Villanova Running

Nicole Schappert on Declared List for USATF Indoors 1500

2012-02-23T13:04:00.007-06:00

Former Villanova All-American Nicole Schappert, now running for NYAC, will compete in the 1500 meters at this weekend's USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Times with an asterisk indicate a mile, not 1500, time.

Women's 1500 meters -- Status of Entries 
Jennifer Simpson      New Balance           4:07.27  qualified  declared 
Brenda Martinez       New Balance           4:09.96  qualified  declared 
Margaret Infeld       NYAC                  4:10.12  qualified  declared 
Katherine Follett     unattached            4:11.51  qualified  declared 
Lauren Centrowitz     New Balance           4:11.90  qualified  declared 
Sara Vaughn           unattached            4:13.12  qualified  declared 
Lauren Bonds          adidas Raleigh TC     4:14.66  qualified  declared 
Erin Koch             unattached            4:21.21  qualified  declared 
Amanda LoPiccolo      Syracuse Chargers TC  4:24.44  qualified  declared 
Kerri Gallagher       unattached            4:25.25  qualified  declared 
Nicole Schappert      NYAC                  4:33.16* qualified  declared 
Lauren Johnson        unattached            4:34.80* qualified  declared 
Mason Cathey          Saucony               4:39.55  qualified  declared 
Kate Grace            NJ-NY Track Club      4:40.11* qualified  declared 
Shayla Houlihan       Brooks                4:42.38* qualified  declared 
Chantelle Dron        unattached            4:43.50* qualified  declared 
Bianca Martin         Bowerman AC           4:44.86* qualified  declared 
Catherine Beck        New Balance           4:45.02* qualified  declared 
Heather Haug          unattached            4:45.75* qualified  declared 
Rose Wetzel           Club Northwest        4:46.09* qualified  declared 
Sara Hall             Asics                 NT       accepted   declared 
Heather Kampf         Asics                 4:16.76  qualified  scratched 
Mindy Sullivan        unattached            4:46.11* qualified  scratched 
Kyle Linn MacQueen    Greater Boston TC     4:49.74* not qual   scratched

Caitlin Bungo Picks Villanova

2012-02-23T06:57:00.005-06:00

On February 12th, Caitlin Bungo (Sewickley Academy in Sewickley, PA) signed on to run for Gina Procaccio at Villanova. Bungo was 16th at Pennsylvania State Cross Country championships, 1:14 behind the individual state champion, fellow Villanova signee Angel Piccirillo (who is mentioned prominently in the article below). Bungo currently has the following PRs:

800 meters: 2:20.00
1500 meters: 4:46.27
1600 meters: 5:02.94
Mile: 5:03.98
3000 meters: 10:34.34
3200 meters: 11:29.61
5000 meters: 19:45.00

Here is a story that appears in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

North/West Xtra: Sewickley Academy Runner Heading to Villanova

Thursday, February 23, 2012
By Rich Emert, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Caitlin Bungo admits the list of colleges was a bit strange.

It included Villanova, Bucknell, Richmond and Miami of Ohio.

"They really don't seem to have much in common, but that's where I visited and I liked them all for different reasons," said Bungo, a senior at Sewickley Academy and a track and cross country standout for the Panthers.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't think it would be so hard [to make a decision]. There are just so many great schools out there. I just tried to focus on what I thought was important."

She ultimately decided to continue her running career at Villanova, which has a long history of producing All-American runners.

Bungo, who won the WPIAL [western Pennsylvania regional] Class AA cross country title in the fall, was recruited by Villanova coach Gina Procaccio as a middle-distance runner.

She won the 800-meter run in Class AA at the WPIAL track championships last year and was second in the 1,600. At the PIAA meet, she placed third in Class AA in the 1,600 and 10th in the 800.

"I really enjoyed the team and just felt comfortable there," she said when asked about what sold her on Villanova. "I got to meet and sit down with the coach and she told me she tries to keep things relaxed because everyone performs better when they're relaxed."

With her college decision out of the way -- Bungo verbally committed earlier in the month -- she was able to concentrate on running well at the Tri-State Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor Championships, which she did.

The indoor meet was held this past Saturday at Edinboro University and Bungo finished first in the 800-meter run and fourth in the mile. She edged North Hills senior Margo Malone in the 800, finishing in 2 minutes, 21.6 seconds. Malone ran 2:21.8.

In the mile, Bungo finished in 5:07.8. Homer Center senior Angel Piccirillo, who is also a Villanova recruit, was first in an outstanding time of 4:54.83. Malone was second at 5:04.4 with Norwin's Autumn Greba third in 5:05.81. Mary Malone, Margo's younger sister and North Hills teammate, was sixth in 5:11.68.

"I was happy with how I ran," said Bungo when asked about the indoor championships. "I had a [personal record] in the mile, so I was happy about that and winning the 800 against Margo was great. I've been trying to get under 2:20 in the 800 but haven't been able to do it yet and that's been a little frustrating. Hopefully, that will happen."

Bungo will compete in the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association state championship meet Saturday at Penn State University's multi-purpose indoor facility. She is entered in only the 3,000-meter run and is seeded 11th with a time of 10:34.34. Piccirillo is seeded first at 10:06.20.

"I haven't run the 3,000 that much and I wanted to do it to see what I could do," she said. "I just wanted to run one race there. That seemed like enough."

Bungo had an opportunity to talk with future teammate Piccirillo at the TSTCA indoor championships this past weekend. She said she will keep an eye on Piccirillo's times during the outdoor track season that will get underway in late March.

"It was good to meet her and we're both excited about going to Villanova. It will be great to be on the same team as her," Bungo said.

She added that it is a relief to have her college decision out of the way.

"I can just go out and focus on getting some PRs. I'd like to get under 5 minutes in the mile and under that 2:20 in the 800," Bungo said. "I'm happy with my decision and knowing where I'll be next year."

Kelsey Margey in Brooks PR Invitational Mile in Seattle

2012-02-21T00:01:00.002-06:00

Villanova signee Kelsey Margey (Long Island, NY) will compete in the invitational girls mile at the Brooks PR Invitational. The meet will take place on February 26th in Seattle (at the University of Washington's over-sized track) and will be streamed live on FloTrack. Here's the start list for the race.

Girls Mile        
Maddie Meyers     SR   The Northwest School          Seattle, WA 
Kelsey Margey     SR   Friends Academy               Locust Valley, NY 
Nikki Hiltz       JR   Aptos High School             Aptos, CA 
Molly Siedel      JR   University Lake High School   Hartland, WI 
Haley Meier       JR   Grosse Pointe South HS        Gross Pointe Farms, MI 
Rachel Paul       SR   Sachem High School East       Farmingville, NY 
Allison Sturges   SR   Mountain View High School     Mountain View, CA 
Kelly Lawson      JR   La Costa Canyon High School   Carlsbad, CA

What We Learned from the Big East Indoor Meet

2012-02-20T10:08:00.015-06:00

The Villanova men and women's teams acquitted themselves well at the Big East Indoor Championship meet over the weekend; the women were third and the men fourth in the team standings. Several things became clear as the meet progressed:

(1) Sam Ellison is a monster. First, even though he did not win the 500 meter dash, Ellison ran 1:01.17 - faster than reigning Olympic 400 meter gold medalist LaShawn Merritt ran that distance on the same track a week ago. It took an world-leading time and collegiate record to beat him. He then anchored the men's 4 x 800 meter relay squad and unleashed a late ferocious kick to split 1:49 and win the conference title for the Villanova men. Only a sophomore, the next 2.5 years of Sam Ellison should be fun to watch.

(2) Emily Lipari really does have good closing speed (but we already know that). The shortest runner in every race she's in, Lipari's kick is really devastating and has to be demoralizing to her competitors. Lipari won the 1000 meters over the weekend and anchored the women's 4 x 800 relay in a similar fashion -- maintain contact with the leaders until 200 meters to go, and then employ the extra gear to catapult herself to the lead. She split a super 2:05.8 over 800 meters in the DMR on Saturday. Also only a sophomore, there's a very high ceiling on her future accomplishments.

(3) Bogdana Mimic is the least ballyhooed great runner in recent Villanova history. Running for years in the sizable shadows of Sheila Reid and, to a lesser extent, Amanda Marino, Mimic has quietly put together multiple All-American performances, conference championships, and NCAA finals. She won the 5000 meters title this weekend. Her career is reminiscent of that of Ryan Hayden, who played Robin to Adrian Blincoe's Batman in the previous decade.

(4) Sam McEntee -- already a 3:57 miler before his 20th birthday -- has great versatility, from 800 meters to 5000 meters to 10K cross country. He's been on campus only 14 months and is already a key pillar of the team. He split 1:51 on the third leg of the 4 x 800, giving Villanova and Sam Ellison a chance to overtake the Notre Dame anchor, and ran a close second to defending Big East champion (and 2011 NCAA 1500 meter finalist) Jeremy Rae in the mile. McEntee is one of only 10 men in the NCAA with an automatic qualifier in the mile for the NCAA indoor championship meet.

5) Villanova has plenty of milers. The men qualified four -- Sam McEntee, Joe LoRusso, Dan Harris, and Alex Tully -- for the Big East mile final. Not to mention the additional five men who qualified for the mile, but ran in other races. As for the women, six qualified for the conference meet in the mile. Stephanie Schappert took third in the final, with Nicky Akande seventh. The Villanova women's best miler -- Emily Lipari -- didn't even compete at that distance, going instead to the 1000 meters, which she won. All told, Villanova qualified 15 milers for the Big East championship meet.

Stephanie Schappert Provides Nova Surprise of the Weekend

2012-02-20T08:08:00.010-06:00

Villanova freshman Stephanie Schappert entered this weekend's Big East Indoor Championships meet as the 34th fastest conference miler, and had the 4th fastest mile time on her own team. She qualified for the mile final on Saturday with the 11th best preliminary time of 4:54.50. Yet she emerged from the meet as an All Big East performer and made the podium with a third place finish in the final and a new mile PR of 4:48.90. Aside from the performance of Georgetown's Emily Infeld, who ran to a solo victory well ahead of the rest of the field, the rest of the women seemed to concede the race to Infeld and run strategically for the other top spots. That strategy played well into Schappert's strengths as an 800 meter runner and she was able to charge home for third.

Event 13  Women 1 Mile Run
=======================================================================
 NOTE 1-8 ON STARTING LINE 9-12 ON UP ALLEY
 MEET: M 4:34.78  2/22/2009  Keri Bland, W Virginia                 
 ECAC Qual: E 4:59.04                                                        
 NCAA Auto: A 4:37.00                                                        
 ARMORY C: C 4:32.95  2011  Lucy Van Dalen, W Virginia             
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
Finals
  1   152 Emily Infeld        JR GEORGETOWN             4:43.57E  10   
  2   104 Heather Wilson      SR CONNECTICUT            4:47.50E   8   
  3   598 Stephanie Schappert FR VILLANOVA              4:48.90E   6   
  4   256 Alexa Aragon        SO NOTRE DAME             4:49.04E   5   
  5   404 Emily Sisson        FR PROVIDENCE             4:49.52E   4   
  6    95 Shauna McNiff       JR CONNECTICUT            4:51.47E   3   
  7   141 Madeline Chambers   FR GEORGETOWN             4:52.20E   2   
  8   271 Kelly Curran        SO NOTRE DAME             4:53.15E   1   
  9   570 Nicky Akande        SO VILLANOVA              4:53.20E 
 10   163 Kelsey Smith        FR GEORGETOWN             4:55.82E 
 11   301 Meg Ryan            SO NOTRE DAME             4:57.33E 
 12   406 Grace Thek          SO PROVIDENCE             4:57.38E

McEntee Second at Big East Mile

2012-02-20T07:41:00.004-06:00

Well, the "glass half full" version of this Big East mile championship race is that Sam McEntee improved his 2011 Big East mile finish from 6th (4:10.61) last year to a close second (4:05.92) this year. The "glass half empty" part of the story, however, is that McEntee learned the same lesson absorbed last year by Matt Gibney: it's not very easy to run down Notre Dame's Jeremy Rae. Rae, the defending conference champion indoors, was shadowed by McEntee throughout the race, but McEntee could not get past Rae on the final lap. As in last year's race, when Rae beat Gibney by .36 seconds, Rae created separation from McEntee and had just enough turnover to keep the Villanova sophomore at bay. This time McEntee made a serious move off the final turn, but Rae -- an NCAA 1500 meter finalist outdoors in 2011 -- subtly moved out to lane 2 to thwart the effort, beating McEntee by .44 seconds. Villanova travels to Notre Dame in two weekends, providing McEntee a chance at revenge.

Joe LoRusso was 7th, Alex Tully 11th, and Danny Harris 12th, as Villanova qualified four men for the mile final.

Event 14  Men 1 Mile Run
=======================================================================
 NOTE 1-8 ON STARTING LINE 9-12 ON UPPER ALLEY
        MEET: M 4:00.12  2/22/2008   Kurt Benninger, Notre Dame                
  IC4A Qual.: I 4:14.90                                                        
   NCAA Auto: A 3:57.90                                                        
    ARMORY C: C 3:54.54  2012        Miles Batty, BYU                          
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
Finals
  1  1059 Jeremy Rae          JR NOTRE DAME             4:05.48I  10   
  2  1281 Sam McEntee         SO VILLANOVA              4:05.92I   8   
  3   830 Joe Clark           JR CONNECTICUT            4:08.32I   6   
  4  1048 J.P. Malette        JR NOTRE DAME             4:10.55I   5   
  5   978 Jack Hackett        SR MARQUETTE              4:11.30I   4   
  6   900 Ben Furcht          SO GEORGETOWN             4:11.35I   3   
  7  1278 Joseph LoRusso      JR VILLANOVA              4:11.74I   2   
  8   923 Dylan Sorensen      SO GEORGETOWN             4:12.04I   1   
  9  1249 Joseph Whelan       FR SYRACUSE               4:12.20I 
 10  1120 Corey Brunelle      SR PROVIDENCE             4:13.28I 
 11  1299 Alex Tully          SO VILLANOVA              4:13.77I 
 12  1271 Danny Harris        FR VILLANOVA              4:14.47I

Wildcats Sweep Men's & Women's 4 x 800 Relays at Big East

2012-02-19T14:09:00.009-06:00

Showing middle distance depth on both sides of the team, both the Villanova men and women used sparkling anchor legs to come from behind to win Big East titles in the 4 x 800 meters.

On the men's side, Sam Ellison took the baton 2 seconds in arrears to the Notre Dame anchor, Randall Babb. Ellison stayed in contact for 600 meters before unleashing a devastating kick to lead Villanova to the win. Sam McEntee, doubling back from a second-place finish in the mile, ran a clutch third leg to bring Villanova from fourth to second at the start of the anchor leg. The relay splits for the men were Brian Tetreault (1:53.6), Chris FitzSimons (1:53.1), Sam McEntee (1:51.4) and Sam Ellison (1:49.4).

4x800m Relay

Meet Record: 7:25.31, Notre Dame (2011)
Armory Collegiate Record: 7:25.47, Columbia (2012)
Qualifiers: IC4A — 7:53.00.   

Finals • Sun., 2:45 pm
  1 Villanova                                           7:27.91  10   
     1) 1296 Brian Tetreault SR         2) 1269 Christopher Fitzsimons FR 
     3) 1281 Sam McEntee SO             4) 1268 Samuel Ellison SO         
  2 Notre Dame                                          7:28.57   8   
     1) 1065 Johnathan Shawel SR        2) 1071 Zac Suriano SR            
     3) 1059 Jeremy Rae JR              4) 1012 Randall Babb SR           
  3 UConn                                               7:32.57   5.50
     1) 825 Alex Bennatan JR            2) 843 Scott Johnson SR           
     3) 830 Joe Clark JR                4) 826 Tim Bennatan JR            
  3 Georgetown                                          7:32.57   5.50
     1) 916 Bobby Peavey SO             2) 927 Toby Ulm SR                
     3) 918 Michael Reher FR            4) 906 Omar Kaddurah FR           
  5 Pitt                                                7:34.10   4   
     1) 1099 Samuel Negley SO           2) 1109 Wesley Washington JR      
     3) 1089 Kevin Hull JR              4) 1083 Dontave Cowsette SR       
  6 DePaul                                              7:38.24   3   
     1) 866 Maxwell Clink JR            2) 872 Luke Junk SO               
     3) 880 Ian Sanchez SO              4) 877 Chris Miedema SO           
  7 Marquette                                           7:45.23   2   
     1) 995 Evan Ross JR                2) 999 Benjamin Schmitz JR        
     3) 997 David Sajdak FR             4) 978 Jack Hackett SR            
  8 Rutgers                                             7:47.18   1   
     1) 1168 Karon Purcell SO           2) 1165 Monroe Kearns JR          
     3) 1157 Hamer Farag SO             4) 1170 Curtis Richburg SO        
  9 Providence                                          7:55.00  
     1) 1137 Nikolas Rebovich JR        2) 1133 Phelan McCormack FR       
     3) 1120 Corey Brunelle SR          4) 1140 Alex Wallace JR           
 -- Syracuse                                                DNF  
     1) 1210 Sean Carney FR             2) 1235 Andrew Nelson JR          
     3) 1207 Andy Bennison FR           4) 1246 Ryan Urie

A similar story unfolded for the women's quartet. Notre Dame led throughout, and Emily Lipari got the last handoff in third place. She quickly got on the heels of Notre Dame's Rebecca Tracy. Lipari sat on Tracy until the final lap and showed her customary closing speed in passing Tracy for the win. The Villanova women split this way: Stephanie Schappert (2:11.5), Nicky Akande (2:07.6), Ariann Neutts (2:10.6), and Emily Lipari (2:08.7), for a time of 8:38.55.

4x800m Relay

Meet Record: 8:37.02, Villanova (1991)
Armory Collegiate Record: 8:37.97, BYU (2012)
Qualifiers: ECAC — 9:25.24.   

Finals • Sun., 2:35 pm
  1 Villanova                                           8:38.55  10   
     1) 598 Stephanie Schappert FR      2) 570 Nicky Akande SO            
     3) 593 Ariann Neutts JR            4) 585 Emily Lipari SO            
  2 Notre Dame                                          8:39.24   8   
     1) 271 Kelly Curran SO             2) 256 Alexa Aragon SO            
     3) 305 McKinzie Schulz SO          4) 309 Rebecca Tracy JR           
  3 Georgetown                                          8:42.95   6   
     1) 140 Lauren Borduin SR           2) 160 Hannah Neczypor FR         
     3) 143 Chelsea Cox SO              4) 162 Rachel Schneider JR        
  4 UConn                                               8:43.89   5   
     1) 81 Shelby Donahue SR            2) 78 Meghan Cunningham SR        
     3) 104 Heather Wilson SR           4) 93 Brigitte Mania JR           
  5 Cincinnati                                          8:51.06   4   
     1) 29 Kaitlyn Good SO              2) 33 Jenna Heaton SR             
     3) 36 Katie Honigford SR           4) 38 Kathy Klump SR              
  6 Syracuse                                            9:02.63   3   
     1) 539 Molly Malone FR             2) 557 Brenna Symoniak SO         
     3) 529 Katie Hursey SR             4) 562 Beth Wright FR             
  7 Rutgers                                             9:03.33   2   
     1) 426 Christina Dibernardo FR     2) 424 Ashley Deckert SO          
     3) 440 Allison Payenski FR         4) 441 Victoria Pontecorvo JR     
  8 Providence                                          9:06.44   1   
     1) 400 Devyn Pryor FR              2) 395 Jackie McCarthy SO         
     3) 388 Laura Isabelle SO           4) 389 Caile Kohlbrenner FR       
  9 Pitt                                                9:08.34 
     1) 353 Korinne Piper JR            2) 352 Morgan Perry FR            
     3) 338 Miya Johnson SR             4) 341 Elizabeth Kline JR         
 10 Marquette                                           9:10.61 
     1)                                 2) 236 Krista McClure FR          
     3) 235 Grace Magliola SO           4) 245 Mackenzie Vicker FR        
 11 West Virginia                                       9:10.85 
     1) 611 Stephanie Aldea JR          2) 620 Shannen Daly FR            
     3) 616 Kaylyn Christopher SR       4) 618 Josie Crouch FR            
 12 Louisville                                          9:12.50 
     1) 199 Michelle Molodynia FR       2) 183 Madie Davidson SO          
     3) 198 Cassie Martin JR            4) 186 Maria Frigo SO             
 13 St. John's                                          9:15.62
     1) 462 Michelle Duffy JR           2) 458 Alexis Bean SO             
     3) 460 Nicole Cocozza JR           4) 481 Aryon Trujillo JR

Emily Lipari Wins Big East Title in 1000 Meters

2012-02-19T13:16:00.004-06:00

Sophomore Emily Lipari won her first individual conference title this morning, winning the 1000 meters handily in 2:46.94. Lipari crushed her previous 1000 PR (2:49.06) by over two seconds, coming from 3rd or 4th place through 800 meters Her teammate Ariann Neutts ran from the front for much of the race and finished fourth, two seconds back. Combined they scored 15 team points for the women.

1000m Run

Meet Record: 2:43.70, Sheila Reid, Villanova (2011)
Armory Collegiate Record: 2:44.34, Charlene Lipsey, LSU (2012)
Qualifiers: ECAC — 2:56.24.

Finals • Sun., 11:20 am
  1   585 Emily Lipari        SO Villanova             2:46.94  10   
  2   539 Molly Malone        FR Syracuse              2:48.58   8   
  3   162 Rachel Schneider    JR Georgetown            2:48.63   6   
  4   593 Ariann Neutts       JR Villanova             2:48.82   5   
  5   275 Emily Frydrych      FR Notre Dame            2:49.21   4   
  6   160 Hannah Neczypor     FR Georgetown            2:50.45   3   
  7   140 Lauren Borduin      SR Georgetown            2:50.49   2   
  8    78 Meghan Cunningham   SR UConn                 2:52.44   1   
  9    83 Stephanie Ellis     SO UConn                 3:02.44

Hugo Beamish & Bogdana Mimic Win Big East 5000 Crowns

2012-02-18T18:37:00.011-06:00

In day 1 results from the Big East Indoor Championships at the Armory in New York, Villanova's Hugo Beamish led a 1-2 Villanova finish in the men's 5000 meters, winning in 14:06.40. In winning, Beamish defended his 2011 5000 meter conference title. It was Beamish's first race of the season and, as the video shows, he owed teammate Ryan Sheridan a debt for doing much of the work from the front. Sheridan and Beamish separated themselves from the chase pack earlier on and methodically went about their business. Sheridan towed Beamish all the way past the 4000 meter mark before Beamish went by at with 520 meters to go to win his second consecutive Big East Indoor 5000 title (he won last year in 14:16.11). Ryan Sheridan was second in 14:10.73. Matt Kane added another team point, in finishing eighth. On the women's side, Bogdana Mimic won a duel to the tape with Providence's Laura Nagel, winning 16:25.53 to 16:25.81. In other noteworthy developments, the women's DMR squad of Courtney Chapman (3:30.4), Faith Dismuke (57.2), Emily Lipari (2:05.8), and Nicky Akande (4:39.9) took second, while the men's DMR -- Chris O'Sullivan (3:01), Bryan Murphy (48.6), Brian Tetreault (1:53.1), and Mathew Mildenhall (4:06.4) -- took third. Women's pole vaulter Alex Wasik (3.95 m) took second place, with Mel Meggiolaro (3.60 m) and Kathleen McPhillips (3.60 m) tied for 7th. Kathleen Petruzzelis finished 8th in the pentathlon, providing a team point for the women's squad. Finally, senior Frank Anuszewski finished third in the weight throw after his 61' 6.75" throw.

Villanova is set up quite nicely for tomorrow's finals, after some nice performances today in the preliminary rounds. The men qualified 4 finalists in the 12-man mile finals: Sam McEntee (4:10.9), Alex Tully (4:12.14), Joe LoRusso (4:13.11), and Danny Harris (4:13.14). For the women, Nicky Akande (4:47.54 PR) and Stephanie Schappert (4:54.50) also advanced to the finals of the mile. Both Ariann Neutts (2:51.39) and Emily Lipari (2:53.47) ran well and advanced to the finals in the 1000 meters. In the men's 1000, Brian Tetreault won his heat in 2:29.61 and advanced. He'll be joined there by Dusty Solis, who ran 2:27.22 in the prelims. Sam Ellison ran a PR 1:01.81 in the 500 meters and easily advanced to the final. Christie Verdier advanced to the 400 meter final and Shericka Ward qualified for both the 60 meter hurdle and 200 meter finals. In the 800 meters, Chris FitzSimons won his heat in 1:54.12 and will run in tomorrow's final. In the women's 800, Leann Tucker and Erin Ryan both advanced to the finals. Here are the results of the two events that crowned Big East titles for Beamish and Mimic.

