Both Kevin Donner, the Bucknell track & field coach, and Marty Owens, Donner's counterpart at Susquehanna, are certainly glad to have their respective conference championships at their home institutions this weekend.

But they also know it comes with a burden, both in terms of expectations and in work.

The two-day Patriot League Championships kick off this morning at Bucknell's Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium with the Bucknell women looking for the triple crown in 2009-10: winning PL titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field.

The Landmark Conference championships begin Saturday at Susquehanna's Lopardo Stadium and conclude Sunday.

It is the first time in a while since the league championships have come to the Valley. Bucknell has not hosted the outdoor championships since 2003 while Susquehanna, which hosted the indoor championships a few months ago, is hosting the outdoor meet for the first time since 2002.

"Having the Patriot League Championships at home is a huge advantage, but is also somewhat of a disadvantage," said Donner, whose women's team is looking for the triple crown for the sixth time since 1998. "Being in familiar surroundings with our fans and our alumni here is going to be great. But classes are still in session and we will have athletes juggling classes on Friday, so that's an obvious disadvantage."

"Hosting any meet is tough, but hosting a meet like is also very exciting," said Owens. "There is something special about being the host. We hope to run a championship-style meet, but there is no doubt things are going to be different."

Leading up to championship weekend, both coaching staffs have been in constant contact with league offices, trying to arrange workers to cover the various events and finding officials.

"There are some disadvantages, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages," Donner said. "This is a meet we've talked about all year. We've talked about doing things the right way, putting ourselves in position to be successful."

"Even though we just hosted the indoor meet, this is totally different and more work," said Owens. "It is a two-day event and we are going to have people all over the place. It will be a challenge, but one we are looking forward to."

Both Bucknell and Susquehanna should be contenders for titles.

The Bison women are the looking to win their second consecutive outdoor title — and 12th overall — after running away with the crown a year ago while the men, runners-up a year ago, are looking for their first title since 1991.

The BU women return several individual champions including Sarah Bella (shot put, discus), Rebecca Frey (pole vault), Stephanie Fulmer (1,500), Jamie Leacock (400 hurdles) and Amy Mantush (high jump, triple jump). The Bison will be without the services of Lewisburg grad Kalle James-Wintjen, a senior who has been part of five league championship teams throughout her career, but will be unable to compete because of injuries.

"We are fortunate to have this chance to contend for the outdoor title and defend our championship," said Donner. "We lost in 2008 to Army by two points and I expect this year to be extremely tight.

"We aren't as deep as we normally are and we will have our hands full with Navy. But we never take winning for granted. Even though we've won most of them, we never take it for granted."

The Bison men are led by former PIAA champion Ted Heitzman out of Southern Columbia. Heitzman, a sophomore, is the top seed in the javelin entering the meet after finishing ninth a year ago. Bucknell also returns three individual champions in Kyle Anthony (triple jump), Andrew Huebner (steeplechase) and Drew Fitzgerald (pole vault).

For the Crusaders, the SU men are hoping to carry the momentum of their indoor title into the spring by knocking off two-time defending champion Moravian, which features Shikellamy grad Nicco Dalpiaz (pole vault).

Susquehanna will look to take advantage of its deep distance pool, highlighted by All-American Paul Thistle. Thistle and the rest of the SU distance runners, along with Bobby Eppleman in the jumps and pole vault, will need big weekends for the Crusaders to come away with the crown.

"We have been flip-flopping with Moravian for the top spot in indoor and outdoor," said Owens. "It's going to come down to who performs the best on that day. If we can get first or second, that would be great."

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