Climbing higher

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

March 17, 2005 Last Updated: March 17, 2005 02:03 PM College

Buczko keeps improving at Bucknell

Melanie Buczko admits to being a perfectionist.

Why not? Since arriving on the track and field scene at Bucknell University, the Butler graduate has been almost perfect.

"She keeps breaking her own records here," Bucknell track and field coach Kevin Donner said. "I see no reason why that won't continue."

Buczko is only a sophomore, but she already owns Bison records in the 60-meter hurdles and pole vault indoors, along with the pole vault outdoors.

She's only a 33rd of a second off breaking the school record of 14.44 seconds in the 100-meter outdoors, set by Edwina Bourn in 2002.

"I don't like to compete in anything unless I feel like I can get better at it," Buczko said. "Otherwise, what's the point?"

Buczko has scored plenty of points for Bucknell over the past two years. The Bison have won the Patriot League women's indoor track and field championship each of the past four years. They've won the outdoor crown three times in the past four years.

Buczko is one of the reasons why.

"The fact she's so good in two events, she's a point-producer," Donner said. "We knew she was good when we got her. She was one of the top pole-vaulters in the state in high school, so Melanie was a prime recruit.

"But she's already been to nationals twice - and she's only a sophomore. We weren't expecting that."

Buczko placed 11th in the outdoors pole vault at NCAA Division I Nationals last spring. She placed 14th at Division I Nationals indoors last weekend, posting a vault of 13 feet, 1½ inches.

She hit a school-record pole vault of 13-5½ during the regular season. The winning vault at indoor nationals was 14-1¼ by Amy Linnen of Kansas.

The indoor nationals were held at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Buczko became only the second Bucknell female ever - Jill Wise qualified in the triple jump in 1988 - to reach the Division I national indoor meet.

"I should have done so much better there," Buczko said. "It was a fast track and my running speed was the best it's been. I couldn't get the right pole to match the approach. It was frustrating."

That's the advantage of being a sophomore.

"I know I'll be back," Buczko said in a determined voice.

Her goals remain lofty ones. This spring, she hopes to hit 13-9 in the pole vault and become an All-American. The latter aspiration requires placing among the top eight at the national meet.

Before she graduates from Bucknell, Buczko wants to clear 14 feet in the pole vault and be a multi-placer at nationals.

"I finished second at our Patriot League meet to my teammate (Angie Hall) last spring and I want to win that this time around," Buczko said.

"Angie and I support each other and push each other. We help motivate each other."

Donner said there's no reason why Buczko won't achieve what she wants.

"She's not too far off 14 feet right now," he said. "And her work ethic is incredible."

While her prime event is the pole vault, Buczko is just as important to the Bison in the hurdles. When one event isn't clicking for her, the other one usually is.

"There are peaks and valleys to any one event in track and field," Donner said. "By competing so well in two events, Melanie takes pressure off herself that way.

"In one league meet this past year, she didn't score in the pole vault. If that was her only event, it might have worked on her mentally. Instead, she came back and picked up valuable points for us in the hurdles.

"She turned a potentially bad day into a positive," Donner added.

Buczko said training for the hurdles also helps her pole vaulting.

"Running hurdles helps increase my speed and my jumping," she said. "I enjoy doing both. I'm used to staying busy on the track. I competed in four events in high school."

A civil engineering major, Buczko figured she would use the momentum of a great high school track career in college.

"I did well in high school, but knew I could do better," she said. "I feel the same way now."

"By no means is she satisfied," Donner said. "That's a good thing."