Villanova University

Jan. 18, 2013

NEW YORK - Junior distance runner Emily Lipari (Greenvale, N.Y.) opened up her indoor season with a career best effort in the 3000 meters and both she and sophomore pole vaulter Alexandra Wasik (Medina, Ohio) set meet records in their respective events in the Great Dane Classic at the New York Armory on Friday night. Villanova had more than a dozen athletes competing in seven events during the meet.

Lipari won the 3000 meters with a time of 9:20.07 and shattered her previous personal best in the event by nine seconds. She now has the third fastest time in the nation to this point in the season as well as the leading BIG EAST time. The field of runners in the 3000 meters included five Wildcats and senior Summer Cook (Thornton, Colo.) also beat the previous Great Dane Classic meet record with a personal best time of 9:29.33.

She placed third out of the 30 entries in the race and was followed by junior teammate Nicky Akande (Lawrenceville, Ga.) in fourth place with a time of 9:44.45. Senior Meghan Smith (Newark, Del.) finished in ninth place (10:09.76, personal best) and sophomore Megan Venables (Laurel Springs, N.J.) was 14th (10:21.59).

Wasik took first place in the pole vault for the third consecutive meet to start the season and matched a personal best height of 3.95 meters. She has cleared 3.90 meters or higher in two of her three outings on the year and today's mark equaled her efforts from last year's BIG EAST Championships, where she earned all-conference honors.

Villanova was also well-represented in the pole vault with four of the top eight finishers. Freshman Virginia LaMacchia (Bloomsburg, Pa.) tied her season best with a height of 3.60 meters to come in sixth, while freshman Abigail Nolte (Branchburg, N.J.) and sophomore Kathleen McPhillips (Carlisle, Pa.) were seventh and eighth, respectively, each with heights of 3.45 meters.

A trio of Wildcats each notched third place finishes in their events, beginning with sophomore Katherine Petruzzellis (Annandale, N.J.) clearing a height of 1.70 meters in the high jump. In the running events sophomore Courtney Chapman (Fayetteville, N.Y.) placed third in the Mile with a time of 4:54.88 and classmate Emerald Walden (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) was third in the finals of the 60 meter hurdles. Walden qualified for the finals after winning her preliminary heat with a time of 8.75, which was sixth overall out of 45 competitors. In the finals her time of 8.80 placed her third out of 14 qualifiers.

Sophomore Varonica Johnson (Charlotte, N.C.) came in fourth out of 48 entries in the 200 meters with a time of 24.82.

Rounding out the group of Villanova athletes in the meet was a trio that competed in the 800 meters. Senior Anna Francis (Brookhaven, N.Y.) was fourth in the race with a time of 2:16.70, while junior Mary Bohi (Shamong, N.J.) came in sixth (2:17.60) and sophomore Amanda Borrougs (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) was 10th (2:18.68).

Next up on the schedule for the Wildcats is the Penn State National Meet, which will be held over two days next Friday and Saturday (January 25-26).

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

60 Meter Hurdles (Preliminaries)

Emerald Walden                         6th of 45           8.75

60 Meter Hurdles (Finals)

Emerald Walden                         3rd of 14           8.80

Mile

Courtney Chapman                       3rd of 22           4:54.88

800 Meters

Anna Francis                           4th of 34           2:16.70
Mary Bohi                              6th                 2:17.60
Amanda Borroughs                       10th                2:18.68

200 Meters

Varonica Johnson                       4th of 48           24.82

3000 Meters

Emily Lipari                           1st of 30           9:20.07 (Meet Record)
Summer Cook                            3rd                 9:29.33
Nicky Akande                           4th                 9:44.45
Meghan Smith                           9th                 10:09.76
Megan Venables                         14th                10:21.59

High Jump

Katherine Petruzzellis                 3rd of 18           1.70m

Pole Vault

Alexandra Wasik                        1st of 17           3.95m  (Meet Record)
Virginia LaMacchia                     6th                 3.60m
Abigail Nolte                          7th                 3.45m
Kathleen McPhillips                    8th                 3.45m

Team Scores

Villanova                              3rd of 21           75 Points