Finals • Sat., 4:55 pm
  1  1258 Hugo Beamish        JR Villanova             14:06.40  10   
  2  1292 Ryan Sheridan       SR Villanova             14:10.73   8   
  3  1252 Jace Lowry          FR Syracuse              14:13.09   6   
  4  1219 Martin Hehir        FR Syracuse              14:13.49   5   
  5   911 Alexander Lundy     SR Georgetown            14:14.57   4   
  6   870 Matthew Graham      SR DePaul                14:17.12   3   
  7  1236 Andrew Palmer       FR Syracuse              14:21.57   2   
  8  1274 Matthew Kane        JR Villanova             14:22.73   1   
  9   910 TC Lumbar           SR Georgetown            14:26.98 
 10   899 Mark Dennin         JR Georgetown            14:28.39 
 11  1212 Pat Dupont          JR Syracuse              14:28.94 
 12  1121 Lee Carey           JR Providence            14:31.45 
 13   907 Brian King          FR Georgetown            14:37.69 
 14   980 Blake Johnson       SR Marquette             14:39.76 
 15   971 Connor Callahan     JR Marquette             14:46.68 
 16  1041 Jake Kildoo         FR Notre Dame            14:49.42  
 17  1047 Jeff MacMillan      JR Notre Dame            14:50.57  
 18   846 Ryan McGuire        SO UConn                 14:57.30  
 19   941 Gordon Dooley       JR Louisville            15:08.02  
 20  1283 Greg Morrin         SO Villanova             15:12.79  
 21   977 Bob Guthrie         SO Marquette             15:13.33  
 22  1046 Kelly Lynch         SR Notre Dame            15:17.11

Finals • Sat., 4:30 pm
  1   591 Bogdana Mimic       JR Villanova             16:25.53  10   
  2   397 Laura Nagel         SO Providence            16:25.81   8   
  3   547 Lauren Penney       JR Syracuse              16:38.31   6   
  4   195 Holly Knight        SR Louisville            16:38.54   5   
  5   153 Emily Jones         SO Georgetown            16:39.25   4   
  6   623 Katie Gillespie     SO West Virginia         16:42.41   3   
  7   311 Rachel Velarde      SR Notre Dame            16:50.49   2   
  8   641 Jessica O'Connell   SR West Virginia         16:59.25   1   
  9   521 Natalie Busby       SR Syracuse              17:03.70 
 10   529 Katie Hursey        SR Syracuse              17:06.18 
 11   503 Allie Prendergast   SR South Florida         17:10.64 
 12   402 Samantha Roecker    JR Providence            17:11.88 
 13   632 Ahna Lewis          SR West Virginia         17:14.43 
 14   303 Jessica Rydberg     JR Notre Dame            17:21.98 
 15   532 Lauren Kersjes      SO Syracuse              17:27.43 
 16   602 Megan Venables      FR Villanova             17:32.29 
 17   425 Brianna Deming      SO Rutgers               17:39.16

Big East Heat Sheets -- Villanova Women

2012-02-17T11:28:00.002-06:00


Event 2  Indoor Pentathlon: #1 Women 60 Meter Hurdles
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 8:00 AM
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  2    494 Rachel Etienne                SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  4     14 Dominique Best                SO CINCINNATI                  
  6    492 Lindsay Arnold                SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
  8    510 Alex Ware                     SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
Section 2  Timed Finals
  2     24 Jasmine Cotten                SR CINCINNATI                  
  4    420 Kristen Bradley               SO RUTGERS                     
  6    290 Carly Loeffel                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
Section 3  Timed Finals
  2    447 Emily Vargas                  SO RUTGERS                     
  4     29 Kaitlyn Good                  SO CINCINNATI                  
  6    341 Elizabeth Kline               JR PITTSBURGH                  
  8    180 Kim Cardeiro                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
Section 4  Timed Finals
  2    356 Natalie Ryan                  JR PITTSBURGH                  
  4    267 Maddie Buttinger              SR NOTRE DAME                  
  6    166 Autumn Touchstone             SR GEORGETOWN                  
  8    594 Katherine Petruzzelis         FR VILLANOVA


Event 2  Indoor Pentathlon: #1 Women 60 Meter Hurdles
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 8:00 AM
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  2    494 Rachel Etienne                SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  4     14 Dominique Best                SO CINCINNATI                  
  6    492 Lindsay Arnold                SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
  8    510 Alex Ware                     SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
Section 2  Timed Finals
  2     24 Jasmine Cotten                SR CINCINNATI                  
  4    420 Kristen Bradley               SO RUTGERS                     
  6    290 Carly Loeffel                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
Section 3  Timed Finals
  2    447 Emily Vargas                  SO RUTGERS                     
  4     29 Kaitlyn Good                  SO CINCINNATI                  
  6    341 Elizabeth Kline               JR PITTSBURGH                  
  8    180 Kim Cardeiro                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
Section 4  Timed Finals
  2    356 Natalie Ryan                  JR PITTSBURGH                  
  4    267 Maddie Buttinger              SR NOTRE DAME                  
  6    166 Autumn Touchstone             SR GEORGETOWN                  
  8    594 Katherine Petruzzelis         FR VILLANOVA


Event 2  Indoor Pentathlon: #3 Women Shot Put
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 10:30 AM
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1    166 Autumn Touchstone             SR GEORGETOWN                  
  2    420 Kristen Bradley               SO RUTGERS                     
  3     29 Kaitlyn Good                  SO CINCINNATI                  
  4    180 Kim Cardeiro                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
  5    594 Katherine Petruzzelis         FR VILLANOVA                   
  6    290 Carly Loeffel                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
  7    341 Elizabeth Kline               JR PITTSBURGH                  
  8     24 Jasmine Cotten                SR CINCINNATI                  
  9    267 Maddie Buttinger              SR NOTRE DAME                  
 10    510 Alex Ware                     SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
 11    494 Rachel Etienne                SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
 12    492 Lindsay Arnold                SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
 13    447 Emily Vargas                  SO RUTGERS                     
 14     14 Dominique Best                SO CINCINNATI                  
 15    356 Natalie Ryan                  JR PITTSBURGH


 Event 2  Indoor Pentathlon: #4 Women Long Jump
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 11:45 AM
 PIT "A"
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1    420 Kristen Bradley               SO RUTGERS                     
  2    594 Katherine Petruzzelis         FR VILLANOVA                   
  3    447 Emily Vargas                  SO RUTGERS                     
  4    166 Autumn Touchstone             SR GEORGETOWN                  
  5     14 Dominique Best                SO CINCINNATI                  
  6    494 Rachel Etienne                SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  7     29 Kaitlyn Good                  SO CINCINNATI                  
  8    290 Carly Loeffel                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
  9    492 Lindsay Arnold                SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
 10    341 Elizabeth Kline               JR PITTSBURGH                  
 11    356 Natalie Ryan                  JR PITTSBURGH                  
 12    267 Maddie Buttinger              SR NOTRE DAME                  
 13    510 Alex Ware                     SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
 14    180 Kim Cardeiro                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
 15     24 Jasmine Cotten                SR CINCINNATI


Event 2  Indoor Pentathlon: #5 Women 800 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 1:00 PM
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  1    510 Alex Ware                     SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  2     24 Jasmine Cotten                SR CINCINNATI                  
  3    356 Natalie Ryan                  JR PITTSBURGH                  
  4    594 Katherine Petruzzelis         FR VILLANOVA                   
  5    166 Autumn Touchstone             SR GEORGETOWN                  
  6     29 Kaitlyn Good                  SO CINCINNATI                  
  7     14 Dominique Best                SO CINCINNATI                  
  8    494 Rachel Etienne                SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  9    420 Kristen Bradley               SO RUTGERS                     
 10    180 Kim Cardeiro                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
 11    447 Emily Vargas                  SO RUTGERS                     
 12    492 Lindsay Arnold                SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
 13    290 Carly Loeffel                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
 14    267 Maddie Buttinger              SR NOTRE DAME                  
 15    341 Elizabeth Kline               JR PITTSBURGH


Event 3  Women 60 Meter Hurdles
===============================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 1 Each Heat plus Next 6 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 12:00 PM
        MEET:   8.04  1999        Yolanda McCray, Miami                        
  ECAC Qual.:   8.80                                                           
   NCAA Auto:   8.10                                                           
    ARMORY C:   7.97  2012        Brianna Rollins, Bridgette Owens, Clemson    
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  1    604 Emerald Walden                FR VILLANOVA                   
  2    100 Madalayne Smith               SO CONNECTICUT                 
  3     18 Paris Campbell                SR CINCINNATI                  
  4    161 Diana Sainvil                 SO GEORGETOWN                  
  5    258 Kaila Barber                  FR NOTRE DAME                  
  6     32 DanHeisha Harding             JR CINCINNATI                  
  7    257 Jade Barber                   FR NOTRE DAME                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  1    442 Meagan Robinson               FR RUTGERS                     
  2    306 Nevada Sorenson               JR NOTRE DAME                  
  3    647 Chene Townsend                JR WEST VIRGINIA                
  4    605 Shericka Ward                 SR VILLANOVA                   
  5     53 Je'Rica Sanders               FR CINCINNATI                  
  6    535 Sa'De Lewis                   SO SYRACUSE                    
  7     72 Shavon Briscoe                SO CONNECTICUT


Event 5  Women 60 Meter Dash
===============================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 1 Each Heat plus Next 4 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 12:40 PM
        MEET:   7.26  2011        Trisha-Ann Hawthorne, Connecticut            
  ECAC Qual.:   7.68                                                           
   NCAA Auto:   7.23                                                           
    ARMORY C:   7.17  2008        Kelly Baptiste, LSU                          
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  1    583 Varonica Johnson              FR VILLANOVA                   
  2    549 Klarrisa Ricks                FR SYRACUSE                    
  3    501 Shambrey Oliver               SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  4     48 Shanay Portis                 JR CINCINNATI                  
  5    429 Tylia Gillon                  SO RUTGERS                     
  6    330 Taylor Ellis-Watson           FR PITTSBURGH                  
  7    310 Aijah Urssery                 SO NOTRE DAME                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  1    496 Dariel Jackson                JR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  2    365 Ashley Woodford               JR PITTSBURGH                  
  3    471 Rikka Lovely                  SO ST. JOHN'S                  
  4    155 Amanda Kimbers                JR GEORGETOWN                  
  5     31 Morgan Gordon                 SO CINCINNATI                  
  6    522 Sabrina Cammock               FR SYRACUSE                    
Heat 3  Prelims
  1    512 Monique Williams              SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
  2    190 Margret Harris                JR LOUISVILLE                  
  3    339 Cambrya Jones                 SR PITTSBURGH                  
  4     92 Danielle Lyte                 JR CONNECTICUT                 
  5    533 Ashley Keyes                  SO SYRACUSE                    
  6    482 Corrine Williams              SO ST. JOHN'S                  
Heat 4  Prelims
  1     27 Alyssa Edley                  JR CINCINNATI                  
  2    165 Tenille Stoudenmire           SO GEORGETOWN                  
  3    543 Flings Owusu-Agyapong         SR SYRACUSE                    
  4     82 Kewanna Donaldson             JR CONNECTICUT                 
  5    509 Melissa Teape                 JR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  6    117 Ayesha Ewing                  FR DEPAUL                      
  7    344 Jonnique Lawrence             JR PITTSBURGH


Event 7  Women 500 Meter Dash
===============================================================================
10 Advance:  Top 1 Each Heat plus Next 6 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 1:20 PM
 NOTE: 2 -  SECTION FINAL   (9 PERSON FINAL, 5 &4)
        MEET:  1:10.55  2001        Sasha Spencer, Georgetown                  
  ECAC Qual.:  1:16.04                                                         
    ARMORY C:  1:09.81  2012        Regina George, Arkansas                    
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  2    650 Brittany Wolford              SR WEST VIRGINIA                
  3    477 Shayna Presley                SO ST. JOHN'S                  
  4    314 Megan Yanik                   SO NOTRE DAME                  
  5     38 Kathy Klump                   SR CINCINNATI                  
  6    345 Jordan Lee                    SO PITTSBURGH                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  2     87 Ana Groff                     JR CONNECTICUT                 
  3    148 London Finley                 SR GEORGETOWN                  
  4    478 Natasya Rodriquez             FR ST. JOHN'S                  
  5    343 Amanda Kuhl                   SR PITTSBURGH                  
  6    426 Christina Dibernardo          FR RUTGERS                     
Heat 3  Prelims
  2    156 Deseree King                  FR GEORGETOWN                  
  3    225 Kate Hein                     SO MARQUETTE                   
  4    493 Shaniel Chambers              SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  5    472 Trudy Mclean                  JR ST. JOHN'S                  
Heat 4  Prelims
  2    435 Danai Lendor                  SR RUTGERS                     
  3    474 Claire Mooney                 FR ST. JOHN'S                  
  4    204 Ahlivia Spencer               SO LOUISVILLE                  
  5    579 Faith Dismuke                 FR VILLANOVA                   
  6    287 Amber Lalla                   FR NOTRE DAME


Event 9  Women 400 Meter Dash
===============================================================================
10 Advance:  Top 1 Each Heat plus Next 4 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 2:00 PM
 NOTE: 2 -  SECTION FINAL   (9 PERSON FINAL, 5 & 4)
        MEET:  53.16  2010        Joanna Schultz, Notre Dame                   
  ECAC Qual.:  57.04                                                           
   NCAA Auto:  52.60                                                           
    ARMORY C:  51.62  2005        Hazel-Ann Regis, LSU                         
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  3    603 Christie Verdier              SR VILLANOVA                   
  4     72 Shavon Briscoe                SO CONNECTICUT                 
  5    612 Jenna Barreto                 SO WEST VIRGINIA                
  6    257 Jade Barber                   FR NOTRE DAME                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  2    227 Gretchen Homan                SO MARQUETTE                   
  3    330 Taylor Ellis-Watson           FR PITTSBURGH                  
  4    277 Natalie Geiger                SR NOTRE DAME                  
  5    122 Lindsey Holden                JR DEPAUL                      
  6    427 Gabrielle Farquharson         FR RUTGERS                     
Heat 3  Prelims
  3    223 Stephanie Grant               SR MARQUETTE                   
  4     84 Celina Emerson                SO CONNECTICUT                 
  5    111 Loreal Curtis                 FR DEPAUL                      
  6    463 Molly Ellis                   SO ST. JOHN'S                  
Heat 4  Prelims
  3    333 Arielle Fonrose               JR PITTSBURGH                  
  4    574 Qualitra Brown                FR VILLANOVA                   
  5     79 Tiffany Daley                 SO CONNECTICUT                 
  6    497 Rachael James                 JR SOUTH FLORIDA                
Heat 5  Prelims
  2    179 Hadassah Bruno                SR LOUISVILLE                  
  3     90 Nyanka Joseph                 FR CONNECTICUT                 
  4    344 Jonnique Lawrence             JR PITTSBURGH                  
  5     37 Jalisa Jarrett                FR CINCINNATI                  
  6    432 Corryn Hurrington             SO RUTGERS                     
Heat 6  Prelims
  3    265 Michelle Brown                SO NOTRE DAME                  
  4     50 Aricka Rhodes                 SR CINCINNATI                  
  5    502 Christine Poole-Trice         SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
  6    363 Xauddina Whittington          FR PITTSBURGH

 
Event 11  Women 200 Meter Dash
===============================================================================
10 Advance:  Top 1 Each Heat plus Next 4 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 3:00 PM
 NOTE: 2 -  SECTION FINAL   (9 PERSON FINAL, 5 & 4)
        MEET:  23.44  1994        Flirtisha Harris, Seton Hall                 
  ECAC Qual.:  25.04                                                           
   NCAA Auto:  23.21                                                           
    ARMORY C:  22.98  2011        Jeneba Tarmoh, Texas A&M                     
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  3     48 Shanay Portis                 JR CINCINNATI                  
  4    605 Shericka Ward                 SR VILLANOVA                   
  5    220 Chanel Franklin               JR MARQUETTE                   
  6    190 Margret Harris                JR LOUISVILLE                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  3    509 Melissa Teape                 JR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  4    336 Jordan Hoyt                   SO PITTSBURGH                  
  5    155 Amanda Kimbers                JR GEORGETOWN                  
  6     92 Danielle Lyte                 JR CONNECTICUT                 
Heat 3  Prelims
  3    330 Taylor Ellis-Watson           FR PITTSBURGH                  
  4    443 Asha Ruth                     SO RUTGERS                     
  5     31 Morgan Gordon                 SO CINCINNATI                  
  6    310 Aijah Urssery                 SO NOTRE DAME                  
Heat 4  Prelims
  3    471 Rikka Lovely                  SO ST. JOHN'S                  
  4    117 Ayesha Ewing                  FR DEPAUL                      
  5    432 Corryn Hurrington             SO RUTGERS                     
  6    165 Tenille Stoudenmire           SO GEORGETOWN                  
Heat 5  Prelims
  4    339 Cambrya Jones                 SR PITTSBURGH                  
  5    482 Corrine Williams              SO ST. JOHN'S                  
  6    583 Varonica Johnson              FR VILLANOVA                   
Heat 6  Prelims
  3    496 Dariel Jackson                JR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  4    429 Tylia Gillon                  SO RUTGERS                     
  5     65 Brianna Allen                 FR CONNECTICUT                 
  6    344 Jonnique Lawrence             JR PITTSBURGH

 
Event 13  Women 1 Mile Run
===============================================================================
12 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 6 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 2:30 AM
 NOTE 1-8 ON STARTING LINE 9-12 ON UP ALLEY
        MEET:  4:34.78  2/22/2009   Keri Bland, West Virginia                  
  ECAC Qual.:  4:59.04                                                         
   NCAA Auto:  4:37.00                                                         
    ARMORY C:  4:34.78  2009        Keri Bland, West Virginia                  
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  1    271 Kelly Curran                  SO NOTRE DAME                  
  2    141 Madeline Chambers             FR GEORGETOWN                  
  3    624 Jordan Hamric                 JR WEST VIRGINIA                
  4    546 Angelica Peck                 FR SYRACUSE                    
  5    245 Mackenzie Vicker              FR MARQUETTE                   
  6    460 Nicole Cocozza                JR ST. JOHN'S                  
  7    104 Heather Wilson                SR CONNECTICUT                 
  8    441 Victoria Pontecorvo           JR RUTGERS                     
  9    405 Julie Solimine                FR PROVIDENCE                  
 10    582 Sydney Harris                 FR VILLANOVA                   
Heat 2  Prelims
  1    301 Meg Ryan                      SO NOTRE DAME                  
  2    615 Stephanie Caruso              SR WEST VIRGINIA                
  3    570 Nicky Akande                  SO VILLANOVA                   
  4    633 Sarah Martinelli              SO WEST VIRGINIA                
  5    404 Emily Sisson                  FR PROVIDENCE                  
  6    163 Kelsey Smith                  FR GEORGETOWN                  
  7    229 Courtney Kelly                SR MARQUETTE                   
  8     95 Shauna McNiff                 JR CONNECTICUT                 
  9    103 Christine Vogel               SR CONNECTICUT                 
 10    406 Grace Thek                    SO PROVIDENCE                  
Heat 3  Prelims
  1    643 Hallie Portner                JR WEST VIRGINIA                
  2     80 Courtney Dinnan               SR CONNECTICUT                 
  3    152 Emily Infeld                  JR GEORGETOWN                  
  4    536 Maura Linde                   FR SYRACUSE                    
  5    374 Mary Kate Champagne           SR PROVIDENCE                  
  6    445 Jennifer Spitzer              JR RUTGERS                     
  7    282 Molly Hirt                    SR NOTRE DAME                  
  8    598 Stephanie Schappert           FR VILLANOVA                   
  9    228 Olivia Johnson                SR MARQUETTE                   
 10    256 Alexa Aragon                  SO NOTRE DAME

  
Event 15  Women 1000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
9 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 3 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 3:30 PM
 FINAL 7-9 up top, 1-6  on starting line
 Trials not run in lanes, all to start on line
        MEET:  2:43.70  2011        Sheila Reid, Villanova                     
  ECAC Qual.:  2:56.24                                                         
    ARMORY C:  2:44.39  2010        Sheila Reid, Villanova                     
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  1    140 Lauren Borduin                SR GEORGETOWN                  
  2     83 Stephanie Ellis               SO CONNECTICUT                 
  3    498 Christine Johnston            SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  4    215 Sarah Ball                    SO MARQUETTE                   
  5    275 Emily Frydrych                FR NOTRE DAME                  
  6    593 Ariann Neutts                 JR VILLANOVA                   
  7    302 Angela Ryck                   JR NOTRE DAME                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  1     78 Meghan Cunningham             SR CONNECTICUT                 
  2     74 Allison Cooper                JR CONNECTICUT                 
  3    585 Emily Lipari                  SO VILLANOVA                   
  4    160 Hannah Neczypor               FR GEORGETOWN                  
  5    395 Jackie McCarthy               SO PROVIDENCE                  
  6    243 Alyssa Stevens                SR MARQUETTE                   
  7    304 Allison Schroeder             SR NOTRE DAME                  
Heat 3  Prelims
  1    539 Molly Malone                  FR SYRACUSE                    
  2    572 Mary Bohi                     SO VILLANOVA                   
  3    424 Ashley Deckert                SO RUTGERS                     
  4    162 Rachel Schneider              JR GEORGETOWN                  
  5     33 Jenna Heaton                  SR CINCINNATI                  
  6    125 Jackie Kasal                  FR DEPAUL                      
  7     71 Terra Briody                  FR CONNECTICUT

 
Event 17  Women 800 Meter Run
===============================================================================
9 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 5 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 4:00 PM
 Finals Runners 7-9 up top, 1-6 on starting line
 Trials not run in lanes, all to start on line
        MEET:  2:06.65  2001        Patricia Pearson, Miami                    
  ECAC Qual.:  2:14.44                                                         
   NCAA Auto:  2:04.50                                                         
    ARMORY C:  2:03.56  2012        Nachelle Mackie, BYU                       
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  1    128 Alex Muller                   SO DEPAUL                      
  2     38 Kathy Klump                   SR CINCINNATI                  
  3    601 Leanne Tucker                 FR VILLANOVA                   
  4     93 Brigitte Mania                JR CONNECTICUT                 
  5    597 Erin Ryan                     SR VILLANOVA                   
  6    167 Kristen Walsh                 FR GEORGETOWN                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  1    143 Chelsea Cox                   SO GEORGETOWN                  
  2    305 McKinzie Schulz               SO NOTRE DAME                  
  3    573 Amanda Borroughs              FR VILLANOVA                   
  4    575 Shannon Browne                JR VILLANOVA                   
  5    144 Shanique Dasilva              SO GEORGETOWN


Event 19  Women 5000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 4:30 PM
 Runners 1-8 in upper alley, 9-17 on starting line,
        MEET:  15:57.22  2/21/2004   Molly Huddle, Notre Dame                  
  ECAC Qual.:  17:33.64                                                        
   NCAA Auto:  15:57.00                                                        
    ARMORY C:  15:52.17  2005        Caroline Bierbaum, Columbia               
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  1    303 Jessica Rydberg               JR NOTRE DAME                  
  2    529 Katie Hursey                  SR SYRACUSE                    
  3    547 Lauren Penney                 JR SYRACUSE                    
  4    503 Allie Prendergast             SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  5    397 Laura Nagel                   SO PROVIDENCE                  
  6    591 Bogdana Mimic                 JR VILLANOVA                   
  7    153 Emily Jones                   SO GEORGETOWN                  
  8    195 Holly Knight                  SR LOUISVILLE                  
  9    602 Megan Venables                FR VILLANOVA                   
 10    623 Katie Gillespie               SO WEST VIRGINIA                
 11    425 Brianna Deming                SO RUTGERS                     
 12    311 Rachel Velarde                SR NOTRE DAME                  
 13    632 Ahna Lewis                    SR WEST VIRGINIA                
 14    641 Jessica O'Connell             SR WEST VIRGINIA                
 15    402 Samantha Roecker              JR PROVIDENCE                  
 16    532 Lauren Kersjes                SO SYRACUSE                    
 17    521 Natalie Busby                 SR SYRACUSE

 
Event 23  Women 3000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Sunday 2/19/2012 - 2:00 PM
 Runners 1-4  upper alley, 5-11  middle alley, 12-20 staring lin
 21-24 back line
        MEET:  8:55.88  2/22/2004   Kim Smith, Providence                      
  ECAC Qual.:  9:58.94                                                         
   NCAA Auto:  9:10.00                                                         
    ARMORY C:  8:56.92  2011        Shelia Reid, Villanova                     
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  1    556 Heather Stephens              SR SYRACUSE                    
  2    152 Emily Infeld                  JR GEORGETOWN                  
  3    591 Bogdana Mimic                 JR VILLANOVA                   
  4    547 Lauren Penney                 JR SYRACUSE                    
  5     76 Lindsay Crevoiserat           FR CONNECTICUT                 
  6    153 Emily Jones                   SO GEORGETOWN                  
  7    523 Erin Cawley                   JR SYRACUSE                    
  8    503 Allie Prendergast             SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  9    377 Hannah Davidson               JR PROVIDENCE                  
 10    577 Courtney Chapman              FR VILLANOVA                   
 11    154 Kirsten Kasper                SO GEORGETOWN                  
 12    504 Nicole Rozario                SR SOUTH FLORIDA                
 13    548 Jessie Petersen               FR SYRACUSE                    
 14     91 Allison Lasnicki              SO CONNECTICUT                 
 15    311 Rachel Velarde                SR NOTRE DAME                  
 16    303 Jessica Rydberg               JR NOTRE DAME                  
 17    380 Charlotte FfrenchO'Carroll    JR PROVIDENCE                  
 18    195 Holly Knight                  SR LOUISVILLE                  
 19    163 Kelsey Smith                  FR GEORGETOWN                  
 20    633 Sarah Martinelli              SO WEST VIRGINIA                
 21    425 Brianna Deming                SO RUTGERS                     
 22    301 Meg Ryan                      SO NOTRE DAME                  
 23    582 Sydney Harris                 FR VILLANOVA                   
 24    282 Molly Hirt                    SR NOTRE DAME

 
Event 29  Women High Jump
===============================================================================
Sunday 2/19/2012 - 9:00 AM
 PROGRESSION 1.65, 1.70, 1.75, 1.78, 1.81, 1.83, 1.85
 PIT "A"
        MEET:    1.85m  2007        Renee Hein, Cincinnati                     
  ECAC Qual.:    1.70m                                                         
   NCAA Auto:    1.85m                                                         
    ARMORY C:  6-01.50  2007        Sarah Wilfred, Cornell                     
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1    619 Sydney Cummings               JR WEST VIRGINIA                
  2    188 Maggie Gilbertson             SO LOUISVILLE                  
  3     29 Kaitlyn Good                  SO CINCINNATI                  
  4    180 Kim Cardeiro                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
  5     68 Ilva Bikanova                 SO CONNECTICUT                 
  6    283 Kendra Jennings               JR NOTRE DAME                  
  7     24 Jasmine Cotten                SR CINCINNATI                  
  8    607 Samantha Yeats                SO VILLANOVA                   
  9    267 Maddie Buttinger              SR NOTRE DAME                  
 10    296 Fiona Paladino                FR NOTRE DAME                  
 11    649 Katelyn Williams              SR WEST VIRGINIA                
 12    206 Michelle Theophille           JR LOUISVILLE                  
 13    490 Courtney Anderson             SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
 14     77 Jasmine Cribb                 SO CONNECTICUT                 
 15     94 Natasha McLaren               SO CONNECTICUT                 
 16    290 Carly Loeffel                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
 17    201 Megan Schubert                SR LOUISVILLE

  
Event 31  Women Pole Vault
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 2:00 PM
 PROGRESSION: 3.45, 3.60, 3.75, 3.85, 3.95, 4.05, 4.15, 4.20,
 4.25
        MEET:     4.31m  2011        Denise von Eynatten, South Florida        
  ECAC Qual.:     3.60m                                                        
   NCAA Auto:     4.35m                                                        
    ARMORY C:  14-07.25  2011        Tina Sutej, Arkansas                      
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1    297 Annie Polcari                 SR NOTRE DAME                  
  2    606 Alexander Wasik               FR VILLANOVA                   
  3    298 Kayla Polcari                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
  4    499 Carissa Leonardi              FR SOUTH FLORIDA                
  5    589 Kathleen McPhillips           FR VILLANOVA                   
  6    219 Abby Croft                    SO MARQUETTE                   
  7    631 Lindsay Kopenhaver            SR WEST VIRGINIA                
  8     85 Angelica Gilsenan             JR CONNECTICUT                 
  9     49 Sarah Rasnick                 SO CINCINNATI                  
 10     20 Emily Clay                    FR CINCINNATI                  
 11    266 Kelly Burke                   SO NOTRE DAME                  
 12    197 Chelsea Lucas                 SO LOUISVILLE                  
 13    590 Melissa Meggiolaro            SR VILLANOVA                   
 14    259 Kathryn Barousse              SO NOTRE DAME                  
 15    505 Nicole Smith                  JR SOUTH FLORIDA                
 16    645 Katlyn Shelar                 SO WEST VIRGINIA                
 17     26 Michelle Eby                  SR CINCINNATI                  
 18    500 Brittany London               FR SOUTH FLORIDA

 
Event 35  Women Triple Jump
===============================================================================
Sunday 2/19/2012 - 12:30 PM
 NINE TO FINAL
 PIT "A"
        MEET:    13.35m  1999        Trecia Smith, Pittsburgh                  
  ECAC Qual.:    11.90m                                                        
   NCAA Auto:    13.30m                                                        
    ARMORY C:  45-00.25  2008        Kimberli  Williams, Stanford              
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1    512 Monique Williams              SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
  2    446 Ekene Ugboaja                 SO RUTGERS                     
  3    342 Julia Koloski                 SO PITTSBURGH                  
  4    595 Victoria Profit               SO VILLANOVA                   
  5    328 Ashley Corum                  SO PITTSBURGH                  
  6    491 Cynthia Aoufoh                SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
  7    640 Stormy Nesbit                 SO WEST VIRGINIA                
  8    581 Samantha Francis              SO VILLANOVA                   
  9    508 Natasha Stewart               FR SOUTH FLORIDA                
 10    457 Stephanie Barnes              SO ST. JOHN'S                  
Flight 2  Finals
  1    196 Charachesicia Lockhart        SR LOUISVILLE                  
  2    555 Ieva Staponkute               SR SYRACUSE                    
  3    241 Carlye Schuh                  SO MARQUETTE                   
  4    203 Malina Simmers                SR LOUISVILLE                  
  5    266 Kelly Burke                   SO NOTRE DAME                  
  6    270 Jessie Christian              SO NOTRE DAME                  
  7    507 Marqueshia Stallworth         SO SOUTH FLORIDA                
  8    279 Mary Esther Gourdin           FR NOTRE DAME                  
  9    439 Nwamaka Okobi                 SR RUTGERS

