Villanova University

April 14, 2009

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova women's track and field squad had success at the Sea Ray Relays hosted by the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. Amidst the weather-delays, the Wildcats posted NCAA Regional and conference qualifying marks.

In her first 1500m of the 2009 season, All-American senior Frances Koons raced her way to a first place finish. Moving her way up after a slow start with the pack, Koons powered home to run an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 4:20.04.

Junior Nicole Schappert finished third with an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 4:24.54.

Rounding out the 1500m event, senior Ellen Dougherty had a competitive victory in her heat with a time of 4:27.84, just four one-hundredths away from a regional qualifying mark which would add to her qualifier in the 800m.

Freshman Christie Verdier was tough, fighting her fellow competitors and the strong winds in winning her heat of the 400m, which was a BIG EAST qualifying time just before the meet was put on a delay due to strong storms.

On Saturday, Dougherty, Schappert, and Koons were joined by junior Kaitlyn Tallman in capturing the 4x800m relay title in a time of 8.52.61.

Next up, some of the Wildcats will be competing at Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton University and the Widener Invitational at Widener University on Friday and Saturday.