Bucknell women’s track & field enters the 2025-26 season with loads of talent and skill, eager to break up the Patriot League’s Big Three of Army, Boston, and Navy. Most of the point scorers return for action, and the team has the right touch of balance across its position groups. On paper, it is the best women’s team in a decade, and the direction points upward for the Bison ladies.
Sophomore Alex Lea leads the sprints after her sensational freshman campaign, where she received Rookie of the Meet at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships. The speedster won gold in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes, setting the meet record in the 400 and the school records in both events. She added to her resume by becoming the first Bison sprinter to qualify for the 400-meter dash at the NCAA East First Round under the current format. The sky is the limit for the bolt of lightning.
The sprints aren’t a one-woman show. Alexa Goll has shown immense improvement, and Cami Burkett displayed impressive speed in the 100-meter dash. Coach Alexander recruited a quartet of scintillating freshmen. Grace Camerlingo, Raygan Lust, Jordan Muraglia, and Piper Portacio all bring speed and utility to the position group.
Noelani Sadler was another sensational freshman, setting the school record in the 100-meter hurdles and finishing fifth in the 100-meter hurdles at the Outdoor Championships. Maddie Sipe made the finals in the 400-meter hurdles and returns for another season.
The middle distance group lost Anna Post to graduation but returns Katie Moncavage, who had a great cross country season, and Regan McGrath, who ran 2:11 last year in the 800-meter run. Freshman Madeline Kerr has looked good in preseason.
The long distance corps celebrated a cross country campaign where the Bison finished second for the first time since 2019. Shaelan McNally was the Patriot League runner-up and can run anywhere from the mile to the 10,000-meter run. Kailey Granger, an All-Patriot League runner, will be a strong competitor in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter runs. Injuries hobbled Kerry O’Day during cross country, but she finished seventh in the steeplechase at the Patriot League Championships last year. Caryn Rippey was All-League in cross country for the second straight season and will move up to the longer races in track & field.
The jumps group should blossom into a more active and proficient role this season. High jumper Liliana Wakenshaw shone last year in her first meet before the injury bug bit her. She has returned healthy and raring to go. Captain Madeline Lehker finished eighth in the outdoor championships in the high jump. Megan Baggetta is on the Bison’s all-time top ten list for the triple jump and finished sixth in the indoor championships.
A trio of rookie jumpers will rejuvenate the position group. Kate Harnish was a great long jumper. Muraglia performed 19-2 in the long jump in high school when she wasn’t sprinting, and Emilia Smith adds to the triple jump pool.
The throws group has headlined the Bison effort for several years. The leading lady is, of course, the United States National Champion in the women’s javelin throw, Evelyn Bliss. The junior thrower is a two-time Patriot League champion, the aforementioned USA champion, a two-time All-American, won the 2025 NCAA East First Round, set the school record, won the NACAC Championship, finished second at the FISU World University Games, and placed 19th at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Bliss isn’t alone in her javelin feats. Senior Brylee Tereska is a three-time NCAA East First Round qualifier and has steadily improved her placements at the event. She stands an excellent chance this season of joining Bliss in Eugene for the NCAA National Championships. Tereska ranks third in Bucknell’s top ten. Madelyn Hudak enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, finishing fourth at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships and notching tenth in Bucknell history. The trio has turned Bucknell into Javenell University.
Only an injury last year could halt junior Justley Sharp’s reign of success. She will miss the indoor season after having surgery, but will return in the outdoor portion, looking to return to the NCAA East First Round in the shot put. Sharp owns the school record in indoor and outdoor shot put and the discus. Her presence will be sorely missed during the indoor semester.
Sophomore Maddie Fowler enjoyed a great freshman season, entering the top ten for the shot put, hammer, and weight. She will look to take the next step and qualify for the NCAA East First Round. Prizila Negrete spent the offseason throwing and winning medals for Honduras. She is a strong shot putter, a good discus thrower, and finished eighth in the Patriot League in the hammer. Freshman Julia Sobilo adds depth in the discus.
Senior Elizabeth Bryant headlines the pole vault contingent after finishing fifth at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships. She was remarkably consistent, clearing 12 feet at every meet. Harnish was one of the top vaulters in Pennsylvania.
Samantha Cole returns to lead the multis. She finished eighth in the pentathlon at the Patriot League Indoor Championships. Allison DeMatt starred in the jumps and sprints at Hempfield and will compete in the multi-events this season.
Coach Donner arranged a neat schedule for the season. Bucknell will stay home four times during the indoor campaign and venture to meets hosted by Penn State and the University of Pennsylvania. Boston hosts the Patriot League indoor championships this year.
The outdoor slate is a plum. Bucknell will host the annual Bison Outdoor Classic - one of the largest meets on the East Coast and face Binghamton in a dual meet already titled the Battle of the BUs! The Patriot League Outdoor Championships, hosted by Navy, were pushed back two weeks, allowing the Bison to send full squads to the historical Penn Relays. In past years, the league championships were one week after the Penn Relays. Additionally, the later league championships narrow the gap for any athletes competing in the NCAA East First Round. The ECAC-IC4As Championships were moved to the regular season, enabling their return to the Bison schedule.
The women’s team has a large supply of talent and the fire to break into the Patriot League top three. If the squad can remain healthy, 2025-26 will be a special year on the banks of the Susquehanna.