Big East Heat Sheets -- Villanova Men

2012-02-17T11:17:00.003-06:00


Event 8  Men 500 Meter Dash
===============================================================================
10 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 4 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 1:40 PM
 NOTE: 2 -  SECTION FINAL   (9 PERSON FINAL, 5 & 4)
        MEET:  1:01.02  2/22/2008   Greg Gomes, Seton Hall                     
  IC4A Qual.:  1:05.20                                                         
    ARMORY C:  1:00.82  2008        Lesiba Masheto, Illinois                   
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  3   1152 Corey Caidenhead              SO RUTGERS                     
  4    832 Chris Dailey                  SO CONNECTICUT                 
  5   1094 Jermaine Lowery               SR PITTSBURGH                  
  6   1031 Christopher Giesting          FR NOTRE DAME                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  3   1045 Mitch Lorenz                  SR NOTRE DAME                  
  4   1164 D'Andre Jordan                FR RUTGERS                     
  5    891 Hansel Akers                  SO GEORGETOWN                  
  6   1104 Brycen Spratling              SO PITTSBURGH                  
Heat 3  Prelims
  3   1268 Samuel Ellison                SO VILLANOVA                   
  4   1177 Aaron Younger                 SR RUTGERS                     
  5    854 Chris Whyte                   JR CONNECTICUT                 
  6    944 Jordon Frazier                SR LOUISVILLE


Event 14  Men 1 Mile Run
===============================================================================
12 Advance:  Top 4 Each Heat plus Next 4 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 2:45 PM
 NOTE 1-8 ON STARTING LINE 9-12 ON UPPER ALLEY
        MEET:  4:00.12  2/22/2008   Kurt Benninger, Notre Dame                 
  IC4A Qual.:  4:14.90                                                         
   NCAA Auto:  3:57.90                                                         
    ARMORY C:  3:57.40  2006        Richard Kiplagat, Iona                     
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  1   1202 Philip Wise                   SR SOUTH FLORID                
  2    843 Scott Johnson                 SR CONNECTICUT                 
  3    906 Omar Kaddurah                 FR GEORGETOWN                  
  4   1249 Joseph Whelan                 FR SYRACUSE                    
  5   1059 Jeremy Rae                    JR NOTRE DAME                  
  6   1120 Corey Brunelle                SR PROVIDENCE                  
  7   1299 Alex Tully                    SO VILLANOVA                   
  8    900 Ben Furcht                    SO GEORGETOWN                  
  9    976 Zack Grese                    SO MARQUETTE                   
 10    978 Jack Hackett                  SR MARQUETTE                   
 11   1158 Ben Forrest                   SR RUTGERS                     
 12   1271 Danny Harris                  FR VILLANOVA                   
Heat 2  Prelims
  1   1155 Chris DeFabio                 FR RUTGERS                     
  2   1207 Andy Bennison                 FR SYRACUSE                    
  3   1170 Curtis Richburg               SO RUTGERS                     
  4    898 Max Darrah                    SO GEORGETOWN                  
  5   1048 J.P. Malette                  JR NOTRE DAME                  
  6    923 Dylan Sorensen                SO GEORGETOWN                  
  7    989 Patrick Maag                  JR MARQUETTE                   
  8    830 Joe Clark                     JR CONNECTICUT                 
  9   1127 Liam Hillery                  FR PROVIDENCE                  
 10   1278 Joseph LoRusso                JR VILLANOVA                   
 11   1281 Sam McEntee                   SO VILLANOVA


Event 16  Men 1000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
9 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 3 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 3:45 PM
 Runners IN FINAL 7-9 up top, 1-6 on starting line
        MEET:  2:21.5h  1980        Ross Donoghue, St. John's                  
  IC4A Qual.:  2:29.95                                                         
    ARMORY C:  2:20.77  2011        Jeff Moriarty, Columbia                    
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  2   1289 Chris Pietrocarlo             FR VILLANOVA                   
  3   1246 Ryan Urie                     FR SYRACUSE                    
  4    826 Tim Bennatan                  JR CONNECTICUT                 
  5   1261 Richie Bohny                  FR VILLANOVA                   
  6   1030 Eddy Gibbons                  SO NOTRE DAME                  
  7    916 Bobby Peavey                  SO GEORGETOWN                  
Heat 2  Prelims
  2    918 Michael Reher                 FR GEORGETOWN                  
  3    820 James Agati                   FR CONNECTICUT                 
  4   1021 Jordan Carlson                SR NOTRE DAME                  
  5   1294 Dusty Solis                   FR VILLANOVA                   
  6   1131 Julian Matthews               SR PROVIDENCE                  
Heat 3  Prelims
  2    912 Brian Manning                 SR GEORGETOWN                  
  3    997 David Sajdak                  FR MARQUETTE                   
  4   1065 Johnathan Shawel              SR NOTRE DAME                  
  5   1296 Brian Tetreault               SR VILLANOVA                   
  6    921 Miles Schoedler               FR GEORGETOWN                  
  7    877 Chris Miedema                 SO DEPAUL


Event 18  Men 800 Meter Run
===============================================================================
9 Advance:  Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 5 Best Times
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 4:15 PM
 Runners IN FINAL 7-9 up top, 1-6 on starting line
 TRIALS NOT RUN IN LANES
        MEET:  1:49.17  2/22/2009   Michael Rutt, Connecticut                  
  IC4A Qual.:  1:54.90                                                         
   NCAA Auto:  1:47.30                                                         
    ARMORY C:  1:48.02  2010        Robby Andrews, Virginia                    
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Prelims
  1   1269 Christopher Fitzsimons        FR VILLANOVA                   
  2   1071 Zac Suriano                   SR NOTRE DAME                  
  3    914 Theon O'Conner                SR GEORGETOWN                  
  4   1004 Kyle Winter                   JR MARQUETTE                   
  5    828 Phil Caldwell                 FR CONNECTICUT                 
  6    833 Paul DeSalvo                  SO CONNECTICUT                 
Heat 2  Prelims
  1    825 Alex Bennatan                 JR CONNECTICUT                 
  2    955 Andrew Stewart                FR LOUISVILLE                  
  3   1083 Dontave Cowsette              SR PITTSBURGH                  
  4   1168 Karon Purcell                 SO RUTGERS                     
  5   1286 Phillip O'Connell             SO VILLANOVA                   
  6   1012 Randall Babb                  SR NOTRE DAME


Event 20  Men 5000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 4:55 PM
 Runners 1-8 in upper alley, 9-18 on starting line
 19-23 back line
        MEET:  13:52.65  2/21/2009   Dan Nunn, Georgetown                      
  IC4A Qual.:  14:47.40                                                        
   NCAA Auto:  13:44.60                                                        
    ARMORY C:  13:41.25  2003        Richard Kiplagat, Iona                    
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  1   1219 Martin Hehir                  FR SYRACUSE                    
  2   1292 Ryan Sheridan                 SR VILLANOVA                   
  3    911 Alexander Lundy               SR GEORGETOWN                  
  4    870 Matthew Graham                SR DEPAUL                      
  5    980 Blake Johnson                 SR MARQUETTE                   
  6   1121 Lee Carey                     JR PROVIDENCE                  
  7   1236 Andrew Palmer                 FR SYRACUSE                    
  8    910 TC Lumbar                     SR GEORGETOWN                  
  9    941 Gordon Dooley                 JR LOUISVILLE                  
 10   1212 Pat Dupont                    JR SYRACUSE                    
 11   1047 Jeff MacMillan                JR NOTRE DAME                  
 12    971 Connor Callahan               JR MARQUETTE                   
 13   1274 Matthew Kane                  JR VILLANOVA                   
 14    907 Brian King                    FR GEORGETOWN                  
 15   1283 Greg Morrin                   SO VILLANOVA                   
 16   1046 Kelly Lynch                   SR NOTRE DAME                  
 17    846 Ryan McGuire                  SO CONNECTICUT                 
 18   1041 Jake Kildoo                   FR NOTRE DAME                  
 19   1128 Jonathan Hopkins              SO PROVIDENCE                  
 20   1252 Jace Lowry                    FR SYRACUSE                    
 21   1258 Hugo Beamish                  JR VILLANOVA                   
 22    977 Bob Guthrie                   SO MARQUETTE                   
 23    899 Mark Dennin                   JR GEORGETOWN


Event 24  Men 3000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Sunday 2/19/2012 - 2:20 PM
 Runners 1-4  upper alley, 5-12  middle alley
 13-21 starting line, 22-25 back line
        MEET:  8:01.56  1995        Mark Carroll, Providence                   
  IC4A Qual.:  8:27.20                                                         
   NCAA Auto:  7:52.30                                                         
    ARMORY C:  7:49.98  2006        Richard Kiplagat, Iona                     
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  1   1292 Ryan Sheridan                 SR VILLANOVA                   
  2   1132 David McCarthy                SR PROVIDENCE                  
  3   1282 Mathew Mildenhall             SO VILLANOVA                   
  4    924 Andrew Springer               SO GEORGETOWN                  
  5    949 Luke Lovelace                 JR LOUISVILLE                  
  6    900 Ben Furcht                    SO GEORGETOWN                  
  7    911 Alexander Lundy               SR GEORGETOWN                  
  8    870 Matthew Graham                SR DEPAUL                      
  9   1136 Shane Quinn                   FR PROVIDENCE                  
 10    898 Max Darrah                    SO GEORGETOWN                  
 11   1223 Reed Kamyszek                 FR SYRACUSE                    
 12   1239 Corey Robinson                SR SYRACUSE                    
 13    971 Connor Callahan               JR MARQUETTE                   
 14    941 Gordon Dooley                 JR LOUISVILLE                  
 15   1048 J.P. Malette                  JR NOTRE DAME                  
 16   1021 Jordan Carlson                SR NOTRE DAME                  
 17    980 Blake Johnson                 SR MARQUETTE                   
 18   1046 Kelly Lynch                   SR NOTRE DAME                  
 19   1256 Brian Basili                  FR VILLANOVA                   
 20   1215 Patrick Geoghegan             SR SYRACUSE                    
 21   1229 Tito Medrano                  JR SYRACUSE                    
 22    838 Bryan Fowler                  FR CONNECTICUT                 
 23   1051 Joe Miller                    SR NOTRE DAME                  
 24    977 Bob Guthrie                   SO MARQUETTE                   
 25   1258 Hugo Beamish                  JR VILLANOVA


Event 30  Men High Jump
===============================================================================
Sunday 2/19/2012 - 9:00 AM
 PROGRESSIO: 1.94, 1.99, 2.04, 2.08, 2.12, 2.16, 2.19, 2.22,2.24
 PIT "B"
        MEET:    2.21m  2007        Tone Belt, Louisville                      
  IC4A Qual.:    2.04m                                                         
   NCAA Auto:    2.24m                                                         
    ARMORY C:  7-06.50  2007        Andra Manson, Texas                        
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1   1293 Matthew Sidney                FR VILLANOVA                   
  2   1279 Elbert Maxwell                FR VILLANOVA                   
  3   1054 Doug Onuscheck                SR NOTRE DAME                  
  4   1189 Brian Kilts                   SO SOUTH FLORID                
  5    970 Cheldon Brown                 JR MARQUETTE                   
  6   1070 Peter Sullivan                FR NOTRE DAME                  
  7    842 Noel James                    JR CONNECTICUT                 
  8    865 Joe Boesso                    FR DEPAUL                      
  9   1197 Giscard Petion                FR SOUTH FLORID                
 10   1193 Chase Meyers                  FR SOUTH FLORID                
 11   1148 Adam Bergo                    JR RUTGERS                     
 12    824 Toby Belton                   FR CONNECTICUT                 
 13    839 Mark Fuller                   FR CONNECTICUT                 
 14    940 Taylor Caldwell               FR LOUISVILLE                  
 15    943 Michael Edwards               JR LOUISVILLE                  
 16    996 Michael Saindon               SO MARQUETTE                   
 17   1084 Luke Gallaher                 FR PITTSBURGH                  
 18   1171 Glenn Scheideler              JR RUTGERS


Event 32  Men Pole Vault
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 10:00 AM
 PROGRESSIONS: 4.20,  4.35, 4.50, 4.65, 4.80, 4.95, 5.10, 5.25,
 5.35, 5.40
        MEET:     5.51m  1993        William Deering, Miami                    
  IC4A Qual.:     4.80m                                                        
   NCAA Auto:     5.50m                                                        
    ARMORY C:  18-08.50  2009        Renaud Lavilleni, Clermont-Ferrand, France
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1   1062 David Schipper                FR NOTRE DAME                  
  2    827 Justin Blades                 SO CONNECTICUT                 
  3   1267 Chris Dougherty               SO VILLANOVA                   
  4   1199 Drew Volz                     FR SOUTH FLORID                
  5   1063 Kevin Schipper                SR NOTRE DAME                  
  6   1160 Anthony Genco                 FR RUTGERS                     
  7    835 Cory Duggan                   SO CONNECTICUT                 
  8   1161 Pat Gray                      JR RUTGERS                     
  9   1192 Wyatt Metzger                 SO SOUTH FLORID                
 10   1176 Chris Wyckoff                 JR RUTGERS                     
 11    836 Kyle Duggan                   SR CONNECTICUT                 
 12    947 Kevin Jackson                 SO LOUISVILLE                  
 13    822 Matt Alexander                SR CONNECTICUT                 
 14    966 Jerrick Backous               SO MARQUETTE


Event 34  Men Long Jump
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 3:00 PM
 NINE TO FINAL
 PIT "B"
        MEET:     7.95m  2007        Tone Belt, Louisville                     
  IC4A Qual.:     7.02m                                                        
   NCAA Auto:     8.00m                                                        
    ARMORY C:  28-02.25  2002        Miguel Pate, Alabama                      
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1   1105 Reginald Steele               SO PITTSBURGH                  
  2   1244 Frank Taylor                  JR SYRACUSE                    
  3   1201 Neamen Wise                   JR SOUTH FLORID                
  4   1191 Shane Lewis                   SO SOUTH FLORID                
  5    855 Amanze Williams               FR CONNECTICUT                 
  6   1060 Logan Renwick                 SO NOTRE DAME                  
  7   1247 Will Watson                   JR SYRACUSE                    
Flight 2  Finals
  1   1189 Brian Kilts                   SO SOUTH FLORID                
  2    953 Seon Powell                   SR LOUISVILLE                  
  3   1050 Keith Mesidor                 FR NOTRE DAME                  
  4    954 Wesley Smith                  SR LOUISVILLE                  
  5   1148 Adam Bergo                    JR RUTGERS                     
  6   1279 Elbert Maxwell                FR VILLANOVA                   
  7   1154 Corey Crawford                FR RUTGERS


Event 38  Men Weight Throw 35 LB
===============================================================================
Saturday 2/18/2012 - 2:15 PM
 NINE TO FINAL
        MEET:    21.72m  2/22/2003   Spyridon Jullien, Virginia Tech           
  IC4A Qual.:    16.80m                                                        
   NCAA Auto:    21.50m                                                        
    ARMORY C:  76-06.50  2010        Walter Henning, LSU                       
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1   1255 Frank Anuszewski              JR VILLANOVA                   
  2    837 Joshua Faboyede               JR CONNECTICUT                 
  3   1081 Kurt Barnhart                 SR PITTSBURGH                  
  4   1067 Mike Smigelski                SR NOTRE DAME                  
  5   1093 Dan Kwiatkowski               SR PITTSBURGH                  
  6    984 William Koeck                 FR MARQUETTE                   
  7    937 Sam Bombaugh                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
  8    968 Robert Bleem                  SR MARQUETTE                   
Flight 2  Finals
  1    956 Brad Vivace                   FR LOUISVILLE                  
  2   1069 Jordan Stumph                 SO NOTRE DAME                  
  3    979 Bret Hardin                   FR MARQUETTE                   
  4    985 Jonathan Kusowski             SR MARQUETTE                   
  5   1072 Anthony Thomas                JR NOTRE DAME                  
  6   1037 Andrew Hills                  SR NOTRE DAME                  
  7   1167 James Plummer                 JR RUTGERS                     
  8   1198 Jared Thomas                  SR SOUTH FLORIDA


Event 40  Men Shot Put
===============================================================================
Sunday 2/19/2012 - 10:00 AM
 NINE TO FINAL
        MEET:    18.84m  1999        Ray Wilks, Connecticut                    
  IC4A Qual.:    15.60m                                                        
   NCAA Auto:    19.30m                                                        
    ARMORY C:  68-05.25  2002        Christian Cantwell, Missouri              
           Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1    956 Brad Vivace                   FR LOUISVILLE                  
  2   1037 Andrew Hills                  SR NOTRE DAME                  
  3    844 Eric Masington                SO CONNECTICUT                 
  4    862 Matt Babicz                   SO DEPAUL                      
  5    972 David Carbajal                JR MARQUETTE                   
  6    878 Tim Nedow                     SR DEPAUL                      
  7   1093 Dan Kwiatkowski               SR PITTSBURGH                  
  8   1198 Jared Thomas                  SR SOUTH FLORID                
  9    937 Sam Bombaugh                  SO LOUISVILLE                  
Flight 2  Finals
  1   1196 Justin Osking                 FR SOUTH FLORID                
  2    823 Mike Alleman                  SR CONNECTICUT                 
  3   1018 Andrew Brock                  SO NOTRE DAME                  
  4   1003 Patrick Stuart                SO MARQUETTE                   
  5   1255 Frank Anuszewski              JR VILLANOVA                   
  6   1167 James Plummer                 JR RUTGERS                     
  7    856 John Wlasuk                   FR CONNECTICUT                 
  8    938 Isaac Bowling                 FR LOUISVILLE

Villanova's Qualifiers for Big East Championship Meet

2012-02-16T14:09:00.011-06:00

Here are the Villanova T&F athletes who qualified for this weekend's Big East indoor championship meet. The number reflects their spot on the Big East performance list.

W O M E N

60 meter hurdles
7. Shericka Ward
13. Varonica Johynson
25. Qualitra Brown

200 meters
2. Shericka Ward
13. Varonica Johnson

400 meters
3. Christie Verdier
30. Qualitra Brown

500 meters
14. Faith Dismuke
23. Leanne Tucker

800 meters
9. Arianne Neutts
10. Stephanie Schappert
13. Leanne Tucker
21. Faith Dismuke
29. Erin Ryan

1000 meters
4. Arianne Neutts
6. Emily Lipari
8. Nicky Akande
13. Stephanie Schappert
25. Shannon Browne
30. Mary Bohi
34. Amanda Borroughs

Mile
3. Emily Lipari
11. Nicky Akande
14. Courtney Chapman
34. Stephanie Schappert
34. Sydney Harris
49. Arianne Neutts

3000 meters
3. Bogdana Mimic
10. Courtney Chapman
11. Emily Lipari
20. Nicky Akande
41. Sydney Harris

5000 meters
14. Megan Venables

60 meter hurdles
1. Shericka Ward
8. Emerald Walden

High Jump
5. Samantha Yeats

Pole Vault
2. Alex Wasik
5. Kathleen McPhillips
10. Melissa Meggiolaro

Triple Jump
11. Samantha Francis
20. Victoria Profit

Pentathelon
5. Katherine Petruzzelis

M E N

500 meters
3. Sam Ellison

800 meters
1. Sam Ellison
8. Chris FitzSimons
19. Phil O'Connell

1000 meters
20. Sam Ellison
28. Chris O'Sullivan
33. Chris Pietrocarlo

Mile
2. Sam McEntee
15. Alex Tully
28. Joe LoRusso
30. Chris Pietrocarlo
33. Chris O'Sullivan
37. Danny Harris
38. Brian Tetreault
46. Dusty Solis
59. Richie Bohny

3000 meters
3. Mathew Mildenhall
11. Sam McEntee
26. Joe LoRusso

5000 meters
1. Ryan Sheridan
7. Matt Kane
15. Greg Morrin
18. Brian Basili

High Jump
6. Elbert Maxwell
11. Matthew Sidney

Pole Vault
12. Chris Dougherty

Long Jump
5. Elbert Maxwell

Shot Put
16. Frank Anuszewski

Weight Throw
3. Frank Anuszewski

Vicki Huber on Student-Athletes' "Free Rides"

2012-02-15T09:10:00.003-06:00

For Athletes on Scholarship, the Ride is Anything But 'Free'

Written by
VICKI HUBER RUDAWSKY
Special to The News Journal

Recently, student-athletes around the country, along with their parents and their high schools ,celebrated National Signing Day.

The News Journal featured several Delaware high school seniors, and I know that our daughter's high school held a special ceremony for their senior athletes who signed National Letters of Intent.

Many of you may be wondering what a National Letter of Intent is, and why it is such a big deal. By signing a Letter of Intent, a prospective student-athlete agrees to attend a college or university for at least one academic year. The college or university agrees to provide financial aid to the student, provided that the student is accepted into the academic institution and that the student is also NCAA eligible. Once the student-athlete signs the letter of intent, he or she is no longer able to be recruited by other institutions.

I still remember the day I signed my letter of intent to Villanova. My family gathered around our coffee table in our downstairs rec room, and I signed. We thought about opening some champagne even though my parents never drink, and I remember my dad saying, "What does this mean?" My mom and I burst out laughing and replied that it meant that he didn't have to pay for college.

Many people refer to an athletic scholarship as a "free ride" for a student-athlete. Nothing could be further from the truth. Of course, I only have my own experiences to relate to as a scholarship athlete, but from what I saw during my time at Villanova there was nothing easy ,or free, about the hard work, time and dedication that I put in as both a student and an athlete.

According to the NCAA, on average, college football players spend 44.8 hours a week practicing and playing; golfers average 40.8 hours a week on the golf course; softball players spend 37.1 hours on the field. As a track athlete, my day consisted of a morning run, shower and breakfast, class, off to practice, dinner, another shower and homework. Not only are athletes under pressure to perform athletically, but they also have to maintain academic standards in order to compete and keep their scholarships.

While I was at Villanova, I never skipped a class. This was not because I was such a dedicated student, it was because we traveled pretty much every weekend to track and cross country meets. I missed classes almost every Friday and sometimes on a Monday as well. Even though my missed classes were excused, it was still up to me to make up the work and track down the day's notes. In a time where laptops and email didn't exist, this was tough to do.

When we traveled, we not only packed our uniforms and spikes, but also textbooks and sometimes a take-home exam that somehow needed to get done between warmups and races, or on the plane ride home. I spent many Sunday nights typing early into the next morning due to a delayed layover in an airport.

There are also many benefits to being a student-athlete. Because an athlete's day must include practice time, sometimes there may be extra help in getting into a popular class that others would not be able to get into. There are mandatory study halls to make sure that the athletes are getting their work done and maintaining their GPAs. Tutoring is available. If an athlete is traveling to a competition during an exam period, he or she may get one or two days extra to complete the exam.

However, these benefits in no way create an easy ride for student-athletes. Receiving a scholarship to a college, whether athletic, academic, or both, means that you have worked extremely hard. They are recognizing you for that. The institution feels that you will be an asset to their university or college, and fully expects that you will continue to be disciplined and work even harder for them. Believe me, there is nothing easy about those expectations.

I feel very lucky that I received a full scholarship to Villanova, but I would never say that I got a "free" education. I worked extremely hard, and dedicated four years of my life to a program and a coach that believed in me. As hard as it was, I would do it all over again.

While I was at Villanova, I never skipped a class. This was not because I was such a dedicated student, it was because we traveled pretty much every weekend to track and cross country meets. I missed classes almost every Friday and sometimes on a Monday as well. Even though my missed classes were excused, it was still up to me to make up the work and track down the day's notes. In a time where laptops and email didn't exist, this was tough to do.

When we traveled, we not only packed our uniforms and spikes, but also textbooks and sometimes a take-home exam that somehow needed to get done between warmups and races, or on the plane ride home. I spent many Sunday nights typing early into the next morning due to a delayed layover in an airport.

There are also many benefits to being a student-athlete. Because an athlete's day must include practice time, sometimes there may be extra help in getting into a popular class that others would not be able to get into. There are mandatory study halls to make sure that the athletes are getting their work done and maintaining their GPAs. Tutoring is available. If an athlete is traveling to a competition during an exam period, he or she may get one or two days extra to complete the exam.
However, these benefits in no way create an easy ride for student-athletes. Receiving a scholarship to a college, whether athletic, academic, or both, means that you have worked extremely hard. They are recognizing you for that. The institution feels that you will be an asset to their university or college, and fully expects that you will continue to be disciplined and work even harder for them. Believe me, there is nothing easy about those expectations.

I feel very lucky that I received a full scholarship to Villanova, but I would never say that I got a "free" education. I worked extremely hard, and dedicated four years of my life to a program and a coach that believed in me. As hard as it was, I would do it all over again

Vicki Huber represented the USA in the 1988 (6th place, 3000 meters) and 1996 Olympic Games (1500 meters). While at Villanova, she won 8 individual NCAA titles (3 indoor and 3 outdoor titles at 3000 meters in 1987, 1988, and 1989, the 1988 indoor mile, and the 1989 cross country individual title). Huber was USATF national champion in the 1500 meters in 1988, set a USA 5K record, and was 4th at the 1992 World Cross Country championships.

Schappert's Busy Weekend Ends with Millrose DMR Anchor

2012-02-13T08:37:00.001-06:00

Nicole Schappert had a very productive weekend, shuttling between Boston and New York to collect two wins on the indoor circuit. On Friday night Schappert was in Boston at the Valentine Invitational. There she set a new mile PR, winning the race in 4:33.16 (the race video and post-race interview is available in a previous post). Nicole then travelled down to the Armory in New York to run the anchor leg for the New York Athletic Club's DMR in the first event of the Millrose Games. The NYAC squad blew away the competition and Schappert's final 1600 leg was essentially a solo effort. The DMR win (see results below) made it three-in-a-week for Schappert. The previous weekend in New York, Nicole went 2:06.29 to win the open women's 800 maters at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. All in all, a productive week for the former Villanova All-American.


