LEWISBURG, Pa. - Four Terriers reached the podium on the opening day of the 2022 Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Championships, held at Bucknell's Gerhard Fieldhouse.

Freshman Emma Lawrence finished second in her PL debut in the long jump (5.78m) while junior Kevin Murphy also had a runner-up finish in the 5,000-meter run (14:20.390. Sophomore Daisy Liljegren (5,000) and senior Declan Ritzenthaler (pole vault) each earned third-place finishes in their respective events.

In sprints, freshman Toby Makoyawo set a pair of meet records in prelims for the 60-meter (6.67) and 200-meter (21.54) dashes while on the women's side junior Noelani Phillips qualified for the finals in both the 200 (25.29) and 400 (57.14). Sophomore Dakota Jackson will join Makoyawo in Sunday's 60- and 200-meter finals after putting up prelim times of 6.85 and 22.29. In the 60-meter hurdles prelims, sophomore Uchenna Nwosu was third-best at 8.07 seconds to qualify for the championship.

Both the men (24 points) and women (33.5 points) stand in third place after day one. 

"This was definitely a great start to the weekend," said Gabe Sanders, director of track & field and cross country. "We reached the podium in the pole vault for the first time in close to a decade and a lot of good things happened, whether it was PRs or people placing ahead of where they were expected to. There was progress everywhere"
 
Liljegren was part of an impressive effort by the Terriers in the 5,000 as her third-place finish at 16:59.80 was directly followed by two teammates as seniors Corinne Batsu (17:04.06) and Veronica Kriss (17:11.68) took fourth and fifth. 

"Kevin Murphy was outstanding in the 5,000, challenging a top runner from Army, and on the women's side it was a total team effort," said Sanders. "Daisy made a late move and nearly took second.
  
"One of today's highlights was Noelani Phillips making the finals in both the 200 and 400. I think you'll see her on the podium on Sunday. Toby Makoyawo had meet records in both the 60 and 200, and if he puts the race together that we think he can in the 60, he should be able to qualify for nationals."

Sophomore Jules Hogan earned sixth place in the women's long jump at 5.64 meters to earn three points. Despite not being ranked, two BU freshmen earned points in the men's long jump with Ryan Rosenberger (7.03m) and Sam Roszak (6.95m) taking fifth and seventh, respectively.

"Emma Lawrence had the strong debut we knew she would and on the men's side having two other true freshmen – Ryan Rosenberger and Sam Rozack – earn points when they weren't ranked was huge."

In other women's field events, senior Lauren Sikoski tied for seventh in the pole vault (3.55m) and sophomore Emma Kowalski took eighth in the weight throw (16.84m). 

"We talked about 'having your best day,' and that doesn't necessarily mean putting up a PR; it's giving it your all and making the most of the moment," added Sanders. "Emma Kowalski had her back against the wall with one throw left to get into the final. She didn't panic and she got the job done, and ended up getting a point for us."

BU's senior trio of Andrea Claeson (4:55.30), Meghan Convery (4:56.62) and Madeline Bachmann (4:56.76) placed 1-2-3 in the women's mile prelims and senior Aksel Laudon qualified for the final on the men's side, placing third in the prelims at 4:12.46.

Sophomore Isabela Shepard qualified for the 800-meter run finals with a time of 2:13.99, which was the seventh-best in the prelims.

"I promised the team that I wouldn't check the team standings until the very end," said Sanders. "My focus should be on whoever is on the track, the runway or the circle. We're in a position to take a big step for the program as we're fighting for championships, fighting for the podium and fighting for points. On Sunday, our presence will be known. We'll be well-represented in nearly every event."