for the historic and prestigious ECAC-IC4A Championships. Bucknell will have the chance to mentally and physically prepare for the Patriot League Championships on Nov. 2 in Easton. The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals are 13 days late on Nov. 15 at Penn State. If applicable, the NCAA National Championships are scheduled for Wisconsin on Nov. 23.
“It is a good schedule. It will give plenty of athletes a chance to race. We will receive enough data to ensure our top 12 runners race in the Patriot League Championships and our top seven runs in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals.”
The men’s team returns 11 of their 12 top runners and six of the top seven from the Patriot League Championships. The program finished fourth in the Patriot League Championships and 12th at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. Beyond the gross numbers, the runners have improved their stamina and speed during the track & field seasons.
“Between the 2023 season and the spring, we had many guys develop as runners. For example, we returned 13 men who broke 15 minutes for five kilometers during the track season. I have always used that to gauge next season’s success. Normally, I have 3-5 runners that have broken 15 minutes. Our depth is outstanding. We need to develop frontrunners, but with our depth, we can take more risks with our training.”
Generally, Donner keeps the training experiments small based on health concerns. However, the increased battalion numbers can up the volume and intensity to develop some athletes into the top seven or eight runners at the League Championships. The Bison’s highest finisher in 2023 placed 22nd. The squad requires a top-ten runner to claim a top-three placement.
The team aims for the top three in the Patriot League, the top eight at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, and develop a runner to race in the National Championships.
The top returners for the men’s team include Henry Didden, the highest Bison placer (22nd) at the Patriot League Championships, and Ben Santos. Both runners performed well in the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons. Their preseason returns have been high quality and they have the potential to be All-League runners.
Max Crockett had a strong 2023 season. Injuries nagged him during the track & field seasons. Tommy White and Peter Sorensen are senior runners with solid preseason technique. Bobby Lynam had a good 2023 year, dealt with an injury during indoor track, but recovered to post a solid outdoor track campaign. Jayson Harmer has been consistent all year round.
Junior Trent Dinant, a local product from State College, had a great spring season and is ready to advance to the next level.
Incoming freshmen include Ethan Pratt-Perez who ran fast on the track, David Carillo, Alexander Goonewardne, Danny Wuenshel, and Andrew Young, who posted good cross-country seasons as seniors in high school.
“The future looks bright for the men’s side in two to three years. It is a solid cross-section of veterans and young guys moving through the system. We are ready to go after it with the Army, Navy, and Bostons of the world.”
The women’s team finished fourth last year in the Patriot League and ninth in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals. Bucknell finished ahead of Navy at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals, though, the Midshipmen were in front of the Bison at the Patriot League Championships. The team rose to seventh in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings. They return eight of their top ten runners.
“What excites me is how our runners performed during the track season, they had an excellent summer, and everyone is healthy. As of today, everyone is training well. We are ready to take things to the next level and contend for a Patriot League title.”
Kailey Granger shined during her freshman year, finishing 22nd at the Patriot League Championships. Margaret McLoughlin improved during the track and field season by posting times that placed her in the Bison record book. Keeley Misutka’s health is the wild card. She is a racing force when fully fit. She narrowly missed making the All-Patriot League team (top eight) in 2023. Misutka missed most of the indoor and outdoor track seasons due to injury. Lauren Trapani, an excellent veteran runner, narrowly missed All-League (top 14) honors in 2023 by placing 15th in the Patriot League Championships. Sarah Policano is another healthy senior who had a great summer.
Sophomore Hailey Reinhard had a great cross country season in 2023. Meghan Rentner performed well as a steeplechaser in the outdoor track campaign. Caryn Rippey is the strongest returning athlete. She had sterling cross country and track & field seasons, collecting over seven wins. Rippey has put herself in a position to be an All-League and All-Region runner.
The freshmen class looks to blossom into immediate dividends. The top runner, Shaylen McNally, finished second in New Jersey’s 3200-meter run. She ran 10:18, the fastest recruited 3200 time in Bison history which eclipses Granger’s mark. Kerry O’Day was under five minutes in the 1600-meter run and under 11 minutes in the 3200-meter run. She was one of the top ten cross country runners in New Jersey. Katie Moncavage comes from local Southern Columbia High School and has run the 1600-meter run in under five minutes. She won a second state title in the 800-meter run.
“About 10 or 11 runners are coming in that have a chance to make our top seven. Our depth is pretty good this year and we have frontrunners. It is a team that will be much improved from last year. We have good freshmen and sophomores that provide for a bright future.”
With depth and new talent galore, the two programs head into 2024 with bright spirits and an eagerness to hit the course. Bucknell cross country has a long and proud tradition and the 2024 team will add to the historical record.