From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Shaelan McNally, a Bucknell sophomore from Haddon Heights and Paul VI, placed 2^nd Friday in the Patriot Conference Championships.

McNally ran 6,000 meters at Lehigh’s southg campus course in Bethlehem and partially in Lower Saucon Township in 20:39.8, finishing behind only Army senior Charlotte Richman, who won in 20:19.4.

McNally was 22^nd last year at Lafayette. She’s the first Bucknell woman to place 1^st or 2^nd at the conference meet since 2021, when Ashlyn Ramos was second at Lehigh.

McNally led Bucknell to 2^nd place in the team competition with 48 points, behind only Army, who went 1-3-4-5-8 for 21 points.

Bucknell will be back on the same course Nov. 14 for the NCAA Division 1 Mid-Atlantic Championships.

Boston University’s 3^rd runner was Clearview graduate Abby Waddington, who placed 25^th overall in 21:41.4. B.U. placed 4^th with 120 points, behind Army, Bucknell and Navy [99].

Junior Ava Severino from Haddon Heights and sophomore Anya Kazemi from Cherry Hill and Bishop Eustace were Lafayette’s 2^nd and 3^rd runners in 38^th and 40^th, Severino in 22:00.2 and Kazemi in 22:05.4. Severino ran an all-course 6,000 best, breaking her previous mark of 22:11.1 from earlier this month on the same course at Paul Short.