2012 Millrose Games Results

Women's Club Championship Distance Medley Relay
Finals
  1 New York Athletic Club  'A'                        11:21.94  
     1) Higgins, Lesley                 2) Composti, Jeanna               
     3) Hitchcock-McManus, Katy         4) Schappert, Nicole              
  2 Riadha  'A'                                        11:32.17  
     1) Wentz, Jacqui                   2) Harvey, Alisa                  
     3) Anderson, Kristin               4) Hamric, Karly                  
  3 Maryland Eastern Shore  'A'                        11:41.46  
     1) Ducades, Emillie                2) Gilim-Firmizi, Lenora          
     3) Jones, Eunice                   4) Anois, Cythia                  
  4 C.P.T.C. New Balance  'A'                          11:50.05  
     1) Beck, Catherine                 2) Miller, Heather                
     3) Bradshaw, Andrea                4) Vongvorachoti, Jane            
  5 C.P.T.C. New Balance  'B'                          12:26.94  
     1) Peters, Bevin                   2) Clark, Deanna                  
     3) Mazzeo, Denise                  4) Falcaro, Nicole                
  6 Athena TC  'A'                                     13:23.29  
     1) Hankin, Julie                   2) Hayden, Julie                  
     3) Bellaire, Cheryl                4) Sutera Strange, Marisa         
 -- Westchester TC  'A'                                     DNS

McEntee Outduels Coghlan as Villanova Wins Millrose DMR

2012-02-12T09:54:00.007-06:00

Villanova's Sam McEntee and Ireland's John Coghlan battled each other in the 1600 meter anchor leg of last night's Millrose Games Byron Dyce College Men's Distance Medley Relay. McEntee and Coghlan had each recently entered the sub-4:00 mile club and their face-off in the DMR anchor position had been much anticipated -- even more so since Coghlan is the son of former Villanova legend Eamonn Coghlan (who was instrumental in bringing the Irish "dream team" together) and the Millrose Games was the venue that the elder Coghlan and Villanova coach Marcus O'Sullivan had for several years called their own in winning a combined 12 Wanamaker Miles. McEntee got the baton in third place, perhaps 10 meters behind Coghlan. Aftere closing the gap rather quickly, McEntee shadowed Coghlan through 400 meters splits of 56.5, 1:02.3, and 1:04.5, before McEntee kicked home in 56.5. McEntee sat on Coghlan until 200 meters to go and then went easily past to gap the Irishman by almost two seconds on the final lap. McEntee split 3:59.8, compared to Coghlan's approximate 4:01.7) to ensure a Villanova victory in the DMR, 9:38.02 to 9:39.68. The third place team from LaSalle was well back, some ten seconds in arrears.

The Villanova team was composed of Brian Tetreault in the 1200 (2:59.0), Sam Ellison in the 400 (47.0), Chris FitzSimons in the 800 (1:51.2) and Sam McEntee in the 1600 (3:59.8). They came up short on their goal of attaining the NCAA automatic qualifier (9:31.0), but are likely to compete at Notre Dame's Alex Wilson Invitational on March 2. Currently, Villanova owns the NCAA's #6 time in the DMR, pending complete results from around the country this weekend.

Byron Dyce College Men's Distance Medley Relay          
Finals
  1 Villanova University  'A'                           9:38.02  
  2 Dublin City University  'A'                         9:39.68  
  3 La Salle University  'A'                            9:48.52  
  4 University of Albany  'A'                           9:49.90  
  5 Duke University  'A'                                9:52.96         
  6 Manhattan College  'A'                             10:15.54

Does Eamonn Coghlan Harbor Political Ambitions?

2012-02-11T11:51:00.002-06:00

Coghlan Out of the Blocks for a Political Run
by Ian O'Riordan, Irish Times
Saturday, February 11, 2012

PROFILE: EAMONN COGHLAN: THERE WAS a slight, awkward pause. It was Tuesday’s Today with Pat Kenny , and the host had just asked Senator Eamonn Coghlan how he felt about losing the allowance he gets as an Independent as a result of his decision to join Fine Gael.

Kenny’s question only briefly knocked Coghlan off his stride before the former athlete replied confidently. “It’s not about money,” Coghlan told him. “It’s all about passion, belief, about trying to do something for the youth of Ireland, and if my joining the party helps me to implement what I believe in, then I’ll go ahead and do that.”

Coghlan has always prided himself on his athletic spirit rather than on his political toughness. His decision this week to join Fine Gael – it’s said he asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny, but it was more likely the other way around – was greeted with the sort of mild surprise that might follow a false start in the 100 metres. Coghlan compared the move to starting a marathon with little or no training and said it was one race he’d be running with caution.

Whatever about Coghlan’s long-term political ambitions – and they appear to be modest – Coghlan’s taking up the Fine Gael whip is not viewed by the political observers as a hugely significant move. It does help Kenny shore up the numbers in the Seanad (Fine Gael now has 21 of the 60 members), should that be required for any referendum purposes.

Indeed, since being nominated by Kenny as an Independent member of the Seanad, last May, Coghlan hasn’t caused much of a stir in the upper house – except for a bold demonstration last November of how to improve physical fitness for children, his Points for Life programme. If anything, he has stuck conservatively to the issues he knows: health, fitness and sport.

But if Coghlan’s political ambitions eventually mirror the ambition he showed on the running track, then he shouldn’t be underestimated. It took determination to go from youngster in the Dublin suburb of Drimnagh to the top of the world distance-running rankings, during perhaps the golden era of the sport.

He feared no one, an attitude that helped him win the World 5,000 metres in 1983, when he clenched his fists as he passed the Russian Dmitriy Dmitriyev on the final turn.

“There was no stopping me,” he has said of his world indoor mile record of 3:49.78, also from 1983. “I felt like I was running on a cushion of air.” Coghlan was unlucky to finish fourth in the Olympics twice, in 1976 and again in 1980. He was easily good enough to have won two gold medals.

Yet he never settled for second best, thanks in no small part to his three mentors: his father, Bill, and his coaches Gerry Farnan and, later, James “Jumbo” Elliott, at Villanova, in the US. His wife, Yvonne, helped him through some difficult periods, too, as far back as his teenage years, when he wanted to quit his scholarship at Villanova.

His talent flourished on the US indoor circuit, where between 1977 and 1987 he won seven Wanamaker Miles at the historic Millrose Games, earning him the nickname the Chairman of the Boards. He retired after the 1988 Olympics, resigned to the fact that he would never win that elusive Olympic medal, but immediately went about putting something back into the sport he loved – only to find himself burned by the politics of Irish athletics.

In 1989 Irish athletics was riding high on the international successes of Coghlan, John Treacy, Ray Flynn, Frank O’Mara and Marcus O’Sullivan, and against that backdrop Coghlan was persuaded to take on the new full-time role of chief executive of the old Bord Luthchleas na hÉireann (BLÉ), the former governing body of the sport.

He had just returned to Ireland after two decades living in the US, and accepted the job only after some deliberation. He moved into the old BLÉ office, on Prospect Road in Dublin, on January 1st, 1991. He lasted just six months in the job before resigning. “With all the political frustrations and back-stabbing I encountered,” he said, “I knew I hated this side of the sport that I loved so much.”

The only good thing for Coghlan was that he went back to running. Three years later, at the age of 41, he ran an indoor mile in 3:58.15, which remains the only sub-four-minute mile in history posted by a man over the age of 40. (It brought his sub-four total to 83.)

He later took up a position as full-time director of fundraising for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, in Crumlin, which proved a far better fit, and helped draw him back into athletics, through various fundraising efforts and through coaching work at his club, Metro St Brigid’s, and specifically with his youngest son, John. After retiring from Our Lady’s he joined the board of the Irish Sports Council, and at the age of 59 his enthusiasm for sport is perhaps stronger than ever.

Coghlan’s popularity and personality remain strong since his foray into politics. His affability has already won him admirers around Leinster House, even if it was his friendship with Kenny that brought him there in the first place. Coghlan also admits that in his younger years he quietly admired the then-Fine Gael leader, Garret FitzGerald, and the party’s policies.

One of his first major public appearances as a Fine Gael senator will be to host a fundraising dinner in New York next Wednesday, in support of the Children’s Memorial Research Foundation at Our Lady’s – Kenny will fly to New York for the second time in seven days to attend, as will the US Open golf champion Graeme McDowell.

Coghlan is already in New York for this evening’s 105th Millrose Games, partly to see John run in the college distance medley, with Dublin City University. Two weeks ago John ran in his father’s footsteps by achieving a 3:59.32 mile in Boston – creating the first Irish father-son combination to crack the four-minute barrier.

“When you enter a race,” Coghlan has said, “and there are 15 other guys on the line, you want to come out number one.”

Whether that’s as easily done in politics as on the track, only time will tell.

Curriculum vitae

Who is he? Former World 5,000m champion and indoor-mile record holder; finished fourth in the Olympics twice. Since last May, an Independent senator.

Why is he in the news? His decision to join Fine Gael, which delighted the Taoiseach.

Most appealing characteristic? Affable and enthusiastic, and still looks as if he could run a sub-four-minute mile.

Least appealing characteristic? Trying to please everyone.

Most likely to say? “There is no gain without pain.”

Least likely to say? “If I’d taken EPO, I’d have won two Olympic golds.”

Nicole Schappert Wins Boston Valentine Invitational Mile

2012-02-11T10:21:00.007-06:00

Friday night saw former Villanova All-American Nicole Schappert (sister of current Villanova freshman Stephanie Schappert) competing at the Valentine Invitational at Boston University's indoor facility. Nicole won the mile in a crisp 4:33.16, a new indoor PR. Here are the top-10 results from that race:

Women's Mile
1 Schappert, Nicole         NYAC           4:33.16
2 Grace, Kate               NJNYTF         4:40.11
3 Palacio, Jess             NAVY           4:40.27
4 McShine, Pilar            TRIN & TO      4:40.62
5 Salerno, Melissa          NEW BALANCE    4:42.30
6 King, Jillian             BOS. COLL.     4:44.62
7 Letourneau, Allison       UNH            4:45.82
8 Chambers, Madeline        GTWN           4:46.45
9 Carson, Lindsay           MCMA           4:47.05
10 Borduin, Lauren          GTWN           4:48.08

This victory comes on the heels of Schappert's 2:06.29 win over 800 meters at last weekend's New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory in New York. Here are the results of that race:

=======================================================
Event 61  Women's 800 Meter Run
=========================================================
  1  2755 Nicole Schappert       N Y A C         2:06.29  
  2  2754 Lauren Bonds           Unattached      2:06.84  
  3  1223 Devotia Moore          Unattached      2:07.09  
  4   361 Stephanie Herrick      C P T C         2:07.59  
  5  1222 Kimarra McDonald       Unattached      2:07.62  
  6  2756 Katie Hitchcock        N Y A C         2:08.94  
  7   362 Gina Perno             C P T C         2:11.35  
  8  2757 Lauren Henkell         N Y A C         2:12.94  
  9  2753 Ashley Armand          Unattached      2:13.95  
 10  2765 Kim Standridge         Syr Chargers TC 2:18.77

Josh Lampron's 4:05.99 Mile at 2011 NB Nationals

2012-02-10T00:01:00.002-06:00

Here is the video of Josh Lampron's victory at the June 2011 New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Over the final 150 meters he storms from fourth place to win at the wire in 4:05.99 (capping a 58.36 last quarter) -- a gigantic 10-second PR and the #6 prep mile run in 2011. On February 4th, the Massachusetts product signed his letter of intent to attend Villanova in the fall.

Sheila Reid is 3-Time Winner of XC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

2012-02-09T12:58:00.004-06:00

Villanova’s Sheila Reid Wins Third Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honor

Courtesy: Tom Lewis, USTFCCCA
February 9, 2012

NEW ORLEANS – Sheila Reid of Villanova University was named the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Women’s Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2011 cross country season on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Reid won a second-straight NCAA cross country individual national title this past fall. Overall, it is Reid’s third Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Reid has twice won the cross country version of the award, and, for the 2011 track & field season, she was the USTFCCCA’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year for outdoor track.

Scholar Athletes are determined from among those who earned All-Academic status and placed highest individually at the most recent NCAA Championships.

USTFCCCA NCAA Division I
Cross Country Women’s Scholar Athlete of the Year – Sheila Reid, Villanova

Reid, an English major from Newmarket, Ontario, has a cumulative GPA of 3.39 through the fall 2011 semester.

At the NCAA Championships in the fall, Reid captured the second-straight title in leading the Wildcats to a third-place team finish. In one of the best finishes in recent memory, Reid had to compete with a lead pack of eight runners heading into the final 500-meter stretch. Reid and Oregon’s Jordan Hasay separated from the group and ran side-by-side until the final 100 meters where Reid outsprinted Hasay to take the crown in 19:41.2.

Reid became the fifth in NCAA history to win back-to-back individual crowns.

Reid also won the NCAA Mid-Atlantic title for the third-straight time in the fall with a 21:32.7, outdistancing Georgetown’s Emily Infield by just over a second. Reid won the Big East crown for the third-straight time in leading the Wildcats a fourth-straight league championship.

Past Winners
2011: Sheila Reid, Villanova
2010: Sheila Reid, Villanova
2009: Angela Bizzarri, Illinois
2008: Tasmin Fanning, Virginia Tech
2007: Jenny Barringer, Colorado
2006: Jenny Barringer, Colorado

Lipari's Last 100 Earns Her FloTrack's "Kick of the Week"

2012-02-09T00:01:00.002-06:00

Villanova's Emily Lipari went from 7th at the bell to winner, thanks to her notorious kick

2011 NB Nationals Mile Champ Josh Lampron Inks with Villanova

2012-02-08T19:29:00.011-06:00

Josh Lampron, who won the 2011 New Balance Outdoor Nationals mile championship last June as a junior, signed a letter of intent on February 4th to run for Marcus O'Sullivan's Villanova squad. At New Balance Nationals last year Lampron, who hails from Mansfield, Massachusetts, won gold by setting a new mile PR of 4:05.99 -- the 6th fastest mile run by a US prep in 2011. His 2011 indoor 1000 meter time of 2:29.77 was the 10th fastest in the country last year. Lampron is the reigning Massachusetts state champion in both the indoor mile and outdoor 800 meters. Lampron started off the 2011 cross country season as the #9 ranked harrier in the United States, according to Mile Split, before an injury derailed his season.

Lampron has the following 2011 PRs:


400 meters:     51.24
800 meters:   1:53.13i
1000 meters:  2:29.77i (USA #10)
1500 meters:  3:50.03
1 Mile:       4:05.99  (USA #6)
5K XC:       16:06.82

2012-02-08T09:48:00.006-06:00

O’Sullivan savors his return to Millrose
By Ray O'Hanlon
The Irish Echo, February 8th, 2012

The Irish will be out in force at the Millrose Games at the Armory in Manhattan this coming Saturday, Feb. 11, and none among the Irish contingent will have a greater right to be trackside than Cork’s Marcus O’Sullivan.

While Eamonn Coghlan is the name that jumps to the minds of many when the Millrose Wanamaker Mile is mentioned, O’Sullivan’s is right at the Dubliner’s shoulder, as it was more than once in their competing days.

O’Sullivan, a four time Olympian and three-time gold medalist in the World Indoor Championships at 1500 meters, has five Wanamaker Miles to his name and on top of this he is the third all-time leader in the sub-4 minute mile record book with 101 races under the famous mark to his credit.

In this, O’Sullivan heads Coghlan, and trails only Steve Scott and John Walker.

These days, O’Sullivan heads the track and field and cross country program at Villanova University, his alma mater, and a college that is famous for its list of Irish runners, Coghlan included, on its rolls down the years.

As reported last week, O’Sullivan, along with Coghlan, Frank O’Mara and Ray Flynn, who is leading the market effort for the Millrose meet, established the still standing world record in the 4 x mile relay back in August, 1985 and on behalf of GOAL, which has just benefited from the efforts of ultra marathoner Richard Donovan.

O’Sullivan will be arriving in New York with his Villanova milers for a Millrose inter-collegiate clash that will also feature Dublin City University with Eamonn Coghlan’s son, John as one of the quartet.

So how does it feel to be back at the Millrose with his old track comrades?

“The last time I recall us all together, including Frank, was the anniversary of the four by one mile. However, I am personally in touch with all three of them on a regular basis and I see them all separately on a regular basis,” O’Sullivan told the Echo.

“Millrose is still a great representation of the indoor season and track and field,” added O’Sullivan, who fondly remembers the great runs at Madison Square Garden in what he now dubs the “old days.”

“However, with the Armory as the new location you are going to find some great times and performances,” he said.

Villanova NCAA Performance List Report

2012-02-07T21:27:00.005-06:00

Here are the Villanova athletes currently among the top-50 performances in their respective events, as of February 7th. So far, only Sam McEntee has run an automatic qualifier for the NCAA indoor championships, although Bogdana Mimic's 9:11.95 3000 meters run at Haverford this past weekend is less than 2 seconds from the 9:10.00 standard.

M E N

800 meters:    Sam Ellison         1:49.35     NCAA #16
Mile:          Sam McEntee         3:57.86     NCAA #5  (Auto Qualifier)
3000 meters:   Mathew Mildenhall   8:06.23     NCAA #37
5000 meters:   Ryan Sheridan      13:56.43     NCAA #6
5000 meters:   Matt Kane          14:29.03     NCAA #36
DMR:           Chris O'Sullivan    9:48.64     NCAA #12
               Cory Serfoss
               Chris FitzSimons
               Brian Tetreault
Weight Throw:  Frank Anuszewski      61'4"     NCAA #49

W O M E N


200 meters:    Shericka Ward         23.93     NCAA #30
Mile:          Emily Lipari        4:39.78     NCAA #14
3000 meters:   Bogdana Mimic       9:11.95     NCAA #6
60m hurdles:   Shericka Ward          8.25     NCAA #10
DMR:           Nicky Akande       11:12.59     NCAA #10
               Christie Verdier   
               Ariann Neutts
               Emily Lipari 
High Jump:     Samantha Yeats        5'10"     NCAA #22

Piccirillo Wins 400 - 800 - Mile - 3000 at Edinboro

2012-02-06T19:50:00.003-06:00

Villanova signee Angel Piccirillo went 4-for-4 this weekend at Edinboro University, including a USA #10 2:14.77 over 800 meters and a USA #15 10:06.00 in the 3000 meters. Here is the report by Phil Grove from the Pennsylvania Mile Split website:

Angel Piccirillo made short work of things on the track, and a trio of Hickory seniors went to great lengths Saturday inside Edinboro University's year-round track bubble.

The Homer Center standout one-upped her performance from the first Tri-State meet of 2012 by winning the mile and 400-, 800- and 3,000-meter events in dominating fashion, with each of her winning efforts being faster than the previous week. Picking up where she left off on Edinboro's 236.621-meter oval, the Villanova University signee destroyed the mile field in a PA#3 4 minutes, 59.30 seconds before coming back in the next event for a PA#4 effort of 58.30 seconds in the 400 dash.

Piccirillo was back again in the next event and led wire to wire in the 800. Her 2:14.77 is PA#2 and US#10, while Peyton Hampson of Waynesburg hung on for a PA#6 clocking of 2:17.26. Saving her best for last (after taking a break during the 200), Piccirillo cut almost 20 seconds off her winning time from the previous Saturday, covering the 3,000 in a state-leading and US#15 10:06.00.

"After talking with my coach, the 3,000 was probably my best race," Piccirillo said, noting that her PR of 10:02.35 from 2011 came on Penn State's banked track. "I was really glad to pull off a decent time and being by myself, too.

"The 800 also is not a strength of mine and came at a weird time. It was hard to keep loose (in the 800 and 3,000)."

Lipari Hits New Mile PR in Win at New Balance Collegiate

2012-02-04T20:58:00.004-06:00

Villanova sophomore Emily Lipari broke the 4:40 barrier for the first time, coming from 7th place at the bell to win the women's mile at the Armory. Her time of 4:39.78 came up less than three seconds short of the NCAA automatic qualifying standard of 4:37.00, but her time placed her in the top 15 of the NCAA's indoor performance list this season. Her 4:39.78 was a 2.5 second improvement from her previous mile race (4:42.35) at the Armory two weeks ago.

Event 67  Women 1 Mile Run Championship
================================================================
Saturday 2/4/2012 - 5:20 PM
     Name                        Year School                                
================================================================
Finals
  1  1323 Emily Lipari           Villanova              4:39.78
  2  1120 Brittany Sheffey       Tennessee              4:40.28
  3   168 Jillian King           Boston College         4:40.70
  4   283 Alyssa Kulik           Clemson                4:40.97
  5   334 Lindsay Crevoisera     Connecticut            4:41.49
  6   319 Waverly Neer           Columbia               4:41.92
  7   581 Rebeka Stowe           Kansas                 4:43.11
  8   821 Ashley Verplank        North Carolina         4:44.42
  9   817 Lianne Farber          North Carolina         4:45.54
 10   954 Nicol Traynor          Richmond               4:46.57
 11   819 Kendra Schaaf          North Carolina         4:46.63
 12   349 Shauna McNiff          Connecticut            4:47.12
 13   559 Corinne Christense     Kansas                 4:52.26
 14   545 Morgan Casey           Iowa State             4:52.48
 15   391 Carolyn Baskir         Duke                   4:52.82
 16   164 Heather Garcia         Boston College         4:54.37
 17   536 Kirsten Stewart        Iona                   4:55.21
 18   309 Aryn Foland            Columbia               4:56.01
 19     7 Chloe Susset           Abilene Christian      4:57.17
 20    56 Kathryn Fanning        Albany                 5:00.40
 21   222 Makenna Smith          B Y U                  5:09.39

Sheridan Wins New Balance Collegiate 5000Edges Closer to NCAA Auto Qualifier

2012-02-03T09:01:00.006-06:00

Ryan Sheridan dipped below the 14:00 barrier for the first time in his career on Friday, winning the collegiate 5000 meter run at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory. His time of 13:56.43 brought him both an 8-second win over Kevin Burnett of Texas A&M as well as a top-10 NCAA time this season. Sheridan, a 2009 All-American at 5000 meters outdoors, needs a 13:44.60 to qualify automatically for the NCAA indoor championship meet. His race Friday bettered his 5000 meter time from two weeks ago, when he ran 14:18.66 at the Great Dane Classic at this same venue. Matt Kane finished 6th in 14:29.03.

Ellison Takes 500 meter Dash in Quick 1:01.92

In other action, Sam Ellison turned back competitors from sprint-happy LSU and Baylor in winning the 500 meter dash. His 1:01.92 time, a PR, is a Big East qualifier, and Ellison is now qualified in the 500, 800, and 1000 meters at the Big East indoor championships.

Event 12 — Men 5000 Meter Run Championship
Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 (2:50 pm)

Records
Armory — 13:41.25, Richard Kiplagat, Iona, 2003
Armory College — 13:41.25, Richard Kiplagat, Iona, 2003
Meet — 13:41.25, Richard Kiplagat, Iona, 2003

    Name                        Year School                               
================================================================
Finals
 1  2698 Ryan Sheridan          Villanova             13:56.43 
 2  2517 Kevin Burnett          Texas A&M             14:04.27 
 3  1760 Brian Atkinson         Duke                  14:13.95 
 4  1763 Andrew Brodeur         Duke                  14:19.59 
 5  1511 Josh Olsen             American              14:27.64 
 6  1402 Matthew Kane           Villanova             14:29.03 
 7  1919 Craig Murphy           Iona                  14:29.90 
 8  2086 Cullen Doody           L S U                 14:30.25 
 9  1721 Leighton Spencer       Columbia              14:32.21 
10  1719 Jake Sienko            Columbia              14:35.48 
11  1556 Robbie Knorr           Baylor                14:37.89 
12  1720 Paul Snyder            Columbia              14:37.90 
13  1700 Pat DeSabato           Columbia              14:50.29 
14  2035 Evans Kosgei           Lehigh                14:57.03 
15  2523 James Hodges           Texas A&M             15:01.60 
--  2085 Richard Chautin        L S U                 DNF

Event 32 — Men 500 Meter Dash Championship
Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 (7:47 pm)

Records
Armory — 1:00.82, Lesiba Masheto, Illinois, 2008
Armory College — 1:00.82, Lesiba Masheto, Illinois, 2008
Meet — 1:00.82, Lesiba Masheto, Illinois, 2008

     Name                        Year School                                
================================================================
Finals
  1 Samuel Ellison               Villanova              1:01.92
  2 George Empty                 George Mason           1:02.25
  3 Drew Seale                   Baylor                 1:02.49
  4 Ade Alleyne Forte            L S U                  1:02.60
  5 Shaquille Walker             B Y U                  1:02.98
  6 Emanuel Mayers               Mississippi St.        1:03.26
  7 Michael Robertson            Univ of Ottawa         1:03.28
  8 Kenneth McCuin               Kansas                 1:03.37
  9 Harry McFann                 Columbia               1:03.76
 10 Michael Hester               Kansas                 1:04.01
 11 Andre Thomas                 Coppin State           1:05.33
 12 Dominque Manley              Kansas                 1:06.74
 ‑‑  Chris Carter                 B Y U                   DNF
 ‑‑  Keith Griffith               L S U                   DNF

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS -- FRIDAY SESSION

400 Meters (College)

PRELIMINARIES

Bryan Murphy           30th of 83           49.93          4th (Section 2)
Nicoy Hines            35th                 50.02          1st (Section 19)
Carlton Bowers         54th                 50.66          2nd (Section 14)
Cory Serfoss           71st                 51.70          2nd (Section 13)

500 Meters (Championship)

Samuel Ellison         1st of 14            1:01.92

1000 Meters (Championship)

Chris O'Sullivan       12th of 45           2:28.95
Chris Pietrocarlo      15th                 2:29.42
Joseph LoRusso         19th                 2:30.18
Richie Bohny           24th                 2:31.58

5000 Meters (Championship)

Ryan Sheridan          1st of 16            13:56.43
Matt Kane              6th                  14:29.03

Long Jump (College)

Elbert Maxwell         6th of 13            6.93m           Flight 4
Lazaro Tiant           4th of 13            6.59m           Flight 1

Shot Put (Championship)

Frank Anuszewski       53rd of 58           13.88m

Douma-Hussar 3rd in New Balance 1500

2012-02-03T07:44:00.001-06:00


Event 30  Women's 1500 Meter Run
=========================================================
Friday 2/3/2012 - 7:18 PM
     Name                             School                                   
=========================================================
Finals
  1  2761 Lauren Centrowitz      NBTC                   4:14.06  
  2  2754 Lauren Bonds           Unattached             4:14.66  
  3  2766 Carmen Hussar          Unattached             4:16.72  
  4  2762 Erin Koch              NBTC                   4:21.21  
  5  2759 Rolanda Bell           Unattached             4:22.44  
  6  2764 Amanda LoPiccolo       Unattached             4:24.44  
  7  2763 Kerri Gallagher        NBTC                   4:25.25  
  8   360 Catherine Beck         C P T C                4:29.49  
  9  2767 Leslie Higgins         N Y A C                4:30.21  
 --  2780 Melissa Salerno        Unattached                 DNF  
 --  2765 Kim Stanridge          Syr Chargers TC            DNS  
 --  2760 Dana Mecke             Unattached                 DNS

Bobby Curtis Up & Running: Will Rabbit Tasmanian 5000

2012-02-02T14:51:00.004-06:00

Bobby Curtis, on the mend from a foot injury, will get back on the track for the first time Saturday at the Briggs Athletic Classic in Hobart, Tasmania, Austalia. He'll be pacing the men's 5000, which features a fantastic battle between Craig Mottram, Ben St.Lawrence and Collis Birmingham. The foot injury scuttled Curtis' European race schedule at the start of the year, and he's since relocated to Australia for summertime training.

