McEntee Places Third in 1500 Meters at Larry Ellis Invitational

Villanova freshman looks strong in first race of outdoor season

Brian Tetreault ran a personal best time in the 800 meters at the Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday night.

April 20, 2012

PRINCETON, N.J.--Freshman middle distance runner Samuel McEntee (Perth, Australia) opened up his outdoor season with a solid race in the 1500 meters and Villanova registered a number of strong performances in the Larry Ellis Invitational at Weaver Stadium on Friday night. Athletes from the Wildcats competed in the 800 meters, the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters in the meet.

McEntee ran for the first time since the NCAA Championships indoors and came in third overall out of 80 runners in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:45.10, leading a group of three Villanova athletes who registered time of 3:50 or better. Freshman Rob Denault (Aurora, Ont.) came in sixth (3:45.89) and junior Mathew Mildenhall (Auckland, New Zealand) placed 13th (3:47.18).

Earlier in the year Denault had competed as an unattached runner but tonight's race was his first in a Wildcats uniform, while Mildenhall was opening up his outdoor season. Their efforts at Princeton collectively give Villanova some momentum heading into the Penn Relays next week and the BIG EAST and other postseason meets next month.

The other finishers for the Wildcats in the 1500 meters included senior Joseph LoRusso (Oakton, Va.) in a tie for 35th place overall (3:50.73), while junior Alex Tully (Little Rock, Ark.) and redshirt freshman Chris O'Sullivan (Havertown, Pa.) tallied times of 3:51.28 and 4:06.46, respectively.

A group of four Villanova runners in the 800 meters was headlined by fifth-year senior Brian Tetreault (Cinnaminson, N.J.), who established a new personal best of 1:51.39 while finishing sixth in his heat and 12th overall out of 72 competitors. Sophomore Chris Fitzsimons (Hamden, Conn.) came in 22nd (1:52.00) and redshirt freshman Dusty Solis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) placed 28th (1:52.30). Senior Joseph Capecci (New Hope, Pa.) tallied a time of 1:54.57.

In the 5000 meters junior Matt Kane (Fairfield, Conn.) set a personal best of 14:21.54 while finishing 24th overall out of 105 entries. Redshirt freshman Brian Basili (South Orange, N.J.) also had a strong race and came in 39th with a time of 14:34.44. Freshman Tom Trainer (Havertown, Pa.) ran the 5000 meters as an unattached runner and finished in 49th place with a time of 14:40.04.

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

800 Meters

Brian Tetreault                    12th of 72               1:51.39
Chris Fitzsimons                   22nd                     1:52.00
Dusty Solis                        28th                     1:52.30
Joseph Capecci                     59th                     1:54.57

1500 Meters

Samuel McEntee                     3rd of 80                3:45.15
Rob Denault                        6th                      3:45.89
Mathew Mildenhall                  13th                     3:47.18
Joseph LoRusso                     tie-35th                 3:50.73
Alex Tully                         40th                     3:51.28
Chris O'Sullivan                   79th                     4:06.46

5000 Meters

Matt Kane                          24th of 105              14:21.54
Brian Basili                       39th                     14:34.44

VILLANOVA RUNNERS COMPETING UNATTACHED

5000 Meters

Tom Trainer                        49th of 105              14:40.04

Villanova University