Five Polar Bears compete at Bucknell's (Pa.) Bison Outdoor Classic

By Steven Wright

LEWISBURG, Pa. — Three male athletes and two female athletes competed for the Ohio Northern outdoor track & field team Friday evening at the Bison Outdoor Classic hosted by Bucknell (Pa.).

Senior distance runner Alan Bowsher had the best showing for the Polar Bears by running a NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 10,000-meter run. Bowsher finished the race in 30:40.81, running under the provisionaly qualifying mark of 31:10.00.

Bowsher's time is also a new Ohio Northern school record, breaking the previous mark of 30:57.20 by nearly 17 seconds.

Freshman Alison Steinbrunner improved her time in the 5,000-meter run by running the race in a season-best 17:58.79, her first time under 18 minutes this season. She finished 23rd in the race.

Freshman Ben Ankrom also ran a season-best time in the 1,500-meter run by finishing 14th in 4:01.41. Sophomore teammate Dan Smith just edged Ankrom by finishing 13th in 4:01.36.

Rounding out the participants for Ohio Northern was sophomore Kelly Casanova who competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Casanova was 17th in the event in a time of 11:42.10.

The rest of the Ohio Northern outdoor track & field team will compete tomorrow at the Mount Union Invitational.