Piccirillo Makes it Official

2012-02-02T14:39:00.002-06:00

PA State Champion Indoor Mile 2010 -- All State First Team
AA State Champion Outdoor 1600m 2010 -- All State First Team
Penn Relays COA Girls Mile Champion 2010 and 2011
PA AA State Champion XC 2010 and 2011
Foot Locker Finalist 2010
PTFCA XC Athlete of the Year 2010 and 2011
Gatorade PA Girls XC runner of the Year 2010
Millrose Mile Finalist
PA State Champion Indoor Mile 2011 -- All State First Team
PA AA State Champion 1600m 2011 -- All State First Team
PTFCA Outdoor Women's Athlete of the Year 2011
Foot Locker XC Northeast Champion 2011
Foot Locker XC All American 2011

Muncan & Margey at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

2012-02-02T13:52:00.007-06:00

This weekend's New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston provides a good opportunity for a former and future Villanovan to compete in ultra-competitive races. VU alum Marina Muncan in the loaded 3000 meters, while Villanova signee Kelsey Margey is in the prep mile. Margey has the 3rd fastest high school mile run this season. Here are the start lists:

New Balance Women's 3000  (7:50 p.m. Saturday)
Liz Maloy            USA
Jenny Simpson        USA
Sara Hall            USA
Shannon Rowbury      USA
Btissam Lakhouad     MAR
Marina Muncan        SRB
Megan Wright         CAN
Gotytom Gebreslase   ETH
Siham Hilali         MAR
Meseret Defar        ETH
Mardrea Hyman        JAM

Girls' Junior Mile  (5:25 p.m. Saturday)
Annika Gompers      (USA #48 mile)
Camille Blackman
Cayla Hatton
Haley Pierce        (USA #2 3000)
Kelsey Margey       (USA #3 mile)
Madison Granger     (USA #60 mile)
Marika Crowe
Megan Moye          (USA #5 mile)
Molly Keating       (USA #7 1500)
Reagan Anderson
Sarah Gillespie     (USA #14 mile)
Wesley Frazier      (USA #11 1600)

**** UPDATE ****

Here are the results of the junior girls' mile, in which Margey finished third:

 New Balance Grand Prix - 2/4/2012 6:14:49 PM                     
                                    , Boston, MA                                     

                       Varsity Girls One Mile Run                       
==========================================================================
    Name                      Yr Team                           Time   Pts
==========================================================================
  1 Cayla Hatton                                             4:51.37      
  2 Wesley Frazier                                           4:52.18      
  3 Kelsey Margey                                            4:52.83      
  4 Megan Moye                                               4:54.09      
  5 Reagan Anderson                                          4:57.79      
  6 Sarah Gillespie                                          4:58.02      
  7 Haley Pierce                                             4:58.59      
  8 Madison Granger                                          5:00.96      
  9 Molly Keating                                            5:01.20      
 10 Annika Gompers                                           5:04.93      
 11 Camille Blackman                                         5:07.64      
 12 Marika Crowe                                             5:09.09

2012-02-01T13:54:00.005-06:00

Irish Gather Anew for Millrose Meet
By Ray O'Hanlon
The Irish Echo
February 1st, 2012

The "chairman" returns to the Millrose Games.

As famous running foursomes go, this one ranks at the very top in the storied history of Irish track.

And three of the four will be on hand a few days from now at the famed Millrose Games, this year being staged in the cozy confines of the Armory in Upper Manhattan.

Back in the summer of 1985, and under a blue sky as opposed to a roof, the four, Eamonn Coghlan, Marcus O’Sullivan, Frank O’Mara and Ray Flynn flew around the Belfield track at University College Dublin chasing a world record.

The run, which was in support of the aid agency goal, was in pursuit of something rarely pursued: the world four by one mile relay record.

But the mid-1980s was something of a golden era for Irish middle distance running. Not only were the organizers able to assemble a world class quartet to go after the record, but they added three other top class quartets to push it to the new mark.

Put it this way, the “B” team on that day included Olympic silver-medalist John Treacy.

Still, there were no guarantees. A big crowd had turned up and it was excited and highly expectant. The pressure was on for sure.

Failure to nail the record would have been, no doubt about it, a major disappointment. But the “fab four” did not disappoint and duly laid claim to the record of 15.49.08. It stands to this day.

On Friday, Feb. 11, three of the record holding quartet will be together again at the 105th Millrose Games, though in non-running capacities this time around.

One of them, Longford native and now Tennessee resident Ray Flynn, is the meet director and the man who has been working overtime in recent months to assemble a top class array of athletes, one that will ensure a capacity crowd in a venue that is considerably more compact, thus easier to fill, than the longtime Millrose home, Madison Square Garden.

Flynn, a double Irish Olympian who set, and still holds, the outdoor Irish mile record of 3:49.77 (set in 1982 at the Bislett Games Dream Mile in Oslo) lives in Johnson City, Tennessee where he, well, runs Flynn Sports Management.

Flynn, now 54, also runs “most days,” though purely for recreation.

Flynn says he is excited at the prospect of the Millrose Games making their debut at the Armory, in large part because the track there is faster than the MSG boards.

“There is a new generation of athletes comfortable running on fast 200 meter tracks,” Flynn told the Echo in a phone interview.

“We have a whole array of great events lined up and everyone is very excited about the Armory. You really hear the noise from the crowd which brings out the best from the athletes. It’s a very intimate and exciting arena,” he said.

Flynn, like virtually all the great Irish middle distance runners of his generation, brought his running abilities to peak by attending a U.S. university, in his case East Tennessee State.

His fellow record breakers on that day in Belfield also ran track for American universities. The names of Coghlan and O’Sullivan are indelibly linked to Villanova, while Frank O’Mara ran for the University of Arkansas, and still lives in Little Rock.

While Flynn has overall responsibility for the Millrose meet, he is taking a particular interest in the reunion with Coghlan and O’Sullivan. One unique aspect of the Millrose tradition is that it combines events for world class professional track and field stars, along with competition for college and high school athletes.

And this year’s college component of the meet is sparking the reunion.

Eamonn Coghlan, seven-time champion in the Millrose marquis event, the Wanamker Mile, and the only one of the record-holding four currently living in Ireland, is flying the Atlantic in the company of a squad from Dublin City University which will compete in the Byron Dyce College Men’s Distance Medley Relay.

The DCU squad, coached by Enda Fitzpatrick, has been hailed as Ireland’s middle distance running dream team. It’s made up of Mark English Brian Gregan, Darren McBrearty and, no great surprise, Eamonn Coghlan’s son, John.

“I’ve known these kids since they were young teenagers. I’ve seen them grow up. The fact that they are all in school together, they can see what running in New York City is all about. It’s exciting for their team from Dublin University to go to the Millrose Games and have a chance to do exceptionally well,” said Coghlan in a Millrose advance release.

“The Irish used to come to the Millrose Games to support me, Marcus O’Sullivan (five Wanamaker titles) and Ron Delany (four). People are not aware of the talent coming out of Ireland. It might get them back on the scene again,” said Coghlan.

Last year, Coghlan suggested to Armory Foundation president, Dr. Norb Sander, the idea of bringing an Irish Team to this year’s Millrose event.

“I said we need a bit of the Irish influence back in the Millrose Games,” Coghlan explained.

Sander didn’t need much persuading. Indeed, the Irish presence on Feb. 11 will extend beyond the visitors from Dublin.

Marcus O’Sullivan, who is head track coach at Villanova, will be bringing a team, and there will be other college teams turning up from Virginia, Duke, Providence, Columbia and Albany. Providence is coached by Ray Treacy, John’s brother.

This week, as a warm-up for the Millrose meet, the Irish visitors will be participating individually in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational (Feb 3-4) at the Armory.

For Coghlan, now and for ever “the chairman of the boards,” the return to New York is a cause for celebration, and not a small degree of paternal pride given the participation of his son.

“My role is as a parent, coach and a nervous dad. I just want to be with Norb and help keep the Millrose Games going. Enda would like my influence to be with the kids the day before and calm them down, motivate them, and help them get ready,” he said.

“The Millrose Games are close to my heart for obvious reasons. My success in the Millrose Games has been the making of Eamonn Coghlan. Not a week goes by when someone doesn’t say something to me about winning the Wanamaker Mile.”

Ray Flynn is hoping that many people will remember Coghlan’s extraordinary feats when the Wanamaker was run at MSG and flock to the Armory, for old time’s sake, as well as to see close up an array of present day and future track and field heroes.

“Eamonn and DCU, Marcus and Villanova, Ray and Providence, as well as others, will be keeping alive the legacy of the Irish at the Millrose Games. It promises to be a great night,” Flynn said.

Tickets for the Millrose Games can be purchased online at www.armorytrack.com. More information on the meet can be found at www.millrose-games.org.

John Coghlan Joins Father Eamonn in the Sub 4:00 Miler Club

2012-01-31T11:47:00.007-06:00

John Coghlan, Eamonn Coghlan's son who was briefly on Villanova's recruiting radar a few years ago before deciding to stay in Ireland and run at Dublin City University, has run a sub-4:00 mile, running 3:59.32 at the Terrier Classic in Boston. As a result, the father-son Coghlans now join the Browns, Centrowitzes, Keinos and Bairs as the only father-son sub-four minute milers in history. Interestingly, John ran his first sub-4:00 mile at Boston University's track, less than two miles from the track at Harvard University where his father Eamonn recorded his final sub-4:00 mile (at the age of 41).

The father-son sub-4:00 miler duos (with their initial sub-4:00 mile time listed) are:



3:54.16     Kip Keino               08/30/65
3:58.73     Martin Keino            06/04/94


3:58.7      Sam Bair                06/23/67
3:59.72     Sam Bair, Jr.           02/13/10


3:58.8      Barry Brown             05/13/72
3:59.99     Darren Brown            04/05/03


3:59.2      Matt Centrowitz         05/24/75
3:57.92     Matt Centrowitz, Jr.    02/14/09


3:56.2      Eamonn Coghlan          5/10/75
3:59.32     John Coghlan            01/28/12

Sheila Reid Wins Philly Outstanding Amateur Athlete Award (Again!)

2012-01-31T10:01:00.002-06:00

Villanova’s Sheila Reid wins Outstanding Amateur Athlete at Philadelphia Sports Writers Banquet
By TERRY TOOHEY
ttoohey@journalregister.com

CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Neither a cold nor a late class could keep Villanova’s Sheila Reid from making it to the 108th annual Philadelphia Sports Writers banquet on time Monday night.

Reid and Villanova women’s coach Gina Procaccio arrived at the Crowne Plaza Hotel just in time for the start of the festivities. What else would you expect from an athlete who has become famous for her last-minute kick? Besides, being the first female to be named Outstand Amateur Athlete in back-to-back is a big deal to the 11-time All-American from Newmarket, Ont. She wasn’t about to miss the banquet for the world, even though she was in the infirmary at Villanova Sunday night and had a late Italian class Monday.

“I feel I’ve grown really close to the whole Philadelphia sports community,” said Reid, the first back-to-back winner of the award since golfer Jay Sigel in 1982-83. “While I won’t be able to represent Villanova after this year, it’s kind of nice to know that I can come back to Penn Relays and have some connection to Philadelphia.”

Reid will go down as one of the best runners in Villanova history and that’s saying something. She won her second straight NCAA individual cross country title last November. Five months earlier, Reid became the first woman to win the 1,500- and 5,000-meter titles in the same year at the NCAA Championships. Along the way, Reid has been named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year twice, National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a four-time Big East academic all-star.

Yet for all of her accomplishments and awards, one thing is missing from her resume. She has not won a Penn Relays title, either as an individual or as part of a relay team. She will get one last chance to break that drought when the 118th Penn Relays Carnival gets under way April 26 at Franklin Field.

“Oh man, it’s a monkey on my back,” Reid said. “It’s pretty crazy that with all the success that I’ve had an the team has had I still can’t seem to tie down a Penn Relay’s wheel, but we’re working on it this year and we’re going to get it together for sure this year.”

Reid has more than a Penn Relays wheel on her wish list. She’s also training for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team. She will get that opportunity at the Canadian Olympic team trials are June 27-30 in Alberta.

“I’ll be there,” she said. “I have to run really fast for them to want me on that team, but I’m looking forward to it. I think I’m setting myself up for a really good opportunity.”

McEntee & Ward Highlight Cats at Penn State National

2012-01-30T08:45:00.005-06:00

The big news from the weekend meet at Penn State was the NCAA automatic qualifier in the mile for sophomore Sam McEntee. McEntee broke the 4:00 barrier, running 3:57.86 in only his fourth ever competitive mile (see video of race in previous post below). He did so 6 days short of his 20th birthday, becoming Villanova's 29th sub-4:00 miler (fellow Aussie Matt Gibney was the 28th on Villanova's list when he went 3:58 in Seattle last February). Among Western Australians, only the legendary Herb Elliott (3:54.5) has run a faster mile. McEntee's time places him #25 on the all-time Australian mile list, one spot ahead of John Landy. He is currently ranked #5 on the 2012 NCAA performance list at that distance.

All-Time Mile Performance List, Australia

1.    3.48.98     Craig Mottram       Oslo, Norway        29 Jul 05
2.    3.49.91     Simon Doyle         Oslo, Norway         6 Jul 91
3.    3.51.25     Jeff Riseley        Oslo, Norway         3 Jul 09
4.    3.51.82     Mike Hillardt       Koblenz, Germany    28 Aug 85
5.    3.52.24     Ryan Gregson        London, GBR         13 Aug 10
6.    3.53.24     Mark Fountain       Sheffield, GBR      21 Aug 05
7.    3.53.58     Pat Scammell        Melbourne            7 Feb 91
8.    3.54.30     Collis Birmingham   London, GBR         25 Jul 09
9.    3.54.5      Herb Elliott        Dublin, Ireland      6 Aug 58
10.   3.55.05     Jeremy Roff         London, GBR         25 Jul 09
11.   3.55.2      Ken Hall            Goteborg, Sweden    12 Aug 75
12.   3.55.59     Graham Crouch       Stockholm, Sweden    1 Jul 74
13.   3.55.75     Scott Petersen      Melbourne           20 Feb 97
14.   3.55.9      Merv Lincoln        Dublin,Ireland       6 Aug 58
15.   3.56.23     Youcef Abdi         Eugene,USA          24 May 03
16.   3.56.27     Lachlan Chisholm    Brisbane             6 May 05
17.   3.56.52     Andrew Lloyd        London,GBR          27 May 90
18.   3.56.59     Steve Foley         Dublin, Ireland     10 Jul 79
19.   3.56.8      Peter Fuller        Melbourne            9 Jan 74
20.   3.57.12     Holt Hardy          Melbourne           25 Feb 98
21.   3.57.27     Mitch Kealey        London, GBR         25 Jul 08
22.   3.57.3      Chris Fisher        Eugene, USA         18 May 75
23.   3.57.53     Peter Bourke        London, GBR         11 Jul 86
24.   3.57.79     Steve Austin        Melbourne           14 Jan 82
25.   3:57.86     Sam McEntee         State College, USA  28 Jan 12

Also of note was senior Shericka Ward's PR in the 60 meter hurdles. Her time of 8.25 places her at #10 in the NCAA so far this season. The NCAA automatic qualifier in the 60H is 8.10 She is also currently ranked #27 in the NCAA at 200 meters.

Sam Ellison ran a 1:49.37 PR over 800 meters at Penn State, placing him at #16 on the NCAA performance list. In the same event, Chris FitzSimons continued his steady recovery of fitness after injury. His 1:51.06 (NCAA #42) over the weekend portends good things over the next two months.

Freshman Courtney Chapman and sophomore Emily Lipari both cracked the NCAA top 50 in the 3000 meters. Chapman ran 9:31.21 (NCAA #47), while Lipari's 9:32.05 sits at NCAA #50. Lipari's 4:42.35 mile from the January 20th Albany Great Dane meet at the Armory ranks her 21st in the NCAA at that distance.

The men's DMR team of Chris O'Sullivan (2:59), Cory Serfoss (50.5), Chris FitzSimons (1:52), and Brian Tetreault (4:06) was fourth at the Penn State meet, in 9:48.64 (almost 18 seconds slower than the NCAA auto qualifier). That time currently is the 9th fastest in the country. When push comes to shove, we expect Tetreault to replace O'Sullivan in the 1200 meter opening leg, and newly minted 3:57 miler Sam McEntee to be placed in the 1600 anchor.

Also on the men's side, four men competed over 3000 meters. Brian Long, running unattached, was the second fastest competitor of the day, running 8:11.12. Rob Denault (also unattached) went 8:23.51 to win his heat. Joe LoRusso ran 8:23.85 and Alex Tully came home in 8:26.92. The NCAA auto qualifier is 7:52.80.

Sam McEntee Goes Sub-4 with 3:57.86 at Penn State

2012-01-28T17:57:00.010-06:00

Sam McEntee celebrated his 20th birthday a few days early today at the Penn State National Invitational by crushing the 4:00 barrier in the mile. In only his fourth mile race ever, McEntee, a sophomore from Perth, Australia, finished third in the invitational mile, in 3:57.86. That is an NCAA nationals automatic qualifier for McEntee. He is Villanova's 29th sub-4:00 miler and -- along with Matt Gibney -- the second Villanova runner from Australia to break that magical 4:00 barrier in the last 11 months.

Event 25  Men 1 Mile Run Inv
================================================================
Facility Rec: F 3:57.97  2011        Cory Leslie, Ohio State    
 Meet Record: M 3:57.97  2011        Cory Leslie, Ohio State    
   NCAA Auto: A 3:57.90                                         
  PSU Record: * 3:58.49  2011        Ryan Foster                
    Name                    Year School                  Finals 
================================================================
Finals                                                          
  1 See, Jeff                    Saucony                3:56.51A
  2 Leslie, Cory              JR Ohio State             3:56.85A
  3 McEntee, Sam              SO Villanova              3:57.86A
  4 Springer, Andrew          SO Georgetown             4:01.17 
  5 Dawson, Owen                 Unattached             4:01.37 
  6 Mahoney, Travis           JR Temple                 4:02.40 
  7 Kostelac, Anthony         SO Virginia               4:05.12 
  8 Fallon, Chris             JR Ohio State             4:06.43 
  9 Gilland, Taylor           SO Virginia               4:06.45 
 10 Peavey, Bobby             SO Georgetown             4:07.12 
 11 Guarino, Nick                Unattached             4:09.93 
 12 Kaddurah, Omar            FR Georgetown             4:10.44 
 13 Guarino, Josh                Unattached             4:11.67 
 14 Furcht, Ben               SO Georgetown             4:11.76 
 15 Burnett, Clay                Unattached             4:12.70 
 16 Fuller, Brian                Unattached             4:14.33 
 17 Baker, Colin              SO Penn State             4:17.90 
 18 Cunningham, Michael       SR Penn                   4:20.85 
 -- Endress, Wade             FR Penn State                 DNF 
 -- Foster, Ryan                 P F G                      DNF

March 1980 Sports Illustrated Profile of Jumbo Elliott

2012-01-27T20:20:00.010-06:00

Nobody's Bigger Than Jumbo
Sports Illustrated, March 10, 1980
Rick Telander

For 45 years, James Francis Elliott has been coach of track at Villanova, bringing home more silverware than he knows what to do with. And it's only a part-time job

This raw, wintry day James Francis (Jumbo) Elliott, 64, the Philadelphia millionaire, drives rather than walks through the yard of Elliott and Frantz, Inc. heavy-equipment sales company. A light snow has turned the back lot into a quagmire. "We plan to have it repaved next summer," Jumbo says apologetically. Elliott's car creeps past the monsters that are his stock-in-trade: fluorescent-green, 35-ton Euclid trucks, cherry-red Drott cranes, taxicab-yellow Fiat-Allis loaders— dense, inert vehicles nesting in the ooze. "The really big ones come on semis and are assembled here," says Jumbo. "Some of the tires alone are 10 feet high."

Elliott walks into his office, sits down at the desk and hums as he rubber-stamps his name on $26,000 worth of payroll checks. He comes in for only a few hours a day now, and signing checks is one of his duties. Nowadays the business runs largely on its own momentum, but that wasn't always the case. "God, no," says Jumbo, a gentleman in all things, but one who uses a dash of blasphemy for effect. Fifty years ago he was a stock boy in a grocery store in Philadelphia's Shanty-town; 35 years ago he was a foreman of a small construction company; 25 years ago he was a salesman for the company; later he became a partner in it; and eight years ago he bought out his partner. Now there are Elliott and Frantz franchises in three states, with 140 employees and annual sales of $25 million. On the walls of Elliott's office are photographs of athletes running and a painting of a great, somber, bearded man—God, obviously—peering out of the clouds and obviously displeased as a golfer moves his ball from behind a bush. Golf is one of Jumbo's passions. In 1934 and '35 he was captain of Villanova University's golf team. He was undefeated in his intercollegiate career, and he was urged to join the pro tour after graduation. Now Elliott belongs to several country clubs around Philadelphia and owns a condominium near the 13th hole of the Seminole golf course in Juno Beach, Fla.

A lean, almost gaunt man with a fleshy face that seems meant for a heavier frame, Jumbo is reputed to have a mighty tee shot still. "A friend of mine always said he'd bet I could outdrive anybody else who had wrists as skinny as mine," he says. Jumbo holds out his wrists and they are indeed narrow, delicate, decidedly un-Jumbo-like. (The "Jumbo" handle was not acquired for anatomical reasons. It was picked up in the 1930s; a man named Jumbo Jim Elliott pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies then. "Since I was a "Jim Elliott" too, I got the name and it stuck," he says.)

Jumbo's eldest son, James Elliott Jr., 33, vice-president/general manager of Elliott and Frantz, enters the office and pulls a pitching wedge from the bag of clubs behind his father's desk. Another son, Tom, 29, also works at Elliott and Frantz, as a vice-president. As James Jr. practices his backswing, he and his father discuss the political problems in Afghanistan and Iran.

World affairs are of more than passing interest to the Elliotts these days—one of their sales agents in Iran disappeared for a while during the revolution there. Upon resurfacing, the agent informed the company that $50,000 worth of their tractor parts were in the hands of the new government.

"Are we going to get caught on that?" Jumbo asks now.

"I already wrote it off," says Jim Jr., "but I've heard we might eventually get paid by some West German bank. You don't mind if we get it in Deutschmarks, do you, Dad?"

Jumbo chuckles. Such relatively small amounts of money are not terribly important to him at this stage in his career.

It is nearly three o'clock now and Jumbo is finishing work for the day. He gets into his Cadillac to drive the short distance to Villanova University, the small (enrollment 6,075), private, Catholic Church-affiliated university from which he graduated 45 years ago. It is at Villanova University, on Philadelphia's fashionable Main Line, that Elliott engages in what has been his "hobby" for four and a half decades. Like a comic book hero emerging from a phone booth, Jumbo, the successful businessman, family man, amateur golfer and lifetime Philadelphian, steps out of his car in the school's parking lot and takes on a new identity—that of the most successful collegiate track coach in history.

Indeed, if coaching achievement were measured in business terms, Jumbo Elliott would be no mere millionaire, but a Rockefeller, a Howard Hughes. In the last 25 years his Villanova track and cross-country teams have won almost 50 major championships, indoors and out: eight NCAA, three AAUs, one USTFF and 38 IC4As (the 105-member Eastern track association). During his tenure 300 Villanova athletes have won individual or relay championships at IC4A meets, 74 have won them at the NCAAs, 63 at the AAUs. Last spring Villanova won its 71st relay title since 1955 at the prestigious Penn Relays, far outdistancing the host team, the University of Pennsylvania, as the all-time leader.

Jumbo has coached 25 Olympians, who have won six gold and three silver medals. Either while at Villanova or afterward, 18 of his athletes have set outdoor world records and 44 have set world indoor marks. Last season alone, junior Don Paige set a world indoor record for an 11-lap track at 1,000 yards (2:05.3); sophomore Anthony Tufariello established an NCAA indoor mark in the 600 (1:09.5); sophomore Sydney Maree, from South Africa, set a national collegiate record in the 1,500 meters (3:38.2) and an outdoor NCAA mark in the 5,000 (13:20.7); and alumnus Eamonn Coghlan shattered the world indoor mile record with a time of 3:52.6. The record Coghlan broke (3:54.9) was held by another former Villanova runner, Dick Buerkle.

Jumbo admits to having a fondness for middle-distance men. Indeed, he has coached 16 Villanova athletes who have broken four minutes in the mile, a feat roughly akin to having coached 16 All-America halfbacks. One of those, Ron Delany of Ireland, won the Olympic gold in the 1,500 in 1956. Others, such as Marty Liquori, Frank Murphy, Buerkle and Coghlan, have been in the forefront of world-class miling over the last decade. The 1980 Villanova squad has four runners—Paige, Maree, Dean Childs and Amos Korir of Kenya—who have clocked sub-four-minute miles. Two others, Kevin Dillon from Canada and Carey Pinkowski, should break four minutes soon.

This is not to say that Elliott ignores his sprinters and field men. Eight of the nine Olympic medals won by Villanovans have been taken by sprinters (Charley Jenkins, Paul Drayton, Larry James), a hurdler (Erv Hall) and a pole vaulter (Don Bragg).

And the juggernaut continues to roll. Last year's Villanova team won the IC4A Indoor Championships for the 16th time and the NCAA Indoor Championships for the third time. In May, Villanova finished second to the University of Texas at El Paso in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. All but four members of that team are back this year. "Jumbo's had the horses before, but he's got depth now. This may be his best team ever," says James, gold medalist in the 4 x 400-meter relay and a silver medalist in the 400 in the 1968 Olympics and now the track coach at Stockton ( N.J.) State College, where Bragg is the athletic director.

Just as important to the school as Elliott's stats, however, is his very presence on campus. Without a man who could afford to coach for the love of it, Villanova quite possibly would not have a track program at all, let alone the success it enjoys. Like all private colleges today, the school is beset with financial problems.

"We're marginal," says the Rev. John M. Driscoll, Villanova's president. "To be honest, no sport is financially viable here. But in a competitive business like ours it is important to keep your school's name in the forefront. And the most fantastic press we get, year in and year out, comes from Jumbo and his teams. If it weren't for him and his peculiar genius, things would be very much different here."

For the record, Elliott now receives $10,000 a year from Villanova. When he first started coaching, as an undergraduate scholarship quarter-miler in 1934, he, of course, did not receive a paycheck. (He also coached the golf team as an undergrad because "there was nobody to do that, either.") After graduation his salary was established at $200 for six months of coaching—indoor and outdoor track and golf. "You've got to remember that this was only something I was doing after work," Jumbo points out.

After World War II, in which Elliott became a lieutenant commander in the Navy, his fee leaped to $2,500. For this he coached track, golf and cross-country and served as the trainer for the Villanova football team. "I got by fine," he says. "I'd found that in the heavy-construction business a lot of managers were in their offices at 6:30, 7 in the morning. By starting early I could make four good calls before the average salesman even got on the road. My territory was the Main Line, with two or three accounts in the city—nothing farther than 25 miles from Villanova. I never had any trouble making it to school by three in the afternoon."

In the late '40s the young businessman's track teams began to be noticed. Jumbo's first stars were George Guida and Browning Ross, both of whom qualified for the 1948 Olympics—Guida in the 400, Ross in the steeplechase. In 1950 Elliott coached a witty, balding youth named Fred Dwyer, now the track coach at Manhattan College in New York, who ran a 4:00.8 mile. In 1954 Jumbo coached his first black runner, Jenkins—who would win two gold medals (4 x 400 relay and 400) at the 1956 Olympics while only a sophomore at Villanova.

A dynasty was beginning, and Elliott decided it was time to look for on-the-job help. He went to the university to see about hiring an assistant. Money, as always, stood in the way. Undaunted, Jumbo went out and hired an assistant coach at $5,000 a year, double his own salary. The assistant, Jim Tuppeny, later became track coach at Penn. "I was making big goddamn bucks selling, then," Jumbo explains. "So I just paid the assistant myself. It was a tax write-off, nothing."

Finally, in 1969, the university, perhaps out of embarrassment at having what was probably the lowest-paid major-power track coach in the nation, demanded that Elliott accept a salary of $10,000. The move was made largely to set a precedent. "In case," as Jumbo puts it, "they might have to hire another coach after I'm gone."

