Villanova University

March 26, 2012

In a successful opening to the outdoor season Villanova won four different events in the Big Five Invite at Franklin Field on Saturday afternoon, including two individual running events, one relay and one field event. There was no team scoring at the competition, which was the Wildcats first of the spring season.

Redshirt freshman Dusty Solis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led a group of six Villanova runners in the 1500 meters and finished first with a winning time of 3:58.95. Solis crossed the finish line nearly a full second faster than the runner-up from Columbia and was one of only three runners in the field of 35 that broke the four-minute mark.

One of the most encouraging signs for the Wildcats in the meet was receiving several strong performances in the sprints. Junior Carlton Bowers (Springfield, N.J.) and freshman Bryan Murphy (Teaneck, N.J.) were the top two finishers in the 400 meters, with Bowers recording a first place time of 48.81 and Murphy placing second in 49.17. In addition junior Nicoy Hines (Paterson, N.J.) was the runner-up in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 53.75.

Villanova was victorious in the 4x400 meter relay and registered a time of 3:16.80 to win the event. Hines led off the relay and was followed by Murphy, Bowers and freshman Jake Stillings (Wyckoff, N.J.).

Also noteworthy for the Wildcats were excellent showings in the field events. Senior Frank Anuszewski (Pottstown, Pa.) won the hammer throw with a personal best toss of 55.85 meters and also came in second in the discus with a distance of 43.10 meters.

In the javelin freshmen Chris Glennie (Fallsington, Pa.) and Connor Milanaik (Gladstone, N.J.) finished fourth and fifth, respectively in their first collegiate competition. Glennie threw for a distance of 51.47 meters and Milanaik was close behind with a throw of 49.77 meters.

Junior Lazaro Tiant (Roselle, N.J.) led the Villanova athletes in the jumps with a second place finish in the long jump (6.54m). Freshman Matthew Sidney (Canton, Mass.) placed sixth in the long jump (6.16m) and also tied for fourth place in the high jump (1.93m) along with classmate Elbert Maxwell (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Senior George Bodziock (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) placed seventh in the triple jump (12.29m) and eighth in the long jump (5.77m).

This coming weekend the Wildcats will send athletes to two different events, including the Texas Relays as well as the local Danny Curran Invitational.

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

400 Meters

Carlton Bowers                 1st of 18                48.81
Bryan Murphy                   2nd                      49.17
David Stillings                14th                     52.17
Matt Whalen                    15th                     52.44
Cory Serfoss                   17th                     53.04

400 Meter Hurdles

Nicoy Hines                    2nd of 7                 53.75

1500 Meters

Dusty Solis                    1st of 35                3:58.95
John Castillo                  10th                     4:03.39
Philip O'Connell               14th                     4:04.25
Joseph Capecci                 15th                     4:04.88
Daniel Norman                  18th                     4:05.29
Charlie Bates                  21st                     4:08.37

4x400 Meter Relay

Villanova                      1st of 8                 3:16.80

Hammer Throw

Frank Anuszewski               1st of 10                55.85m
Drew King                      7th                      40.34m
Billy Berrigan                 9th                      37.32m

Discus

Frank Anuszewski               2nd of 10                43.10m

Javelin

Chris Glennie                  4th of 9                 51.47m
Connor Milanaik                5th                      49.77m

Long Jump

Lazaro Tiant                   2nd of 9                 6.54m
Matthew Sidney                 6th                      6.16m
George Bodziock                8th                      5.77m

Triple Jump

George Bodziock                7th                      12.29m

High Jump

Matthew Sidney                 tie-4th of 7             1.93m
Elbert Maxwell                 tie-4th                  1.93m