Jan. 10, 2000

On Saturday, Jan. 8, the Villanova University women's track & field team traveled to Fairfax, Virginia to compete at the Winter Invitational on the campus of George Mason University. Villanova's performance was highlighted by four first place finishes by Melinda Boykin (So., Bridgeton, N.J.), Sarah Hunt (Sr., Langhorne, Pa.), Sheila Klick (Fr., Fr., Lansdowne, Pa.) and Ann McGranahan (Fr., Pensacola, Fla.).

Boykin had a throw of 12.97m to win the shot put, while Hunt recorded a mark of 14.53m to capture the weight throw competition. In addition to Hunt's first place effort, the Wildcats placed two other athletes in the weight throw, with freshman Christine Heffernan (Springfield, Pa.) finishing third with a throw of 13.49m and Boykin tallying a fourth place finish with a mark of 13.46m. Hunt also competed in the shot put, where she registered a throw of 11.73m to earn a fifth place finish. Klick won her first collegiate race, winning the 800 meter run in a time of 2:16.56. Geraldine McCarthy (Jr., Listowel, Ireland) and Meghan Courtney (Jr. Waterloo, N.Y.) also ran in the 800 meter race. McCarthy earned a sixth place finish in 2:21.25, while Courtney was eighth in 2:23.01.

Villanova's final first place finish was turned in by McGranahan who ran 4:49.72 to edge out Reebok's Samantha Bates who was timed in 4:50.59. Junior Susan Billings (Berlin, N.J.) also participated in the mile run, finishing 11th in 5:37.54.

Rookie Liz Awtrey (Burke, Va.) ran well for Villanova, as she was clocked in 2:57.19 to finish second in the 1,000 meter run. In the 500 meter run, Villanova had a trio place ninth, 11th and 13th with Jessica Franks (Jr., Lansdale, Pa.) running a time of 1:18.46, Lony'e Johnson (Sr., Wilmington, Del.) in 1:19.83 and Jocelyn Fontaine (Fr., Boothwyn, Pa.) finishing in 1:22.68.

In the long jump competition, junior Marlena Robinson (Rochester, N.Y.) earned a fourth place finish with a jump of 5.30m.

Villanova will return to action on Saturday, January 15th when they travel State College, Pa to compete in the Penn State Invitational.