But Elliott did not need, or particularly want, the extra cash. As an officer of the Villanova Development Council he promptly gave all (much more than all, is the rumor) of the raise back to the school. "If I ever had to quit coaching it would tear my heart out," he says. "I like people. I love track men. Obviously, I didn't get into it for the money."

It is this generosity toward his alma mater that annoys some of the other coaches. "The man has a name like Lombardi in football," groans Frank Sevigne, the track coach at the University of Nebraska. "But what's really so irritating is that Jumbo is that successful, and it's only part time."

Jumbo walks down the hall of the aging Villanova field house, one of those drafty brick and tile structures that undoubtedly looked modern back when basketball players wore high-tops and the running one-hander was considered radical. Clad in a three-piece business suit, white shirt, dark tie and black wingtips, he is himself a throwback to another, less jivey era. Medallions, flowered disco shirts and leisure suits will remain the province of other, hipper coaches. Elliott, the old-school Irish Catholic, believes in dignity as he knows it. "Do you remember how John Wooden used to coach at UCLA?" he asks. "Every now and then he'd stand up, and once or twice he'd say something. I understand that. These new coaches—particularly in basketball—my God, they're madmen."

At times—such as when he is standing still, deep in thought—Jumbo looks older than he is, somewhat pale and fragile. But his speedy, long-limbed gait is an indication that youth still lurks within. Split high, like a good hurdler or quarter-miler (he ran a 47.4 in 1935 and probably would have made the 1936 Olympic team except for an injury), the 5'11", 160-pound Elliott claims it is "the working with the lads" that keeps him young. "I know men in their 60s who are so old I don't even want to be around them," he says. For the last decade or so recruiters from other colleges have warned high school athletes that if they went to Villanova they would end up running for a different coach, the implication being that Elliott was due for retirement. But Father Driscoll has said Jumbo can coach "as long as he wants."

"Those retirement stories," says Jumbo, shrugging. "I've heard them every spring for 20 years. All I can say is, retire to what—a hole in the ground?"

Even the crowded, dingy confines of the field house (it is not a field house in the true sense of the word since there is no indoor track or field area; Villanova's wooden "indoor" track is outside) seem to put life into Elliott's stride. "People jog all through this building," he says. "The other day I was coming out of the men's room and some great big guy hit me and knocked me flying. This has to be the best-used facility in the world."

He says this with amusement and pride. For years he has asked the university for a new track, perhaps even a real locker room (the dressing room is also a hallway), but it's not imperative that he get them. The contrast between Villanova's archaic athletic facilities and the success of his teams appeals to Jumbo's sense of humor and his up-by-the-bootstraps philosophy. Visitors usually ask what his teams do when snow blankets the "indoor" track. "We just give the boys shovels and put them to work," he replies. "It's good for them."

In his office, which he shares with two assistant coaches, Jack Pyrah and Elliott Baker, Jumbo stretches out and puts his feet up on his desk. Pyrah and Baker are also part-time coaches, having full-time jobs elsewhere—Pyrah with the university, Baker in the Philadelphia school system. Jumbo looks over his head to where a large brown stain has discolored the ceiling. He stares at it a while, pondering its significance.

"What's that?" he asks.

The room, which invariably gets crowded once Jumbo arrives, now includes all three coaches, student manager Ray Engler (dispensing the mint candy that Jumbo calls "vitamins"), a secretary, several Villanova runners and two at-large students who have wandered in to use the phone.

"It's a leak," says Baker. "Relax, Jumbo, we'll get it fixed." Behind his hand he adds, "Next year."

The talk is loud and lively. Jumbo thrives on talk, in pubs, restaurants, arenas, everywhere. " Mr. Elliott will not go to lunch by himself," says Paige, his latest star. "If he hasn't found anybody to go with him by noon, he'll come over to campus and grab an athlete and say, 'Come on, let's eat.' "

Freshman sprinter Carlton Young, who is nursing a muscle pull, enters the chaos and, finding all the chairs taken, lies down on Jumbo's desk to talk with the coach about schoolwork. Considered one of the best young runners in the nation—he had a 9.4 100 and a 20.9 220 as a Philadelphia high school junior—Young is also a top student, with a first-semester 3.9 average in pre-med courses. Though it might appear otherwise, there is nothing disrespectful about Young's posture. It reflects expediency, informality and friendship, all of which Jumbo understands and advocates.

The office is chockablock with trophies and plaques—on window ledges, on the walls, under papers, piled up, buried, forgotten. Jumbo is asked if these comprise all the Villanova track trophies. "God, no," he cries in mock chagrin. "They're all over campus. I don't know how many of them there are. Too many." One recent night Jumbo returned home and was greeted by his 85-year-old uncle, Lou, who lives with Jumbo's family in nearby Haverford. "Here, Jim, look what I found in the basement," Lou said, holding up a tarnished metal plaque proclaiming Ron Delany to be a member of eight winning Penn Relays teams.

"Where the hell did you find that!" cried Jumbo, pretending to back up, as if Villanova's victory hardware were pursuing him, even perhaps multiplying like seedpods gone wild somewhere in his cellar.

Not for a minute, however, should anyone believe that Jumbo Elliott doesn't like to win. He loves to clown around. "They fired that Arizona football coach for slapping a kid's helmet," he says one day in the office to Pyrah, who is busy on the phone, "but can they fire you for slugging an assistant coach? For beating on this fat S.O.B.?" And Jumbo pummels Pyrah's midsection while the beleaguered assistant, still talking on the phone, struggles for calm. But his concern for his runners and their victories is not so lighthearted.

He prides himself on doing what's best for his boys and, more often than not, that means getting them home in first place. He'll fight for those wins. In 1970 Villanova won the NCAA Cross-country Championships by one point over Oregon after an irate Elliott used film to prove that one of his runners finished 62nd, not 67th, as the officials had ruled. Near the end of the 1978 IC4A Outdoor Championships, Jumbo realized that Villanova could win the meet if his runners finished 1-2-3-4 in the 1,500 (an unprecedented feat), finished first in the 5,000, and then won the 4 x 400 relay, the final event. Jumbo made some lineup changes, explained the situation to his boys, and Villanova beat Maryland 99-98 for the title.

Believing that hard work followed by just reward builds character, Elliott worries now about his boys not being able to participate in the 1980 Olympics. He figures he has a dozen former or current athletes who could qualify for the Moscow Games. "But it hasn't changed anything for me, really," Jumbo adds. "I'll still try to get the boys in the best shape I can."

This approach is shared, as one would expect, by Elliott's athletes. "It's not going to kill me if the United States doesn't compete," says Paige. "There are a lot of meets in Europe after the Olympics and everybody will be at those. If you can beat an Olympic medalist then, well, that's not too bad."

One afternoon not long ago. Jumbo watched Maree run some stretch-out laps. Maree wouldn't be going to the Olympics regardless of a boycott—South Africa is banned because of its apartheid policy—nor is he allowed to compete in international meets or in any meets in which foreigners not enrolled in U.S. schools are involved. The tragic irony is that Maree is black.

Last season Maree ran several of the best middle-distance times in the world. He would like to become a U.S. citizen, but to be eligible he must reside in this country five years and he has been here only three. For an athlete whose skills could peak at any moment, two years is a long time to wait. Barring an Act of Congress or a change in South Africa's racial policies, that is what he must do. "It breaks me in a way," Maree has said. "But it builds me in a way. I'm able to take punishment."

Jumbo steps onto the splintering board track. A few hundred yards away is Goodreau Stadium, in which the school's quarter-mile outdoor track is situated. In a time when many high schools have expensive all-weather tracks, the one at Goodreau is still cinders.

Villanova doesn't belong to a conference in track and has no dual meets, so its inadequate facilities are not as great a liability as they might seem. Indeed, they are of virtually no concern to the middle-and long-distance men. "Facilities just aren't that important," says Liquori. "A miler can run anywhere. Kenyans get by without any tracks whatsoever."

It's harder on the field men, of course, which is why Villanova usually does poorly in those events. "When Don Bragg was here, we had a sawdust pole-vault pit that used to freeze solid in the winter," says Jumbo. " Bragg used to get a shovel and chop it up so he could jump. Of course, you don't get many kids like Bragg anymore."

Which probably is all right with Elliott. Some speculate that it was because of the excitable Bragg—who gave Tarzan yells before he charged down the runway and, according to Jumbo, could eat "fifteen barbecued chickens and out-arm-wrestle any football player at Villanova"—that Elliott began concentrating on runners. At any rate, Baker now handles the field men.

Jumbo watches as Maree circles the track. The troubled young man is a patterned, precise runner. If a glass of ice cubes were placed on his head there wouldn't be a clink as he glided down the straightaways. Still, Jumbo sees flaws.

"Hey, Syd, twist your arms just a little on the turns," he yells.

Maree circles the track again.

"Like this?" he yells, without moving his head or changing expression.

"Yeah! Good!" cries Jumbo as the dark figure runs on.

People in the track world are always asking for the secret of Elliott's coaching success. In fact, his training concepts are simple and mundane—too basic for those who desire an exotic formula. "Run, eat, sleep," says Jumbo. Liquori says, "At clinics, people can't believe he's being truthful. But he is."

Elliott doesn't care for fancy, "scientific" approaches to the sport. "I don't measure lung capacity or any of that stuff," he says. "What can I do about it? The only special technique I have is my own personal psychology. I stress the efficient operation of body movement, and I have my runners do a lot of repeat work—repeat quarters or 220s or halves. But each person is different. If you have a runner as naturally gifted as, say, that hurdler, Nehemiah, the way you coach him is to not foul him up. Mostly you try to keep the boys' frames of mind up."

Jumbo's vast experience—the fact that he has seen it all—comes into play here. He knows when to push a runner and when to lay off. This is the psych business, closing the sale. "A typical coach will say, 'Give me 15 repeat quarters in 60 seconds,' " says Liquori. "And of course nobody can do it, so afterward you feel down. Jumbo, on the other hand, will say, 'O.K., we're doing 10 quarters in 60 today.' Everybody does it and they say, 'Hey, let's do more.' Jumbo will say, 'No, go on in,' but maybe one day he'll say, 'O.K., give me two more,' and everybody will do those two and go in feeling great, like world-beaters. He'll do things like that, sacrifice a litle physical conditioning for mental conditioning."

One thing Elliott tries not to do is to get greedy, push runners into places where they don't belong. For two years he had Mark Belger, a 1978 graduate, and Paige on his team at the same time. Both were world-class half-milers, yet he never ran them head to head. "Why force the issue?" he says, knowing that a loss by either one might have been ruinous to that runner's development.

"It's like my business," says Jumbo. "Sometimes I'll talk to a manager who isn't being straight with me, who says yes, definitely, he wants to buy one of our tractors. Then I'll go back to finish the deal, and he says he went out and bought a Caterpillar instead. I don't force the issue. I keep myself from getting mad. I say, 'I hope it works out real well for you.' You have to think about the long run."

"The thing I remember most about Jumbo's practices is that they were a lot of fun," says Dwyer, who as a rival coach is still one of Elliott's good friends. "Jumbo used to stutter a little, and in practice I'd be on my way to a 60-second lap in the mile and he'd want me to slow down or sprint and he'd call out, 'Si-si-si....' I'd stop and say, 'Si-si-si what?' And then he'd chase me around the track. You need light moments like that, because running itself requires so much discipline."

Elliott has always understood the need for occasional levity, in life as well as running. One of his catch phrases is "stop and smell the roses." He once advised the intense Liquori to spend 20 minutes a day smiling into a mirror.

Of course, a major reason for Elliott's success is the sheer amount of rare talent he has brought to Villanova, getting the great ones and letting them help each other. "Practices were always like races," recalls James. Elliott admits that track recruiting is simple: "You just look for the best times." For a man of Jumbo's stature, getting the blue-chippers to enroll is a breeze, too. "Well, let me say that it's much easier than selling a quarter-million-dollar truck to a man who doesn't want one," he says.

In the last two decades, Elliott remembers only one Villanova track man flunking out, and none has transferred to another school. He doesn't try to recruit athletes from the South or the West because he knows they won't enjoy the Pennsylvania winters. "I want my runners to be happy," he says.

However, foreign students from a variety of climes have seemed happy enough at Villanova. Ever since Guida and Ross met quarter-miler Jim Reardon at the 1948 Olympics and persuaded him to attend the school, Villanova has had a link with the best Irish runners. The Africans go to Villanova because of the school's international reputation.

"You know, I didn't make a single phone call to South Africa to get Maree," says Jumbo. "He was in the U.S. the summer after high school and his sponsor suggested Villanova to him, and the next thing I knew, he was here."

Once at Villanova, regardless of race or nationality, no runner can fail to respond to Elliott's genius for perfect timing and shrewd motivation. Nobody gets athletes up for meets like Jumbo.

As a freshman James was a frustrated intermediate hurdler. His steps were inconsistent and his concentration was poor. When he was a sophomore, Elliott had him training for the 600 as well as the hurdles, which only compounded his dissatisfaction. Then, just before that year's NCAA Indoor Championships, Jumbo approached him and said, "Forget it, champ. You're running the 440."

"He made me so happy I could have kissed his feet," recalls James. "I exploded from those blocks." Even though running from the outside lane, James shattered Theron Lewis' national record by nearly a second. His NCAA-record 47 flat, set 12 years ago, still stands.

Elliott also stresses discipline. Not the boot-camp discipline of a Woody Hayes, but the conservative discipline of a businessman. "They need some," Jumbo says, "for the years after school, when they have to submit to the whims of a boss."

"He likes you to have that nice clean 'American' look," says senior Keith Brown, a black sprinter from the Baltimore ghetto. "I like a 'stache-and-'burns look, but when I came in as a freshman, he said, 'Shave!' And no long socks or anything like that, either. I said, 'What!' But now I understand. He knows employers come to our meets, too, and he wants us to be respected as athletes and students."

When Jumbo is in doubt, he pauses and ponders. As he watched Delany set a world mile record 25 minutes after eating a hot dog. Jumbo realized there was a limit to his knowledge. "The great thing is, he knows there are things he doesn't know," is the way Paige puts it. That coachly humility may contribute to the fact that so many of Elliott's athletes continue to perform well once they are out of school.

"A lot of coaches want to be the guru," says Liquori. "But by the end of your sophomore or junior year Jumbo expects you to be able to coach yourself. And you can. European and Communist coaches can't believe that people like Eamonn and I actually coach ourselves."

There is a certain uniformity, a sedate, genteel quality about virtually all of Elliott's athletes, past and present, as though the navy blue and white Villanova track uniforms are the pupal stages of Brooks Brothers suits. In exciting times one could almost call it a dullness. But that would imply that the athletes lack intelligence or enthusiasm, which isn't true, either. Villanova runners can be wild and crazy guys when the mood strikes them. Paige, who lists "girls" as his favorite hobby, recalls that when he was being recruited, Jumbo had to leave for a while to bail some of his track men out of jail, where they had been immured for some minor offense.

"Everybody has Mr. Elliott's phone number memorized or in his wallet," says Paige. "He always says, 'If you get thrown in jail, call me first.' "

Overall, though, Jumbo's athletes are quality people who do well. The track team's grades are always above the Villanova average, and Villanova is a strong school academically. The list of former runners who are now successful lawyers, doctors and businessmen is impressive. "That is something the mothers who send their kids to school think about," says Liquori, now the president of a large athletic-store chain.

In truth, Elliott has merely been molding men in his own image. His father, who read meters for a gas company, died when Jumbo was 3, leaving him to work his way up and out of Shantytown. "Nothing was given to me," he says. He still recalls the Depression days with dread. "Young people don't know what it was like," he says often. Even his track career started at the bottom. He ran his first quarter mile as a high school junior in 56 flat, and then was violently ill the rest of the day.

Elliott is conscious of money and material things, but primarily as markers, objects good to acquire and to have somewhere—like those damned trophies—but not to attach special meaning to. He'll show you his new white Continental Mark VI and his lovely three-fireplace, slate-roofed home and the blue Eldorado in the garage. But ask him how many rooms there are in the house and he says he has no idea.

Early in life Jumbo found his salvation—sales. "No matter what you do, life is selling," he says. "Selling yourself, selling a program, selling this, selling that." He brought the concept to track and it has paid off handsomely for him. Twice he was asked to coach at USC, a school with a lavish athletic budget, but he refused because he felt his salesmanship was better suited to Villanova. He has been there longer than any teacher, coach or dean. Three of his four children have graduated from Villanova. In 1977 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the school. He is Villanova track. Athletes perform for him.

Not that everything has always gone right for him. There were times in the turbulent late 1960s when his business approach did not go over well with some of the more activist athletes. But it seemed almost nobody over 30 was right then. There have been times when Jumbo hasn't completely understood some of his young men. One of those was Bragg, who set a world record in the pole vault and then went to Hollywood to try out for Tarzan. Bragg didn't get the part, and Elliott didn't understand his ambition, although he was well aware of it.

"When did I first realize Bragg was interested in Tarzan?" says Jumbo. "Well, the day we recruited him he was in his backyard in New Jersey with a lot of ropes up, swinging from tree to tree. I guess that was a good indication."

The only goal that has eluded Elliott is the post of head U.S. Olympic track and field coach. Several times he seemed likely to get it, but was passed by. "Politics," Jumbo says.

But for the most part, nary a cloud worth mentioning shadows the sweet, structured life of Jumbo Elliott. At track meets he usually sits up in the stands, sometimes with his wife and children, sometimes reading a golf magazine, mentally sharpening his swing. He knows everybody, and young coaches and runners continually stop by to chat. "Jumbo is more than a coach," says Father Driscoll. "He's an educator."

At the U.S. Olympic Invitational at Madison Square Garden in late January, Jumbo sat quietly in the first deck of seats with a group of friends. Like the other spectators, he became more animated as the time for the 1,000-meter run, featuring Paige and Belger, approached. The two had met only once before, in a 1,000-yard race in last year's Millrose Games. Paige won, setting his world record.

"They may be the two best indoor runners ever at this event," Jumbo said. "You have mixed emotions but, of course, you're for the kid you've got now."

As the race began, both Paige and Belger hung back; then they surged ahead with two laps to go. Belger kicked, but Paige kicked harder and came home first in 2:21.6, .4 second ahead of his former teammate. Jumbo smiled. It was a nice race. Jumbo likes nice races, particularly those with slam-bang, come-from-behind finishes—especially those that involve relays, groups of runners, the whole Villanova team. Such a feast occurred at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships in Detroit.

Twenty-fifth in the team standings with only two points after the first day of competition, Villanova began to make its move with six events to go on the second and final day. Tufariello won the 600, the Villanova distance medley team placed third, Paige won the 1,000. Then, in the mile, Maree and Korir finished second and third behind meet-leading UTEP's Suleiman Nyambui. But their combined 14 points were five more than UTEP got for Suleiman's first. With only the mile relay to go, it was apparent that if Villanova won that event, the Wildcats would win by a point.

Jumbo, sitting on a folding chair outside one of the turns, did not gather his mile-relay team together for a pep talk. There wasn't time and, besides, he seldom does that anyway. The last time he had called a team meeting it was for an entirely different reason. "He told some jokes, and then he got serious," recalls Paige. "First he said, 'Why don't you guys smile more?' Then he told us to please say 'yes' or 'yessir' instead of'yeah.' "

The relay team held a meeting of its own, at which there was a brief, silent prayer, and then won the race by half a second.

The four relay runners whooped and hollered, but in a subdued way. One by one they came over to Jumbo, shook his hand and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Elliott." Jumbo, perhaps wondering where to put yet another trophy, was outwardly subdued, too, but his eyes were damp.

Les Wallack, the Rutgers track coach, tells this story: "There was an incident last year during the indoor season, not long before that same NCAA meet. A quarter-miler—I won't mention his name or his school—beat Villanova in a relay, and as he crossed the finish line he made an Obscene gesture at Tim Dale, the Villanova anchor man. Tim said nothing, just walked away. Then at the IC4As it was reversed. Villanova beat the other team easily. After the race, the Villanova guys said nothing to the other kid. They hugged each other for a moment—you could see how happy they were—and then they just walked away. Wow, it gave me chills. What class."

Louie Quintana into Eagle Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame

2012-01-26T09:02:00.000-06:00

After winning the 1990 Kinney (now Foot Locker) high school cross country national championship, Louie Quintana was a 9-time All-American at Villanova from 1991-1995. He finished 4th (1992), 14th (1993), and 16th (1994) at the NCAA Cross Country Nationals. While at Villanova in 1993, Quintana ran 7:58.73 over 3000 meters (third fastest of any Villanovan at the time, bested only by Sydney Maree and Gerry O'Reilly). He ran 4:40.37 for 1500 meters, was the 1993 IC4A indoor mile champion (4:00.19), and won back-to-back IC4A 1500 meter titles outdoors in 1992 and 1993. He won two individual (1500 and 5000 meters) and three relay (two DMRs and a 4x800) Big East championships. At the Penn Relays, Quintana was part of the winning 1992 4 x 800 meter relay team, and anchored the 1993 4 x 1500 meter Championship of America relay squad. The latter performance earned Quintana the meet's Outstanding Meet Performer award and the cover of Track and Field News.

Here's a news story about Quintana's imminent induction into his high school athletic foundation's hall fo fame, and an August 2010 interview by the folks at Cross Country Express, available HERE as well.

Eagle Athletic Foundation set to host Hall of Fame Dinner
By TPR Staff

Four Arroyo Grande High School alumni will be honored when the Eagle Athletic Foundation holds its fourth annual Hall of Fame Dinner on Saturday at the South County Regional Center.

Inductees include Arroyo Grande High School graduates Jim Skaggs, Edmund Alarcio, Louie Quintana and Velma Harris.

Skaggs distinguished himself in football and wrestling at his alma mater and graduated in 1958.

Skaggs played football and wrestled at the University of Washington. He played in two Rose Bowls and was an All-American in 1961.

The NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles drafted Skaggs, and he became the first professional athlete from AGHS. He played 11 years for the Eagles before he retired in 1971.

Alarcio was referred to as “one of the greatest all-around athletes in school history” in a news release put out by Lucia Mar Unified School District.

He was a letterman in football, baseball and track.

Alarcio continued his athletic career at Cuesta College and Cal Poly, playing for the latter’s national championship football team in 1980.

As a coach, Alarcio later helped lead several Arroyo Grande teams to a variety of league and CIF Southern Section championships.

He earned the Lucia Mar Unified School District Teacher of the Year Award in 2009.

Quintana graduated from AGHS in 1991. He finished his high school career as “the most accomplished runner in school history,” according to the district’s news release.

He was undefeated his senior season and won the league, CIF Southern Section, state and national championships.

During his track career, Quintana set numerous records and won several individual championships.

He ran at Villanova, earned multiple All-American honors and is now the head cross country coach at Arizona State.

Harris graduated from AGHS in 1959 and has served with the school’s booster club and the Eagle Athletic Foundation.

She has been a fixture on campus during sporting events and has been active in fundraising for AGHS and the Five Cities communities.

Saturday’s event will begin with cocktails from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 7:30 p.m. through 8:15 p.m., with the induction program beginning immediately after.

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Here's an August 2010 interview with Louie from crosscountryexpress.com

Today we chat with former high school phenom, college All-American and current Arizona St. coach, Louie Quintana

(1) Going back to the beginning of your running career, how did you get your start with cross country and track and field?

LQ: I got my start in running when I was in junior high school. I was in 7th grade and my PE class had a 6 week cross country unit. Every day we would run a 1.5 mile course and our times got recorded. My PE teacher kept a top ten list and it was posted on a huge board in the locker room…it was a very big deal to get on the board. I wanted to be on the top of the list and when I got to the top I wanted to run so fast that no one else could beat my time.

(2) When did you first realize your talents in the two sports? What were some of your successes during your first two years in high school?

LQ: I felt that early on I had the potential to be pretty good. Running was effortless in many ways for me growing up. I was always the fastest on my baseball and basketball teams and was always singled out for being the “fastest.” Naturally, I gravitated towards cross country as a freshman and experienced immediate success. 1987 was the first year of the California High School State Cross Country Meet and there was a lot of buzz around the sport that year…I finished 7th in 15:30 at Woodward Park and the rest was history.

(3) What are some of your proudest accomplishments in high school in both sports? Who were some of the more notable competitors?

LQ: I had a couple of moments that really stood out in high school. Ironically, both coming during my sophomore year of high school. First, our team won the 2A CIF Cross Country Title…it was one of the most exciting moments of my career. It was the first and is still the only title my high school ever won in Boys cross country. Second, a few weeks later I PR’d by 25 seconds and ran 15:02 at Woodward Park to finish 5th at the Kinney (Now Footlocker) West Regionals to make the national meet. I was stunned after the race…I can still remember how much that race hurt…it seemed like I was red-lining the whole way…I was determined not to break.

(4) Looking back at your high school training, what do you feel really worked for you and what do you think you could have done differently?

LQ: I think that my training was really sound. We were a moderate mileage team and I think physiologically we had a good plan. If I could have done anything different I would have been more disciplined with the little things. I ate like crap and was very inconsistent with my long run. Sometimes I would run on Sunday and sometimes I wouldn’t.

(5) How did you end up choosing Villanova and what were some of your accomplishments there?

LQ: I had a lot of options during my Senior year. Looking back on it, I was pretty naïve about the recruitment process and have a very narrow scope when looking at schools. That’s not to say that I was looking at bad programs, it’s just that I didn’t do a lot of research and was quick with saying no to some schools. I definitely liked my recruiting trip to Villanova and was hosted by Terrence Mahon (Team USA California Coach Now). He was a big influence on my decision to attend Villanova. He was a fellow Californian who was having success as a student-athlete and he was helpful with me making the transition across country. I had a moderately successful career at Villanova, but maybe not as successful as many would have projected. I was an All American 9 Times and finished 4th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships when I was just 19. I was banged up quite a bit during my career, but managed to string together some memorable performances.

(6) What was the biggest positive change for you in terms of your training?

LQ: The biggest positive change was the long run and that really didn’t come into play until my 2nd year at Nova. I ran 3:41 as a freshman for 1500m and I was really doing a lot of speed work. My coach, Marty Stern and I, starting to reflect on my disappointing freshman cross country season and we made some adjustments in the training. Mainly, adding a 15-18 mile long run on Sunday. I was real consistent in my training and my confidence just grew. I began to dream everyday that I would win the NCAA Title that fall. Every run I envisioned racing side by side with Bob Kennedy. I progressed fantastically that fall and finished 4th at the big dance.

(7) Who inspired you to get in coaching and when did you realize this was what you wanted to pursue?

LQ: I think that I secretly always wanted to get into coaching. My Dad was always a coach while I was growing up and I really respected his ability to reconstruct bad teams and get them to believe. I’ve always been that way I guess. I never wanted to be on the “IT” team, I always liked to play for the underdog. It was probably my biggest reason for choosing Villanova. They hadn’t made the NCAA in cross country for over 10 years and I was adamant to change that. I think that was my biggest attraction to Arizona State in the beginning. I wanted to work with Walt Drenth who was known for turning programs around…that really excited me about ASU.

(8) Who have been your coaching mentors?

LQ: Walt Drenth and Greg Kraft at ASU have really showed me the way. I spent many an afternoon and early morning just soaking everything in from Coach Drenth. He is one of the best college coaches in the country. I admire Coach Kraft’s ability to construct a well rounded track and field program. He has really been the most influential coach that I have come across in my career.

(9) How did you end up at Arizona St? How long have you been the head cross country coach? What are some of your proudest achievements for your teams?

