Villanova University

Dec. 3, 2011

Complete Results

HAVERFORD, Pa. - Senior Shericka Ward (Leesburg, Fla.) broke two meet records - including one of her own previous marks - and freshman Faith Dismuke (Passaic, N.J.) also set a record as Villanova opened the 2011-12 indoor season by hosting the ninth annual Jack Pyrah Invitational at Haverford College on Friday evening. In all the Wildcats registered seven first-place finishes in the season's first meet.

Ward picked up wins in both the 55 meters and the 300 meters while Dismuke won the 500 meters to complete a successful evening in the sprint events for a young Villanova team. Ward crossed the finish line in the 55 meters in 7.07, eclipsing her own previous meet record of 7.12 set last season. In the 300 meters she finished in 39.61 to beat the record of 39.63 that current classmate Christie Verdier set two years ago.

In the 500 meters Dismuke recorded a margin of victory of nearly two seconds with a time of 1:15.52, which was just over three-tenths of a second faster than the meet record which had stood for five years. Former Wildcat Makalia Griffith set the old mark of 1:15.85 back in 2006.

Dismuke was not the only Villanova sprinter to have a successful collegiate debut on Friday evening. Freshmen Varonica Johnson (Charlotte, N.C.) and Qualitra Brown (Suffolk, Va.) each had strong results in the 55 meters and the 300 meters. Johnson was the runner-up to Ward in the 55 meters and placed fifth in the 300 meters, while Johnson was third and second in those two events, respectively. In addition, freshman Emerald Walden (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) won the 55 meter hurdles in 8.19.

In the middle distance events the Wildcats tallied victories in both the 800 meters and the 1000 meters. Freshman Leanne Tucker (Tewksbury, Mass.) won the 800 meters with a time of 2:20.32 and finished six-tenths of a second ahead of senior Erin Ryan (Doylestown, Pa.) in second place. Those results marked strong collegiate debuts for both runners, as Ryan is shifting to the track this year after enjoying a successful four-year career for the Villanova women's soccer team.

Freshman Amanda Borroughs (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) won the 1000 meters with a time of 3:00.32. She emerged as the winner in an exciting finish which saw Borroughs beat out the runner-up from Temple by less than two-tenths of a second.

Two runners competed in the 3000 meters for the Wildcats and freshman Megan Venables (Laurel Springs, N.J.) came in second with a time of 10:20.33, while junior Meghan Smith (Newark, Del.) placed third (10:28.96).

The other win for Villanova came from freshman Kathleen McPhillips (Carlisle, Pa.) in the pole vault. She cleared a height of 3.65 meters on her first try and finished first out of 17 competitors, with three other Wildcats among the entries. McPhillips also finished third in the long jump with a distance of 5.39 meters. The rest of the pole vault competitors from Villanova included junior Kim Logoyda (Randolph, N.J.) and freshman Erica Litvak (Weston, Conn.) tying for third place (3.45m), while senior Melissa Meggiolaro (Whippany, N.J.) placed sixth (3.35m).

There is a great deal of young talent on the Wildcats roster this season and of the 22 athletes that competed for Villanova on Friday night 14 are in their first or second year of collegiate eligibility. Tonight's meet was a good opportunity for the entire team to see where it stands entering an upcoming break for final exams and the holiday season.

Villanova is next in action at the NYC Gotham Cup on January 13 at the New York Armory.

NOTES: The ninth annual Jack Pyrah Invitational was held in memory of longtime Wildcats coach Jack Pyrah ... A bench in his honor was dedicated on the track in Villanova Stadium just over a year ago to celebrate the Jack Pyrah Memorial Fund reaching $100,000 in donations.

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

3000 Meters

Megan Venables                2nd of 19                10:20.33
Meghan Smith                  3rd                      10:28.96

55 Meter Hurdles

Emerald Walden                1st of 15                8.19
Katherine Petruzzellis        7th                      9.09

55 Meters

Shericka Ward                 1st of 27                7.07 (Meet Record)
Varonica Johnson              2nd                      7.17
Qualitra Brown                3rd                      7.24
Samantha Francis              13th                     7.51

500 Meters

Faith Dismuke                 1st of 29                1:15.52 (Meet Record)
Anna Francis                  5th                      1:18.74
Katherine Petruzzellis        17th                     1:23.28

300 Meters

Shericka Ward                 1st of 40                39.61 (Meet Record)
Qualitra Brown                2nd                      40.41
Varonica Johnson              5th                      41.89
Emerald Walden                14th                     43.39

800 Meters

Leanne Tucker                 1st of 11                2:20.32
Erin Ryan                     2nd                      2:20.92

1000 Meters

Amanda Borroughs              1st of 10                3:00.32

4x400 Meter Relay

Villanova `A'                 3rd of 13                4:02.14
Villanova `B'                 4th                      4:05.76

Weight Throw

Jamie Klein                   7th of 7                 9.82m

Long Jump

Kathleen McPhillips           3rd of 15                5.39m
Alexandria Reo                6th                      5.12m
Katherine Petruzzellis        tie-8th                  5.05m

Pole Vault

Kathleen McPhillips           1st of 17                3.65m
Kim Logoyda                   tie-3rd                  3.45m
Erica Litvak                  tie-3rd                  3.45m
Melissa Meggiolaro            6th                      3.35m

Shot Put

Alexi Stershic                7th of 11                9.57m

Triple Jump

Samantha Francis              2nd of 8                 11.35m
Victoria Profit               3rd                      11.32m
Marie Minasi                  4th                      11.14m