Muncan Establishes New Facility Record at Penn State National Invitational

Junior standout shatters previous mark with time of 2:45.40 in 1000 meters

Marina Muncan. (File Photo)

Jan. 31, 2005

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-Six-time All-American Marina Muncan (Pancevo, Yugoslavia) set a facility record and qualified for the Big East Championships in the 1000 meters with a time of 2:45.40 in competition Saturday at the Penn State National Invitational. Muncan eclipsed the previous mark of 2:46.78 by more than a second at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Her time was the fastest among 21 runners in the race, and was also the sixth-fastest in school history.

Muncan's performance was one of eight top-10 finishes for the Wildcats, who also got a winning time from senior Colleen Taylor (Wilmington, Del.) in the 800 meter run. Taylor qualified for next month's conference meet with a time of 2:11.28 to pace 29 runners in the event.

Results for all Villanova athletes appear below, while the complete results from the weekend can be obtained by visiting the Penn State website at http://www.gopsusports.com.

Villanova returns to action next weekend at the New York Armory Collegiate Invitational.

Complete Villanova Results

200 Meter Dash

Tiera Fletcher - 16th of 30 (24.90)
Sherian Byam - 30th (26.77)

400 Meter Dash

Yolanda Malcolm - 24th of 31 (59.10)

500 Meter Dash

Arusha McKenzie - 7th of 27 (1:15.15)

1 Mile Run

Kirsty Smith - 2nd of 26 (4:48.70)
Bridget Akard - 21st (5:13.91)

800 Meter Run

Colleen Taylor - 1st of 29 (2:11.28)
Akilah Vargas - 7th (2:16.29)

1000 Meter Run

Marina Muncan - 1st of 21 (2:45.40) ** NEW FACILITY RECORD **
Casey Nelson - 18th (3:05.20)

3000 Meter Run

Ioana Parusheva - 5th of 22 (9:38.51)
Elizabeth Gesel - 8th (9:48.78)

60 Meter Hurdles

Monique Morgan - 3rd of 8 (8.52)
**qualified for the finals by placing fifth in preliminaries with a time of 8.57

4x400 Meter Relay

Villanova - 6th of 22 (3:48.56)
Monique Morgan, Arusha McKenzie, Tiera Fletcher, Nicole Bridgwood

Pole Vault

Michelle Ezzie - T-7th of 23 (3.51m / 11'6 ¼")
Erin Swerzbin - T-15th (3.20m / 10'6")

Triple Jump

Nia Cooper - 21st of 25 (11.05m / 36'3")

Shot Put

Abby Smith - 24th of 26 (10.91m / 35'9 ½")

Villanova University