LQ: I started at ASU in the Winter of 2002 and really was the product of fantastic timing. ASU is known for its mentoring of Graduate Assistants and I called Walt Drenth that fall to put my name into the hat to be the next GA. They currently had a GA (Corey Ihmels – now the Head Track Coach at Iowa State and Coach of Lisa Kohl). Corey got offered the Cross Country job at Iowa State that Fall and Walt called me immediately. I packed up and moved to Tempe with my wife who just happened to be from Phoenix. It really was just great timing. In 2004, I took over the duties of Coaching the Cross Country and Distance team. So I’m going into my 7th season as the Head Cross Country Coach. We have been fortunate to really have some great moments and achievements these past few years, but one of the achievements I’m most proud of was the 2007 Women’s Cross Country team that finished 4th at the NCAA Cross Country meet. That team defied expectation that day. They just believed they could do anything.

(10) Since your days of competing in high school, what do you feel have been the most important changes in how runners train today?

LQ: Biggest change is access to information. There is great info out there that is easily accessible that has really helped how young distance runners train. We are seeing our great distance runners develop a greater aerobic foundation that is beginning to pay off at the international level. I think we’ll see several more distance runners from the US run under 13 minutes for 5K over the next 5 years. It will be extremely difficult to make US National teams.

(11) What is your advice for high school coaches who want to have competitive teams year in, year out and have students who have a positive experience in cross country?

LQ: I think at the end of the day we want the students to really come to enjoy running. We want them to continue to pursue running as an integral part of their lives. It doesn’t matter if they continue competing in college, but if they enjoy running it will change their life.

Emily Lipari Garners Big East Athlete of the Week Award

2012-01-25T10:14:00.003-06:00

Cincinnati, DePaul, Syracuse and Villanova Win BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Weekly Awards

Four schools have been represented in the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field weekly awards. Cincinnati, DePaul, Syracuse and Villanova each had student-athletes cited by the conference office on Tuesday. Senior Tim Nedow of DePaul was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Week for the third time this season, while Cincinnati senior Jasmine Cotten was named Women’s Field Athlete of the Week. Syracuse senior Jarret Eaton was named BIG EAST Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, while Villanova sophomore Emily Lipari earned BIG EAST Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honors.

With his 20.01 meter shot put throw, Nedow broke his own DePaul record that he previously set last week. For the second time this season, Nedow was the only competitor at the meet to notch an NCAA automatic qualifying mark. The shortest of his five counted throws was measured at 19.28 meters. No other competitor in the event broke the 19 meter mark with the next closest competitor coming in at 18.77 meters.

Cotton won the high jump and was the top collegian in the long jump at the Gladstein Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. In her high jump win, she cleared 1.79 meters remaining the top jumper in the BIG EAST and ranked No. 7 in the NCAA. In the long jump, Cotton had a top leap of 5.84 meters, the fifth-best mark in the BIG EAST Conference this season.

Eaton broke the Syracuse school record, and had the fastest time in the nation this season, with a 7.61 performance in the 60-meter hurdles to earn a spot in the BIG EAST, IC4A an NCAA Championships later this season. Eaton won the event by 0.43 seconds, and also held the SU record in the same event, which he set in 2010 at the New Balance Invitational. Eaton also has the facility record at Barton Hall, which he set last year.

Lipari ran the fastest mile of any BIG EAST runner this season with a mark of 4:42.35 at the Great Dane Classic at the New York Armory. She finished first out of 33 runners, including 10 other BIG EAST athletes, and matched her personal best time in the event. She also ran the second leg of the 4x400 meter relay as Villanova won its heat.

The next BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Weekly Awards will be released on Jan. 31, 2012.

Solis, McEntee & Denault Race Footage from Great Dane Classic

2012-01-24T23:15:00.005-06:00

Here's some footage from last Thursday's Albany Great Dane Classic at the Armory. First up is the latter stage of the 1000 meter heat won by Villanova's Dusty Solis in 2:32.69. It is followed by the final 1800 meters of the 3000 meter race, where Sam McEntee (8:13.93) and Rob Denault (8:15.72) finish 1-2. Denault is running unattached, in a yellow and black singlet.

Video Vault: Tom Parlapiano's 3:41.51 at Haverford

2012-01-23T14:53:00.001-06:00

Here's a video from May 14, 2004 at Haverford College. Jason Jabaut and Adrian Blincoe rabbit Tom Parlapiano to his metric equivalent of a sub 4:00 mile. El T went 4:41.51, dipping below the magic 3:42.2 equivalent.

Marcus O'Sullivan's April 1988 Interview in T&F News

2012-01-22T00:01:00.002-06:00

Track and Field News has just made its April 1988 interview with Marcus O'Sullivan available at its website. You can click HERE to go to that interview.

The interview took place when Marcus was 26 years old, and one year after he had won his first of three World Indoor Championships in the 1500 meters. Just prior to the interview, Marcus has gone 3:50.94 indoors -- at the time the second fastest indoor mile ever run (his 1500 split in that race was faster than the existing world record at that distance).

In the interview, O'Sullivan identifies his anchor leg in the 4 x 1500 meters at the 1984 Penn Relays as a major turning point in his career. The foursome of Sean O'Neill, Brian O'Keefe, John Keyworth, and Marcus O'Sullivan that day set an NCAA record (14:52.81) in the event. The photos below shows O'Sullivan hitting the finish line in that race and its aftermath. Click on each image for a much larger version.

Muncan & Schappert Run New Balance Games Mile

2012-01-21T21:53:00.005-06:00

Villanova alums Marina Muncan and Nicole Schappert competed today in the elite mile at the New Balance Games held at the Armory in New York City. Muncan, the Serbian national record holder at both the 1500 meters and the mile, finished 6th, while Nicole Schappert, running for the New Jersey-New York Track Club and NYAC was 9th in the 13-person race.

Women's Mile

Place   Athlete             Country    Mark    
 1.  Brenda Martinez        USA        4:39.37  
 2.  Hilary Stellingwerff   Canada     4:39.82  
 3.  Liz Maloy              USA        4:40.32  
 4.  Lauren Centrowitz      USA        4:40.60  
 5.  Maggie Infeld          USA        4:41.81  
 6.  Marina Muncan          Serbia     4:42.11  
 7.  Ashley Higginson       USA        4:43.01  
 8.  Stephanie Reilly       Ireland    4:43.83  
 9.  Nicole Schappert       USA        4:44.65  
10.  Cat Beck               USA        4:45.02  
11.  Melissa Salerno        USA        4:46.66  
12.  Dana Buchanan          Canada     4:46.88  
13.  Rachel Cliff           Canada     4:54.17  
DNS  Jesse Carlin           USA     DNS

Emily Lipari's NCAA #5 Mile Leads Nova Women at Armory

2012-01-21T20:49:00.004-06:00

Emily Lipari won the mile at yesterday's Albany Great Dane Classic at NYC's Armory. Her time of 4:42.35 is the NCAA's 5th fastest mile on the books so far this indoor season, and is 4.5 seconds faster than her 2011 indoor best. In the same race freshman Courtney Chapman ran a new PR of 4:49.08 (over 13 seconds faster than the mile she ran last weekend at this same venue); it was also good for a ticket to the Big East championships. Other noteworthy efforts came from Nicky Akande, who finished 2nd in the 1000 meters in 2:50.37 (two seconds off her 2011 season best) and a Big East qualifier. Frosh Stephanie Schappert came third in the 800 in 2:12.74. Eight other Villanova women attained Big East championship qualifying marks.

60 meters
 5.  Varonica Johnson     7.66   BE

200 meters
11.  Varonica Johnson    25.35   BE
27.  Qualitra Brown      25.68

400 meters
17.  Qualitra Brown      58.50
38.  Fafavie Lumax     1:00.44

500 meters
 5.  Leanne Tucker     1:17.17   BE
 6.  Erin Ryan         1:17.44
13.  Mary Bohi         1:18.32

800 meters
 3.  Stephanie Schappert   2:12.74   BE
12.  Amanda Borroughs      2:17.75

1000 meters
 2.  Nicky Akande      2:50.37   BE
13.  Shannon Browne    3:06.04

Mile
 1.  Emily Lipari       4:42.35   BE  NCAA #5
 5.  Courtney Chapman   4:49.08   BE
 7.  Ali Smith (alum)   4:54.79
 9.  Ariann Neutts      5:03.56

3000 meters
 8.  Meghan Venables     10:11.53
10.  Sydney Harris       10:12.61
24.  Meghan Smith        10:58.91

60 meter hurdles
 7.  Emerald Walden          8.78   BE
33.  Katherine Petruzzelis   9.42

4 x 400 meters
 7.  Akande, Bohi, Browne, Borroughs    3:57.41
12.  Schappert, Ryan, Neutts, Lipari    4:02.21

High Jump
 3.  Samantha Yeats     5'7"   BE

Pole Vault
 2.  Alex Wasik             12'3.5"   BE
 3.  Kathleen McPhillips    12'3.5"   BE
 6.  Melissa Meggiolaro     11'9.75"  BE
 9.  Erica Litvak           11'3.75"
16.  Kimberly Logoyda       10'10"

Long Jump
26.  Alexandria Reo      16'3.75"

Triple Jump
 6.  Samantha Francis    38'10.25"   BE
22.  Marie Minasi        36'0.75"
27.  Victoria Profit     35'5"

McEntee, Sheridan, and Denault Post Fast Times in Big Apple

2012-01-20T15:51:00.001-06:00

A large contingent of Marcus O'Sullivan's men's team competed tonight at the Albany Great Dane indoor meet at the Armory in New York. The most noteworthy result of the meet from the Villanova perspective was the NCAA #4 performance of Sam McEntee in the 3000 meters. McEntee, a sophomore from Perth in Western Australia, won the race and came home in 8:13.93. In the same race, Rob Denault, running unattached, finished 2nd in 8:15.72, a mark that currently is the 8th fastest time in the NCAA so far this season. Also providing a win for the Wildcats was graduate student Ryan Sheridan (pictured left battling former Nova teammate Hugo Beamish). He won the 5000 meters by a whopping 18 seconds in 14:18.66, #6 in the NCAA to date. Greg Morrin (14:37.33), Matt Kane (14:38.50, and Brian Basili (14:38.68) also ran well, gaining Big East championship qualifying times.

Big East qualifying times were hit by Alex Tully (4:12.88), Joe LoRusso (3:13.69) Richie Bohny (4:18.80), and Danny Harris (4:15.83) in the mile, by Sam McEntee (8:13.93) and Rob Denault (8:15.72) in the 3000 meters, Ryan Sheridan (14:18.66), Greg Morrin (14:37.33), Matt Kane (14:38.50), and Brian Basili (14:38.68), and Frank Anuszewski (54'1") in the weight throw.

Here are the complete Villanova results on the men's side:

400 meters
39.  Cory Serfoss     52.07

800 meters
21.  Phil O'Connell   1:57.56
34.  Juan Castillo    2:00.46

1000 meters
 8.  Dusty Solis       2:32.69
21.  Chris FitzSimons  2:40.92 (tripped & fell)

Mile
 6.  Alex Tully           4:12.88
 9.  Joe LoRusso          4:13.69
11.  Danny Harris         4:15.83
14.  Richie Bohny         4:18.80
19.  Chris Pietrocarlo    4:19.88
21.  Charles Bates        4:20.54
37.  Dan Norman           4:32.71

3000 meters
 1.  Sam McEntee          8:13.93  NCAA #4
 2.  Rob Denault          8:15.72  NCAA #8
 8.  Tom Trainer          8:26.51
16.  Brian Tetreault      8:39.61

5000 meters
 1.  Ryan Sheridan       14:18.66  NCAA #6
 3.  Greg Morrin         14:37.33
 4.  Matt Kane           14:38.50
 5.  Brian Basili        14:38.68
12.  John Pickhaver      15:16.33

High Jump
 8.  Matthew Sydney    6'5"
20.  Elbert Maxwell    6'3.25"

Pole Vault
 8.  Chris Dougherty   14'9"

Long Jump
17.  Elbert Maxwell    21'7.25"

Weight Throw
 6.  Frank Anuszewski  54'1"
17.  Chris McLeod      43'6"

Marina Muncan in Loaded Wanamaker Metric Mile Field

2012-01-19T12:15:00.002-06:00

An International Wanamaker Metric Mile
by Brett Hoover, Millrose Games
1/18/2012

Reigning 1,500m World Champion Jenny Simpson and 2008 Olympic finalist Shannon Rowbury headline an international field in the Women's Wanamaker Metric Mile — sponsored by the New York Road Runners — at the Millrose Games on Feb. 11.

Simpson, the only woman in the field to run sub-four in the metric mile, and Rowbury, a two-time U.S. champion, will face emerging Ethiopian star Kalkidan Gezahegne, Canadian Nicole Edwards Sifuentes and Spain's Isabel Macias, all of whom have run personal bests in the last two years.

Also in the field is Serbian record holder Marina Muncan, who ran at Villanova, and New Zealander Lucy Van Dalen, who still runs at Stony Brook and has the fastest indoor time among all collegians so far this winter.

The remainder of the field is a 'who's who' of former college All-Americans, including Gabriele Anderson (Minnesota), Katie Follett (Washington), Liz Maloy and Maggie Infeld (Georgetown) and Lauren Centrowitz (Stanford).

Centrowitz visited The Armory for a workout just after the New Year with her brother Matthew and father Matt. While she is ready to run in the Wanamaker Metric Mile, Matthew will be competing in the Wanamaker Mile at Millrose as well.

The 1,500 field:

Jenny Simpson
The 2011 World Champion in the 1,500-meter run in South Korea, Simpson closed her breakout season with a victory in the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile. Last year she had opened her year with victory in the women's mile at the New Balance Games at The Armory.

1,500m Best: 3:59.90, Eugene, Ore., 2009

Shannon Rowbury
A two-time U.S. champion and 2008 Olympic finalist, Rowbury is familiar with the track at The Armory as she ran here while competing for Duke University. Over the summer Rowbury made the U.S. World Championships team with a third-place finish at Nationals.

1,500m Best: 4:00.33, Paris, 2008

Kalkidan Gezahegne
The fifth-place 1,500m finisher at the 2011 World Championships, Gezahegne is the reigning indoor world champion in the event. The Ethiopian was second at the 2009 African Juniors to Caster Semenya. Her indoor 4:03.28 from Stockholm, Sweden, in 2010 is the fastest indoor mark of all the entrants.

1,500m Best: 4:00.97, Hengelo, Netherlands, 2011

Nicole (Edwards) Sifuentes
A standout at the University of Michigan, the native of Canada has run a sub-4:30 mile at The Armory.

1,500m Best: 4:06.34, Los Angeles, Calif., 2010

Isabel Macias
Macias had a breakout year in 2011, lowering her 800m personal best by more than 2.5 seconds (to 2:03.49) and her 1500m best by 6.5 seconds (to 4:06.50). She also competed in her first World Championships.

1,500m Best: 4:06.50, Barcelona, Spain, 2011

Gabriele Anderson
A 2010 NCAA runner-up in the 1,500m run, Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. Third in the U.S. Mile Road Championships in 2011, she now runs for Brooks. She is a cancer survivor.

1,500m Best: 4:06.77, London, 2011

Katie Follett
An All-American at the University of Washington, Follett lowered her 1,500m personal best twice in 2011.

1,500m Best: 4:07.44, Los Angeles, Calif., 2011

Marina Muncan
A multiple All-American and Big East champion at Villanova, Muncan is the Serbian record holder in both the 1,500m and mile runs.

1,500m Best: 4:08.02, Osaka, Japan, 2007

Liz Maloy
A New York native from Loudonville's Academy of Holy Names, Maloy was a four-time All-American at Georgetown University. Now representing New Balance, she has lowered her 1,500m PR to under 4:10.

1,500m Best: 4:09.24, Brasschaat, Belgium, 2010

Lauren Centrowitz
A five-time All-American at Stanford, Centrowitz comes from a running family. Her brother Matthew is a headliner in the Wanamaker Mile at Millrose this year while her father Matt was an Olympian. Lauren was also a member of the American record holding 4x1500m relay at Stanford.

1,500m Best: 4:10.23, Brasschaat, Belgium, 2009

Maggie Infeld
A Georgetown University All-American, Infeld registered personal bests in both the 800 (2:03.47) and the 1,500 (4:10.57) in 2010.

1,500m Best: 4:10.57, Lapinlahti, Finland, 2010

Lucy Van Dalen
The native of New Zealand remains a student-athlete at Long Island's Stony Brook University. She is actually the NCAA's current national leader in the mile for this indoor season (4:36.90) — by 15 seconds!

1,500m Best: 4:11.59, Padua, Italy, 2011

How the Results of the USA Marathon Trials Hurt Bobby Curtis

2012-01-18T11:08:00.000-06:00

Ritzenhein, Bauhs, and Curtis: last three on the right at 2010 USA XC Nationals

Bobby Curtis' odds of making the USA Olympic team just took a bit of a hit as a result of the Olympic Marathon Trials last weekend. One prominent competitor at those Trials -- Dathan Ritzenhein -- finished 4th and off the Olympic team. Ritzenhein will now enter the fray at the 10,000 meters at this summer's track and field Trials, thereby adding another formidable competitor standing in the way of Bobby Curtis' quest to make the team. Indeed, Ritzenhein seems to have now drawn the conclusion that the marathon is not his optimal distance and that he's really best suited for the 10,000 meter distance. Curtis need not have worried very much about Meb Keflezighi or Abdi Abdirahman at the 10,000 meter distance (both made the marathon team), and Ryan Hall was as sure a bet to make the team as anyone in recent years. It was precisely Dathan Ritzenhein (married, by the way, to former Villanova distance runner Kalin Toedebusch) who posed a 10,000 meter threat to Curtis' bid, and it was therefore best for Curtis's own chances for Ritzenhein to make the marathon team, keeping hinm out of the mix at 10,000 meters.

As it stands now, Curtis will have to finish in the top three at the Trials in a field that is composed of such figures as AR holder Galen Rupp, form AR holder Chris Solinsky, Dathan Ritzenhein, Matt Tegenkamp, Scotty Bauhs, and others. Rupp, Tegenkamp, and Bauhs all beat Curtis at the 2011 USATF championships, knocking him off of the USA World Championships team, and that race did not include either Solinsky or Ritzenhein.

Adding more worries is the fact that Curtis is rehabing a foot injury which forced him to scratch out of two high-profile races over the past month (in Italy and Scotland) and to put his European training and racing plans on hold. Curtis had the second-fastest 10,000 meter time among Americans in 2011, but was 4th at Nationals. He needs to run his perfect 2012 race at the Trails (and not at an early season meet such as Stanford or Mt Sac) if he wants to make the 2012 Olympic team. Ritzenhein's 10,000 meter PR is 27:22.28, two seconds faster than Curtis' 27:24.67. Adding him to the 10,00 meter mix means that there is one more top competitor who must be beaten.

Here's a nice article by Kevin Liao at Spiked Up Psyched Up on Ritzenhein's situation after the marathon trials:

10k The Best Distance For Dathan Ritzenhein

I’ve got a confession to make.

Prior to Saturday’s U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, I was secretly rooting for Dathan Ritzenhein not to finish in the top three and not qualify for his third Olympic team.

Why? Not for any sort of malicious reason but because I felt he would be better off in the 10,000 meters rather than in the marathon.

Ironically, the race in Houston showed exactly why the 10k distance fits Ritzenhein the best and why the marathon may not be his strongest event.

Ritzenhein has struggled to master the marathon despite five previous attempts at the distance. Earlier on, it had to do with leg cramps and other fueling challenges that hampered him at his debut in New York City in 2006 and at the Beijing Olympics.

Despite difficulties with the marathon, Ritzenhein has continually stuck with the event, perhaps due to outside pressure to succeed in the event.

Americans have always been entrenched with the marathon going back to Olympic gold medals claimed by Frank Shorter in 1972 and Joan Benoit in 1984. Despite a lull throughout the late 1980′s and 1990′s, the thirst for success at the 26.2 mile distance was reborn when Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor each won medals at the 2004 Athens Games.

It’s clear that the U.S. obsession with the marathon had something to do with Ritzenhein’s decision to stick with the event.

On Saturday, different problems arose – hamstring spasms that forced him to drop from the lead pack. A series of slower miles in the 5:10′s that followed put Ritzenhein out of contention for the coveted top three spots.

The vent up frustration finally caused Ritzenhein to admit the 26.2 mile distance may not be for him.

“Maybe I’m forcing it. Everybody wants me to be a marathoner and I want to be a marathoner but maybe it’s not in the cards [right now],” Ritzenhein told reporters shortly after finishing in Houston.

I agree. A forced return to the shorter distances is a good thing for Ritzenhein.

After all, this is a man who showed prodigal talent on the track at a young age, running 13:44.70 for 5k shortly after graduating high school and setting the NCAA record of 27:38.50 in the 10k while at the University of Colorado.

Ritzenhein experienced a bit of a lull in his career with the marathon as his focus from 2006 to 2009 but used the endurance gained in those years to have a spectacular summer and fall of 2009 when he set the American record at 5000 meters and claimed a medal at the World Half Marathon Championships.

In the end, the 10k is the event that best complements Ritzenhein’s strengths at the moment and gives him the best chance at reaching the Olympic podium in London.

Barring injury, Ritzenhein will have much more time to prepare for the Olympic Trials in late June than he did for the marathon due to three surgeries in early 2011 that forced him into a limited training cycle.

Ritzenhein will also have the added benefit to pairing with his training partners leading up to the Trials.

Prior to Houston, his marathon preparations did not coincide much with the training of fellow Nike Oregon Project members Mo Farah and Galen Rupp who were coming off their break from the track season. This spring, Ritzenhein will have the advantage of doing full training with his teammates under the watchful eye of coach Alberto Salazar.

Plus, Ritzenhein in the 10k provides more drama for fans. Imagine the last mile in the 10,000 meters at the Olympic Trials with Ritzenhein, Rupp and Chris Solinsky duking it out for the national title before heading off to London and taking on the world’s best on the biggest stage in track and field.

Post-Olympic Trials Race Comments from Jen Rhines

2012-01-15T13:18:00.002-06:00

Jen finished 64th at the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, running 2:43.35. She will attempt to make her fourth USA Olympic team later this year in the 10,000 meters. In these short comments, Jen suggests that since the 10,000 race at the Trials come before the 5000, if she fails to make the 10,000 meters squad at the Trials, she'll double down and try to make the team at 5000 meters. Jen was one of six former Olympic marathoners not to make the 2012 women's team (the others were Colleen de Reuck, Deena Kastor, Blake Russell, Linda Somers Smith, and Magdalena Lewy-Boulet).

NYC Gotham Cup Meet Report

2012-01-14T17:30:00.007-06:00

There were plenty of Villanova athletes participating in Friday's NYC Gotham Cup at the Armory. Eighteen Big East championship meet qualifiers were achieved. The video of the men's DMR (O'Sullivan, Serfoss, FitzSimons, and Tully) is shown above. Here are the Villanova results:

MEN

400 meters
33.  Nicoy Hines      51.29
36.  Cory Serfoss     51.43
51.  Carlton Bowers   52.20
66.  Matthew Whalen   52.94
71.  David Stillings  53.46

1000 meters
 8.  Sam Ellison       2:27.47   BE
15.  Dusty Solis       2:31.86
21.  Phil O'Connell    2:33.73

Mile
 2.  Chris O'Sullivan     4:15.02   BE
 4.  Danny Harris         4:21.03
 7.  Richie Bohny         4:22.56
12.  Charles Bates        4:23.77
13.  Chris Pietrocarlo    4:23.84

DMR
1.  O'Sullivan, Serfoss, FitzSimons, Tully     10:13.58

High Jump
 6.  Matthew Sidney   6'7"   BE

Pole Vault
 5.  Chris Dougherty  14'9"   BE

Long Jump
 8.  Elbert Maxwell   22'3"   BE

Triple Jump
 6.  George Bodziock  43'5.75"

Shot Put
 8.  Frank Anuszewski   46'4.75"

Weight Throw
 3.  Frank Anuszewski   54'8.75"   BE
12.  Chris McLeod       45'10"

WOMEN

60 meters
 5.  Varonica Johnson   7.72  (7.70)   BE
13.  Qualitra Brown     8.06  (7.94)   
 5.  Shericka Ward      ----  (7.70)   BE

400 meters
 5.  Qualitra Brown           58.11   BE
13.  Fafavie Lumax            59.90
26.  Katherine Petruzellis  1:02.05

800 meters
 3.  Faith Dismuke    2:15.04   BE
 6.  Leanne Tucker    2:16.61   BE
 7.  Mary Bohi        2:17.35

1000 meters
 1.  Marina Muncan        2:45.06  (VU alum)
 5.  Ariann Neutts        2:48.32   BE
 6.  Emily Lipari         2:49.67   BE
 7.  Stephanie Schappert  2:51.59   BE
13.  Amanda Borroughs     3:03.28

Mile
 2.  Courtney Chapman     5:02.64
 4.  Shannon Browne       5:10.12

3000 meters
 3.  Meghan Venables     10:17.79
 7.  Meghan Smith        10:37.56

60 meter hurdles
 1.  Shericka Ward          8.50 (8:43)   BE
 8.  Emerald Walden         8.86 (8.82)   BE
27.  Katherine Petruzellis  ---- (9.49)

4 x 400 meters
13.  Bohi, Dismuke, Lumax, Brown    4:03.70

4 x 800 meters
 1.  Bohi, Borroughs, Chapman, Ryan    8:57.52

Pole Vault
 1.  Alex Wasik             12'3.5"    BE
 2.  Kathleen McPhillips    11'9.75"   BE
 4.  Kimberly Logodya       11'3.75"
 5.  Melissa Meggiolaro     11'3.75"
 7.  Erica Litvak           10'10"

Long Jump
 4.  Samantha Yeats     17'5.25"
 5.  Alexandria Reo     17'3.5"

Triple Jump
 2.  Samantha Francis    39'4"    BE
 9.  Marie Minasi        36'4.75"
 6.  Vicotria Profit     35'2"

Shot Put
13.  Katherine Petruzellis   31'1.25"

Marino 51st and Rhines 64th at Olympic Marathon Trials

2012-01-14T13:16:00.002-06:00

Amanda Marino made her marathon debut this morning in Houston at the USA Olympic Marathon Trials. The youngest competitor in the race, she came home 51st of 152 total finishers, running 2:41:22 (15:44 behind the race winner Shalane Flanagan). Jen Rhines came back off her DNF at the New York City Marathon to finish 64th, 2:13 behind Marino, in 2:43:35 (+17:57). The top four finishers in the race (Shalane Flanagan, Desi Davila, Kara Goucher & Amy Hastings) all broke the USA Olympic Trials record.

