July 2025 Alumni Update

The moment was surreal. I was running a mile on the old boards, at four in the morning, in perfect darkness, on a frigid February night. I believe it was in my junior year of 1976. But in the dense mist of retrospect, it could have been a year later or earlier. After nearly half a century, I still try to think of it as just a bad dream, regardless of the year. But I know it wasn't a dream, bad or good. Coach had called a team meeting a week or so earlier, venting his frustration over not having enough money in the cross country and track & field budget to send our two mile relay to the NCAA Indoor National Track & Field Championships, which that year was at Cobo Arena in Michigan.

"We have one of the best two mile relays in the country, and we can't get it to nationals," Coach said, visibly furious. Then he told us the entire team had to raise the money by running a twenty-four-hour relay on the boards, asking students, parents, Charlie the crazy jockstrap dispenser in the cage, anyone and everyone to donate money to the challenge of completing it. I drew the four in the morning leg. We completed the relay, raised the money, and sent the team to nationals.

I share that story because it came to mind several days ago, when our Alumni Group was running another twenty four hour relay, this one the time it took us to raise the $6,500.00 Evie Biss '27 needed to compete in the World University Games in Dusseldorf, Germany later this month. Evie had been invited to represent the USA in the javelin. Bucknell declined to provide her the money, for various reasons, but primarily because of a depleted 2024-2025 cross country and track & field budget. And so we raised it in a day through her GoFundMe, enabling her to compete in the meet on July 19th to 26th. Doing so will be as much of an honor for her and for Bucknell cross country and track & field as was the honor of our two mile relay stepping up to the line at nationals half a century ago. Again, while I'm unsure of the year of that surreal twenty four hour relay mile on the boards, it might have been 1976, when Bucknell placed third in the two mile relay at the NCAA's, with Doug Butler '77, Gary Bonasorte '77, Ted Williamson '77, and Tom McLean '78 finishing in 7:34.46.

Whatever the year, we got our two mile relay to the NCAA's half a century ago, just as we got Evie to the World University Games half a century hence. There was a deeply satisfying sense of justice in our doing so then, just as there is a deeply satisfying sense of justice in our doing so now. Each time we encountered and transcended obstacles to give our greatest athletes the opportunities to compete in the greatest meets, opportunities they earned. They were opportunities the entire team then and now earned, as well, helping these athletes in workout after workout, in competition after competition, become the athletes they were on that two mile relay and the athlete Evie is in the javelin. We are one team, then, now, and always.

Yes, there was a valid question to ask then about why Bucknell didn't pay the way for the two mile relay, just as there is a valid question to ask now about why Bucknell isn't paying the way for Evie. There are valid questions to ask now about a depleted 2024-2025 budget that resulted in dozens of our athletes unable to compete in the 2025 IC4A/ECAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May, and four of our athletes and a coach paying their own way to the 2025 USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June. There are valid questions to ask now about how the program can ensure its greatest athletes will not opt for portal transfers in the Age of NIL, moving to other schools that will take them the distance.

For now, let's celebrate a tradition within the tradition of Bucknell cross country and track & field. When we need to do what must be done to get our greatest athletes to the greatest meets, we come through, whether running a surreal mile in the Lewisburg darkness half a century of winters ago to get our two mile relay to Cobo, or stepping up in a single day to raise money many of us can't spare to get Evie onto the world stage in Dusseldorf.

As I said when we went over the top on Evie's $6,500.00, with a total of $6,541.00, we've done great work here, guys.

A Note from Evie Bliss '27

Dear All,

I will never be able to express how much your support means to me. Just a few months ago, I was wondering if I could grasp this amazing opportunity, and now, with your help, I can proudly represent the USA for a third time.

I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of support that poured in. I hope someday I can repay your amazing kindness and generosity, for it has made a lasting impact on me and my life. As I continue on my journey, if there is any way I can help any of you in a mutually beneficial way, I am forever indebted to you all.

With sincere gratitude,

Evelyn Bliss