The Bucknell Track and Field team hosted the Bison Open this past week, including over 20 teams, while also sending multiple athletes to compete at the Penn State University (PSU) Invite. 

At the Bison Open, the Bison men had great success. 

With a time of 1:06:71, Zachary Jelinek ’26 placed first in the 500-meter run. This first-year is making his mark, as he ran four seconds faster than the second-place finisher. Jelinek also competed in the distance medley relay with teammates Gardy Philogene ’26, Jayson Harmer ’26 and Daniel Hilmer ’26, finishing in third place (10:24:81). 

Seth Hoffritz ’23 placed first in the 1000-meter run with a time of 2:37:22, running two seconds ahead of the second-place runner. 

 Rookie Cooper Hyken ’26 placed third in the 60-meter dash (7:04). 

Brian Scotto ’25 finished second in the 60-meter hurdles with a finish of 8.46. 

Thomas White ’25 placed sixth in the Mile Run (4:24.42).

Carrying over from his success in the Gulden Invitational, Brandon Foust ’25 earned the IC4A qualification and was the second overall for his 22.22 time in the 200-meter Dash. 

Franco Perinotti ’23 performed very well in the heptathlon, finishing first with 4655 points. Placing lower within the first couple of events, Perinotti turned things around, and scored the seventh-best in Bucknell history while also placing 19 points better than his previous personal best. 

In the field events, Chris Sims ’25 placed third in the high jump (45-02.50) and teammate Wade Shomper ’26 placed sixth in the Shot Put (50-04.75). 

Our three Bison men that attended the PSU invite also performed very well. 

Samuel Whittaker ’23 is now third in the Bucknell record books for the mile run. This  weekend he ran a 4:05.35 mile time, placing 18th overall. 

Both Robert Feeney ’23 and John Calisi ’23 placed in the top 20, earning IC4A qualifications in the Weight Throw. Feeney tossed the weight for a mark of 59-02.25, earning the eighteenth spot, and Calisi threw for a mark of 55-08.25, earning the twentieth spot. 

 “Some people did well and some struggled, but that’s typical this early in the season,”  Jack Renaghan ’25 said. “Right now, we’re looking forward to this weekend for our first travel meet and continue to gear up for leagues.”

The Bison look forward to the Scarlet and White Invitation at Boston University on Feb. 4 next weekend.