Dec. 12, 2006

Duquesne University men's cross country coach Jim Lear recently announced the signings of three student-athletes to national letters of intent to run for Duquesne in 2007. Erik Anderson (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley), Mark Bucklaw (Mayfield, PA/Lakeland) and Travis Dean (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop) will be the newest Dukes.

Anderson comes to Duquesne as the number four high school runner in the state of Maryland as selected by mdrunners.com. He was also named First Team All-State, First team All-Metro and was tabbed the Baltimore City Runner of the Year. He was the runner-up at the MIAA cross country championship this fall and placed third in the DC-Baltimore Challenge. In track as a junior he was the MIAA runner-up in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter runs.

Bucklaw was the PIAA Cross Country District II champion in 2004 and 2005 and was the runner-up in 2006. At the state AA championships, he placed fifth in 2004, seventh in 2005 and sixth in 2006. Bucklaw was named the Scranton Times Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2006 and was a four-time selection to the District II All-Region Team.

Dean placed third at the 2006 PIAA AA state championship and was a Second Team All-State choice as well. A Mid-East Championship qualifier and Central Western All Area team honoree, he was the District 6 champion and Laurel Highlands Conference champion also. In track, he is a conference champion, district champion and two-time state qualifier in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs and placed fourth in the 3200 as a junior.

The Dukes finished second at the 2006 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championship.