Even better than expected
ErinCranmer-Hart expected more of a rocky transition.
When she graduated from SlipperyRock HighSchool two years ago and decided to continue her track and cross country careers at DivisionI Bucknell University, she thought she would have to spend more time breaking into big-time college athletics.
She expected the growing pains to be more pronounced and the learning curve steeper.
She was pleasantly surprised to find neither was true.
"It actually went really well," the sophomore said. "I didn't always know what to expect. I just decided to let things go as they go and work really hard."
That hard work has paid off this season.
Cranmer-Hart and her three teammates on the Bucknell 1,600-meter relay team were recently named first-team all-Patriot League.
At the PennRelays, perhaps the most prestigious track and field event in the nation, Cranmer-Hart was a member of Bucknell's school-record breaking medley relay team.
The relay team placed fourth, the highest place earned by any Bucknell athlete or team at the PennRelays.
Cranmer-Hart and her teammates, though, weren't all that excited about the effort.
"We were happy, but we didn't feel like we ran our best race," she said. "I don't think we have felt like we have run our best race all season."
Cranmer-Hart is also a member of Bucknell's cross country team. She finished in the top seven in all seven races and ran her best time of 22 minutes, 36 seconds at the PennState National Invitational.
During her senior year in high school, Cranmer-Hart made her biggest strides.
She advanced to the PIAA Track and Field Championships in the 1,600 and set the school and Butler County record in the event there with a time of 4:49.95, which was good enough for a third-place finish.
She said that experience, and the coaching of Tony Consbruck, helped her land at Bucknell.
"I owe a lot to him," Cranmer-Hart said. "He helped me with my confidence. He helped me trust my ability."
That trust in her ability may lead to bigger and better things in the future.
She and her 1,600 and medley relay teams are hoping one day to get to nationals.
Their time now is close, but not close enough.
"Not this year, but in the future," she said. "We're working on it."