1 Shalane Flanagan 30 Oregon TC Elite 2:25:38
2 Desiree Davila 28 Hansons-Brooks Distance Project 2:25:55 +0:17
3 Kara Goucher 33 Oregon TC Elite 2:26:06 +0:28
4 Amy Hastings 27 unattached 2:27:17 +1:39
5 Janet Cherobon-Bawcom 33 Atlanta Track Club 2:29:45 +4:07
6 Deena Kastor 38 unattached 2:30:40 +5:02
7 Clara Grandt 24 RIADHA 2:30:46 +5:08
8 Alissa McKaig 25 ZAP Fitness Reebok 2:31:56 +6:18
9 Dot McMahan 35 Hansons-Brooks Distance Project 2:32:16 +6:38
10 Magdalena Lewy Boulet 38 unattached 2:33:42 +8:04
11 Katie McGregor 34 Team USA Minnesota 2:34:01 +8:23
12 Wendy Thomas 32 Boulder Running Company/adidas 2:34:25 +8:47
13 Melissa White 30 Hansons-Brooks Distance Project 2:34:33 +8:55
14 Alisha Williams 29 Boulder Running Company/adidas 2:35:09 +9:31
15 Heidi Westover 30 unattached 2:35:45 +10:07
16 Clara Peterson 27 unattached 2:35:50 +10:12
17 Rebecca Donaghue 35 New Balance Boston 2:35:57 +10:19
18 Katherine Newberry 33 New York Athletic Club (NYAC) 2:36:21 +10:43
19 Brooke Wells 26 Impala Racing Team 2:36:24 +10:46
20 Loretta Kilmer 28 RIADHA 2:36:41 +11:03
21 Jeannette Faber 29 Boston Athletic Association 2:36:50 +11:12
22 Michelle Frey 29 unattached 2:37:03 +11:25
23 Erin Nehus 30 unattached 2:37:06 +11:28
24 Sheri Piers 40 Dirigo R.C. 2:37:09 +11:31
25 Kelly Calway 27 U.S. Army 2:37:10 +11:32
26 Camille Herron 30 unattached 2:37:14 +11:36
27 Esther Erb 25 ZAP Fitness Reebok 2:37:21 +11:43
28 Linda Somers Smith 50 Asics Aggie Running Club 2:37:36 +11:58
29 Ariana Hilborn 31 unattached 2:37:37 +11:59
30 Emily Harrison 25 McMillan Elite 2:37:45 +12:07
31 Rachel Booth 31 New Balance Silicon Valley 2:37:59 +12:21
32 Caroline LeFrak 28 New York Athletic Club (NYAC) 2:38:14 +12:36
33 Zoila Gomez 32 unattached 2:38:37 +12:59
34 Caroline White 26 U.S. Air Force 2:38:43 +13:05
35 Colleen De Reuck 47 unattached 2:38:52 +13:14
36 Devon Crosby-Helms 29 unattached 2:38:55 +13:17
37 Nicole Camp 26 Second Sole 2:39:10 +13:32
38 Kathleen Castles 40 unattached 2:39:19 +13:41
39 Lauren Philbrook 24 unattached 2:39:47 +14:09
40 Emily Potter 32 U.S. Army 2:39:55 +14:17
41 Kara Storage 30 RUNOHIO Racing Team 2:39:59 +14:21
42 Tara Storage 30 RUNOHIO Racing Team 2:40:00 +14:22
43 Michele Suszek 29 unattached 2:40:33 +14:55
44 Alexandra Blake 28 unattached 2:40:36 +14:58
45 Allison Macsas 27 Adidas/TeamRogue Elite 2:40:47 +15:09
46 Laurie Knowles 34 Atlanta Track Club 2:40:49 +15:11
47 Jennifer Houck 27 unattached 2:40:51 +15:13
48 Laura Farley 27 unattached 2:41:05 +15:27
49 Meagan Nedlo 29 unattached 2:41:06 +15:28
50 Amanda Rice 27 U.S. Navy 2:41:06 +15:28
51 Amanda Marino 22 unattached 2:41:22 +15:44
52 Sopagna Eap 30 unattached 2:41:24 +15:46
53 Kasie Enman 32 Boston Athletic Association 2:41:25 +15:47
54 Heather Cappello 31 Boston Athletic Association 2:42:07 +16:29
55 Leah Thorvilson 33 unattached 2:42:09 +16:31
56 Alvina Begay 31 unattached 2:42:20 +16:42
57 Jodie Robertson 27 ARE Racing Team 2:42:31 +16:53
58 Nicole Cueno 32 Foley & Mansfield Racing Team 2:42:33 +16:55
59 Megan Skeels 37 unattached 2:42:40 +17:02
60 Natasha LaBeaud 24 unattached 2:42:55 +17:17
61 Brianne Nelson 31 unattached 2:42:58 +17:20
62 Catherine Mullen 26 New Balance Silicon Valley 2:43:02 +17:24
63 Jenna Boren 34 TC Running Company 2:43:04 +17:26
64 Jennifer Rhines 37 unattached 2:43:35 +17:57
65 Tyler Stewart 33 unattached 2:44:04 +18:26
66 Caitlin Chrisman 26 Charlotte Running Club 2:44:04 +18:26
67 Adrian Chouinard 28 Boulder Running Company/adidas 2:44:06 +18:28
68 Julia Stamps 33 New York Athletic Club (NYAC) 2:44:07 +18:29
69 Nichole Porath 28 Run N Fun 2:44:12 +18:34
70 Jackie Pirtle-Hall 29 unattached 2:44:22 +18:44
71 Deanna Ardrey 29 unattached 2:44:27 +18:49
72 Ashley Carroll 28 Impala Racing Team 2:44:29 +18:51
73 Christa Iammarino 37 unattached 2:44:35 +18:57
74 Jackie Rzepecki 33 unattached 2:44:36 +18:58
75 Megan Lund-Lizotte 28 unattached 2:44:45 +19:07
76 Kristen Fryburg-Zaitz 31 unattached 2:44:49 +19:11
77 Erin Richard 26 Hansons-Brooks Distance Project 2:44:53 +19:15
78 Claudia Becque 35 New Balance Silicon Valley 2:45:00 +19:22
79 Madeline Kramer 24 Impala Racing Team 2:45:11 +19:33
80 Katherine Koski 38 Northwoods Minnesota-Wisconsin 2:45:27 +19:49
81 Shannon McHale 40 Pequof/Hitek Racing Team 2:45:36 +19:58
82 Danna Kelly 25 Runablaze Iowa 2:45:42 +20:04
83 Kristin Barry 38 Dirigo R.C. 2:45:43 +20:05
84 Michelle Meyer 24 Impala Racing Team 2:45:52 +20:14
85 Ann Marie Chappell 33 unattached 2:46:05 +20:27
86 Cheryl Smith 31 Nike Team Run LA 2:46:07 +20:29
87 Sara Petrick 25 The Running Center Running Club 2:46:10 +20:32
88 Erica Jesseman 22 unattached 2:46:11 +20:33
89 Jennifer Santa Maria 33 adidas/Movin Shoes 2:46:14 +20:36
90 Mary Coordt 42 Impala Racing Team 2:46:18 +20:40
91 Lisbet Sunshine 47 Impala Racing Team 2:46:20 +20:42
92 Heather McNiff 25 unattached 2:46:23 +20:45
93 Victoria Russell 39 unattached 2:46:28 +20:50
94 Lisa Thomas 36 Pacers/New Balance 2:46:42 +21:04
95 Laura Portis 24 unattached 2:46:47 +21:09
96 Lavenna Mullenbach 24 Hansons-Brooks Distance Project 2:46:49 +21:11
97 Rebecca Angeles 34 unattached 2:47:03 +21:25
98 Katie Blackett 34 unattached 2:47:09 +21:31
99 Midori Sperandeo 45 Impala Racing Team 2:47:14 +21:36
100 Danielle Quatrochi 35 unattached 2:47:21 +21:43
101 Anna Beck 27 unattached 2:47:26 +21:48
102 Megan Grindall 31 unattached 2:47:37 +21:59
103 Serena Kessler 39 unattached 2:47:44 +22:06
104 Jodie Conway 35 unattached 2:48:02 +22:24
105 Kaci Lickteig 25 unattached 2:48:05 +22:27
106 Rachel Niehuus 26 Impala Racing Team 2:48:13 +22:35
107 Sharon Thompson 32 unattached 2:48:15 +22:37
108 Christina Overbeck 25 Run Portland 2:48:25 +22:47
109 Jackie Dikos 32 unattached 2:48:29 +22:51
110 Lucinda Smith 30 adidas Raleigh Track Club 2:48:39 +23:01
111 Jennifer Modliszewski 31 unattached 2:48:51 +23:13
112 Kristen Carter 24 unattached 2:48:53 +23:15
113 Carol Jefferson 26 unattached 2:48:59 +23:21
114 Louise Knudson 26 Ragged Mountain Racing 2:49:00 +23:22
115 Jeanne Cooper 34 unattached 2:49:16 +23:38
116 Tamara Karrh 42 unattached 2:49:18 +23:40
117 Emily Shertzer 32 U.S. Air Force 2:49:24 +23:46
118 Jill Horst 33 Atlanta Track Club 2:49:33 +23:55
119 Samantha Howard 25 Downingtown Running Club 2:49:38 +24:00
120 Melissa Rittenhouse 35 unattached 2:49:40 +24:02
121 Rebecca Michael 28 unattached 2:50:10 +24:32
122 Sarah Graves 34 unattached 2:50:16 +24:38
123 Mattie Suver 24 unattached 2:50:23 +24:45
124 Kim Pawelek 37 unattached 2:50:39 +25:01
125 Raquel Stucky 36 unattached 2:51:08 +25:30
126 Wendy Terris 42 Team Red Lizard 2:51:56 +26:18
127 Megan Daly 33 Impala Racing Team 2:52:09 +26:31
128 Amanda Scott 24 unattached 2:52:17 +26:39
129 Bridget Easley 31 Team Nebraska Brooks 2:52:28 +26:50
130 Lindsay Nelson 26 Asics Aggie Running Club 2:52:55 +27:17
131 Hallie Janssen 36 Run Portland 2:53:10 +27:32
132 Erin O Mara 27 unattached 2:53:16 +27:38
133 Sarah Bashinski-Flament 36 RUNOHIO Racing Team 2:53:26 +27:48
134 Kate DeProsperis 32 Jenny Spangler Racing 2:53:29 +27:51
135 Kelly Brinkman 30 unattached 2:53:46 +28:08
136 Rachel Jaten 36 Spokane Swifts 2:53:46 +28:08
137 Robyn Friedman 38 Runablaze Iowa 2:54:54 +29:16
138 Lisa Baumert 24 unattached 2:55:00 +29:22
139 Gina Slaby 30 U.S. Navy 2:55:34 +29:56
140 Kim Dobson 27 unattached 2:56:37 +30:59
141 Donna Palisca 34 Greater Philadelphia TC 2:56:48 +31:10
142 Amy Hauswirth 42 unattached 2:58:26 +32:48
143 Meghan Arbogast 50 Corvallis Running Project 2:58:53 +33:15
144 Shannon Cody 42 West Valley Track Club 2:58:54 +33:16
145 Nicole Hagobian 36 Asics Aggie Running Club 2:59:17 +33:39
146 Sarah Lee 30 Impala Racing Team 3:00:08 +34:30
147 Liana Bernard 30 unattached 3:01:05 +35:27
148 Jessica Minty 27 New Balance Boston 3:02:14 +36:36
149 Mandy Yates 33 unattached 3:04:45 +39:07
150 Susan Loken 48 unattached 3:05:11 +39:33
151 Kelly Chin 31 unattached 3:05:45 +40:07
152 Jaymee Marty 44 Impala Racing Team 3:07:32 +41:54

Deja Vu: It's Coghlan versus O'Sullivan at the Millrose Games

2012-01-13T09:02:00.009-06:00

Millrose Games director Ray Flynn, Villanova's Marcus O'Sullivan and Eamonn Coghlan

Eamonn Coghlan and Marcus O'Sullivan, among the legends of Villanova (and Irish) track, had some epic battles in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games. They'll be competitors again next month in a different way: each is bringing in a top-notch distance medley relay (DMR) quartet to the Games. Coghlan has his Dublin City University (DCU) "dream team" and O'Sullivan will counter with his Villanova squad, hoping to repeat the success of last year's version of the DMR that won the Penn Relays Championship of America. Adding another layer to the Coghlan-O'Sullivan competition at Millrose is the fact that Coghlan's DCU squad has among its charges one Mark English -- the 800 meter phenom from Letterkenny AC. If the rumblings on the message boards are to be believed, while Marcus O'Sullivan was recruiting English mightily to come stateside to Villanova, Coghlan was urging the opposite: to stay in Ireland and join up with Coghlan's son John at DCU. At least for now, English has chosen to stay in Ireland and enroll at UCD. It's likely that English will be matched up against Villanova's Chris FitzSimons in the 800 meter third leg of the DMR. FitzSimons had an unlucky first year at Villanova (fighting illness and injury), but when healthy possesses great 800 meter ability and a devastating kick. Either way the DMR at Millrose should present high drama and a nice pre-Penn Relays test for the Villanova DMR team.

Here's a nice article from the folks at Armory Track on Coghlan's Irish DMR team:

Chairman Of The Boards To Return To Millrose

Frank O'Mara, Marcus O'Sullivan, Ray Flynn, and Eamonn Coghlan, in 1985 after setting the still-standing world record in the 4 x mile relay

Celebrated runner Eamonn Coghlan is coming back to the Millrose Games, this time as an 'adopted coach.' The seven-time champion of the Wanamaker Mile is helping bring a talented Irish squad from Dublin City University to compete in the Byron Dyce College Men’s Distance Medley Relay in the 105th Millrose Games, Feb. 11, 2012 at The Armory.

"I've known these kids since they were young teenagers," said Coghlan, whose son, John, will be running the 1600m anchor. "I've seen them grow up. The fact that they are all in school together, they can see what running in New York City is all about. It's exciting for their team from Dublin University to go to the Millrose Games and have a chance to do exceptionally well.

"The Irish used to come to the Millrose Games to support me, Marcus O'Sullivan (Wanamaker Mile champion in 1986, '88, '89, '90 and '92 and now head coach at Villanova) and Ron Delany (winner of four consecutive Wanamaker Mile titles, 1956-59). People are not aware of the talent coming out of Ireland. It might get them back on the scene again and they potentially could make the Olympic Team come next July."

Recognized as Ireland's 'Dream Team' and Gold Medal winner of the Irish Under-23 Cross Country team competition, the Dublin City squad consists of Irish Junior 800m record holder Mark English (1:47.09), Brian Gregan, Darren McBrearty and 2010 U-23 Irish 1500 meters champion John Coghlan.

Dublin City University coach Enda Fitzpatrick will make the trip.

Earlier this year Eamonn Coghlan introduced to Armory Foundation president Dr. Norb Sander the idea of bringing an Irish team to the Millrose Games. "He asked me if I would be in on the floor activities," Coghlan recalled. "I said we need a bit of the Irish influence back in the Millrose Games again. I said, 'What about bringing an Irish team over?'"

Thus Coghlan, nicknamed the Chairman of the Boards for winning the Wanamaker Mile in 1977, '79-81, '83, '85 and '87, will be in attendance to support the talented Irish outfit.

"My role there is as a parent, coach and a nervous dad," Coghlan said. "I just want to be with Norb and help keep the Millrose Games going. Enda would like my influence to be with the kids the day before and calm them down, motivate them and help them get ready.

"The Millrose Games are close to my heart for obvious reasons. My success in the Millrose Games has been the making of Eamonn Coghlan. Not a week goes by when someone doesn't say something to me about winning the Wanamaker Mile."

The Irish Team will be competing against the country's top college programs including Eamonn Coghlan's alma mater Villanova, Virginia, Duke, Providence, Columbia and Albany.

The week prior to the Millrose Games, the Irish team will participate individually in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational (Feb. 3-4) at The Armory.

Kelsey Margey wins Millrose Games Trials Mile in 4:49.03 (USA #3)

2012-01-12T12:35:00.005-06:00

Villanova signee Kelsey Margey (Friends Academy, Long Island, NY) won the girls 1 mile invitational race yesterday at the Millrose Games Trials at the Armory. Her time was 4:49.03, the third fastest prep indoor mile run this season, and a 3.3 second improvement over her 3rd place finish at last weekend's Hispanic Games.

Event 15  Girls 1 Mile Run Invitational
================================================================
    Name                    Year School                  Finals 
================================================================
  1 Margey, Kelsey               Friends Academy        4:49.03  
  2 Paul, Rachel                 Sachem East            4:52.95  
  3 Gerlach, Tori                Pennridge              4:58.67  
  4 Sheva, Marissa               Pennridge              5:01.67  
  5 Maloy, Catherine             Holy Names             5:01.87  
  6 Bottalico, Ariana            Brewster               5:06.77  
  7 Kendall, Kali                Snyder                 5:08.41  
  8 Brennan, Brigid              Northport              5:09.90  
  9 Frontera, Gianna             Newburgh               5:12.90  
 10 Cuccia, Gabbrielle           RC Ketcham             5:19.82  
 11 Young, Megan                 Nanuet                 5:20.57  
 12 Gomba, Claire                John Jay EF            5:21.32

Sheila Reid on Bowerman Preseason Watch List

2012-01-12T12:18:00.005-06:00

The Bowerman Preseason Watch List Announced for Women’s Award
Courtesy: Tom Lewis, USTFCCCA

NEW ORLEANS – The race to acquire collegiate track & field’s most coveted award has begun its 2012 campaign. The official preseason women’s watch list announced by The Bowerman Watch List Committee has many familiar names from the 2011 season including two former finalists and no fewer than seven who have been semifinalists in the past two years.

Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU and Tina Sutej of Arkansas were finalists for The Bowerman in 2011 and are among the stellar returnees to the watch list. In addition, Arizona’s Brigetta Barrett, Colorado’s Emma Coburn, Oregon’s Jordan Hasay, Villanova’s Sheila Reid, and Oregon’s Brianne Theisen – semifinalists in 2011 – are on the preseason watch. Theisen was also a semifinalist in 2010.

Landing on the watch list for the first time are Southern Miss’ Tori Bowie, Oregon’s Anne Kesselring, and Arizona’s Julie Labonte.

LSU’s Semoy Hackett is on the “also receiving mention” list. Hackett was a preseason watchlister in 2011 and a semifinalist while at Lincoln (Mo.) in 2010.

THE BOWERMAN OFFICIAL WATCH LIST, PRESEASON 2012 WOMEN
(updated January 12, 2012, listed in alphabetical order)

NAME             YEAR    SCHOOL         EVENTS            HOMETOWN      
Brigetta Barrett   JR    Arizona        Jumps             Duncanville, Texas 
Tori Bowie         SR    Southern Miss  Jumps/Sprints     Sandhill, Miss. 
Emma Coburn        SR    Colorado       Distance          Crested Butte, Colo. 
Kimberlyn Duncan   JR    LSU            Sprints           Katy, Texas 
Jordan Hasay       JR    Oregon         Distance          Arroyo Grande, Calif. 
Anne Kesselring    JR    Oregon         Middle Distance   Nürnberg, Germany 
Julie Labonte      JR    Arizona        Throws            Ste-Justine, Quebec 
Sheila Reid        SR    Villanova      Distance          Newmarket, Ont. 
Tina Sutej         SR    Arkansas       Pole Vault        Ljubljana, Slovenia 
Brianne Theisen    SR    Oregon         Combined Events   Humboldt, Sask.

The Watch List

Brigetta Barrett, Arizona – Semifinalist in 2011. Barrett claimed NCAA high jump titles in both the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2011 to join six others that have accomplished the same feat (most recently, Texas’ Destinee Hooker in 2009). Barrett cleared six feet or more in each of her 11 competitions and notched an all-around personal best of 6-4 (1.93m) to win the Pac-10 title. Barrett won 10 of 11 meet crowns in the high jump during both indoor and outdoor 2011 seasons.

Tori Bowie, Southern Miss – In 2011, Bowie swept NCAA long jump titles. At the outdoor championships, Bowie claimed a career-best leap of 21-9½ (6.64m) in taking the crown, needing the final jump to retake the lead from Oklahoma’s Ti’Anca Mock. Bowie was the indoor champion after posting a jump of 21-4¾ (6.52m) in the event’s final.

Emma Coburn, Colorado – Semifinalist in 2011. Coburn won the NCAA’s 3000-meter steeplechase title in 2011 with a wire-to-wire victory, clocking 9:41.14 which bettered the field by more than six seconds. Coburn was undefeated in the steeplechase during the season and clocked a 9:40.51 personal best to win the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational race – a mark that ranks sixth among collegians all-time. Coburn also finished eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the mile.

Kimberlyn Duncan, LSU – A 2011 finalist for The Bowerman. Duncan swept the NCAA’s 200-meter titles in 2011 and, in both seasons, notched world-leading times. Duncan became the sixth woman in NCAA Division I history and the first since Auburn’s Kerron Stewart in 2007 to sweep 200-meter titles in the same season. Indoors, Duncan won the SEC title in 22.78 for the world’s best time of the season. Outdoors, Duncan was undefeated in the 200 meters and clocked a low-altitude collegiate record (and the third-best overall) with a 22.24 run. Duncan was also the NCAA’s 100-meter runner-up and anchored the Lady Tigers to an NCAA title in the 4×100 (42.64).

Jordan Hasay, Oregon – Semifinalist in 2011. Hasay won NCAA indoor titles in the mile and 3000 meters in 2011, becoming the fifth overall and the first since Northern Arizona’s Johanna Nilsson (2006) to claim such a double. Hasay also led the Ducks to a runner-up finish in the distance medley relay at the national indoor meet. Outdoors, Hasay finished fourth nationally in the 5000 meters and eighth in the 1500 meters.

Anne Kesselring, Oregon – In 2011, Kesselring took the NCAA 800-meter outdoor title as a sophomore, posting a career-best 2:02.15 to outdistance Oklahoma State frosh Natalja Piliusina by just one hundredth of a second. At the NCAA indoor championships, she scored in the mile (fourth) and distance medley relay (second).

Julie Labonte, Arizona – Last year, Labonte established herself as the top shot putter in the nation as a sophomore, sweeping NCAA titles and lasting the season without being defeated by a collegian. At the NCAA outdoor meet, Labonte won with a career-best put of 60-1 (18.31m). Labonte was the MPSF indoor champ and Pac-10 outdoor champ with the shot for the second-year in a row in 2011.

Sheila Reid, Villanova – Semifinalist in 2011. Reid tallied three NCAA crowns and five Big East titles during the 2011 track & field seasons. Outdoors, Reid became the first woman in Division I history to the NCAA’s 1500 and 5000 in the same championship. Indoors, Reid anchored the Wildcats to the NCAA crown in the DMR and was second nationally in the 3000 meters. In the Big East, Reid would also win the 1500-5000 double outdoors and was a three-time titlist indoors with wins in the 1000 meters, 4×800, and DMR. In cross country – which is not considered for The Bowerman – Reid has won two-consecutive individual NCAA titles and is only the fifth in the history of Division I to do so back-to-back.

Tina Sutej, Arkansas – A 2011 finalist for The Bowerman. Sutej set new collegiate records with the pole vault both indoors and outdoors in 2011. Indoors, Sutej would reach a best of 14-10¾ (4.54m) to set the new all-time collegiate best in winning the SEC crown and would go on to win the NCAA title. Outdoors, Sutej again won the SEC league title with a collegiate-record vault – a clearance of 15-1½ (4.61m). Overall, Sutej collected 13-straight meet victories before finishing runner-up at the NCAA outdoor meet, but tied the championship-meet record with Oregon’s Melissa Gergel who took the crown on virtue of misses.

Brianne Theisen, Oregon – Semifinalist in 2010 and 2011. Theisen twice set the collegiate record in the pentathlon in the 2011 indoor season and won her second-straight NCAA crown in the event. Her score of 4,540 bettered her previous all-time collegiate best mark of 4,507 set in January at the UW Invitational and ranked among the world’s top five in the event for the season. Theisen also scored at the NCAA indoor meet for the second-straight year as a member of Oregon’s 4×400 relay team. Outdoors, Theisen did not compete as a result of injury.

LetsRun Nation Sees Rhines 7th, Marino 23rd at Olympic Marathon Trials

2012-01-12T09:37:00.005-06:00

Here are the results of the US Olympic Marathon Trials prediction contest held by the folks at the LetsRun.com running website. As shown below, Desi Davila is the predicted winner by just about 50 percent of those participating in the contest, with Shalane Flanagan second. Villanova has two women in the race (the third, Kristen Nicolini has scratched from the race): Jen Rhines, who finished third at the 2004 marathon trials (see photo below) and finished 34th at the Beijing Olympic), is listed 7th in the opinion of those participating in the prediction contest. She received 2 first-place predictions. Rhines set a new half-marathon PR earlier this year on this course (which is based on three circuits of an 8-mile loop) in winning the 2011 USA half-marathon championship. First-time marathoner Amanda Marino is 23rd in the poll.

Women's Individual Poll
Name (first place votes) total points

1. Desiree Davila (432) 7258
2. Shalane Flanagan (289) 6736
3. Kara Goucher (34) 5417
4. Magdalena Lewy Boulet (5) 3989
5. Amy Hastings (2) 3625
6. Deena Kastor (5) 3006
7. Jennifer Rhines (2) 1925
8. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (2) 1517
9. Stephanie Rothstein 1439
10. Blake Russell (2) 1224
11. Tera Moody 1153
12. Clara Grandt 856
13. Colleen De Reuck 758
14. Katie McGregor 733
15. Molly Pritz 649
16. Maegan Krifchin 397
17. Dot McMahan 394
18. Adriana Nelson 208
19. Serena Burla 161
20. Zoila Gomez 146

Others receiving votes: 21. Stephanie Herbst-Lucke 83 22. Melissa White 81 23. Amanda Marino 70 24. Mary Akor 67 25. Rebecca Donaghue 61 26. Emily Harrison 60 27. Jennifer Houck 60 28. Gina Slaby 56 29. Paige Higgins 54 30. Alissa McKaig 46 31. Alisha Williams 40 32. Meghan Peyton 40 33. Linda Somers Smith 38 34. Clara Peterson 33 35. Ariana Hilborn 29 36. Cassandra Slade 26 37. Kelly Jaske 26 38. Katherine Newberry 21 39. Brianne Nelson 20 40. Alvina Begay 20 41. Teresa McWalters 14 42. Diana Bowser 13 43. Amanda Rice 13 44. Erin Nehus 12 45. Wendy Thomas 11 46. Robyn Friedman 10 47. Erin Moeller 9 48. Caroline White 9 49. Esther Erb 9 50. Brooke Wells 8 51. Laurie Knowles 8 52. Camille Herron 8 53. Kristen Nicolini 7 54. Leah Thorvilson 7 55. Kasie Enman 7 56. Christine Ramsey 6 57. Jeannette Faber 6 58. Christa Iammarino 5 59. Brett Ely 4 60. Sheri Piers 3 61. Heidi Westover 3 62. Mattie Suver 2 63. Reilly Kiernan 1 64. Jessica Minty 1

Average Predicted Time for the Winner: 2:26:22

Villanova Women Ranked #22 in Pre-Season Indoor Poll

2012-01-11T12:58:00.004-06:00

The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has released its preseason indoor T&F rankings. Villanova's women are ranked #22 in the country, and #2 in the Big East. Here's the complete top 25:

2012 Preseason — January 10

Rank School           Points Conference Head Coach (Yr) 2011 FINAL 
1. Oregon             200.25  Pac-12    Vin Lananna (7th)       1 
2. LSU                142.63  SEC       Dennis Shaver (8th)     3 
3. Arkansas           124.93  SEC       Lance Harter (22nd)     4 
4. Texas              112.27  Big 12    Bev Kearney (20th)      2 
5. Clemson            111.83  ACC       Lawrence Johnson (4th) 11 
6. UCF                100.67  Conf USA  Caryl Gilbert (5th)    21 
7. BYU                 85.81  W.Coast   Patrick Shane (2nd)    15 
8. Texas Tech          70.09  Big 12    Wes Kittley (13th)     36 
9. Florida State       61.83  ACC       Bob Braman (9th)        9 
10. Arizona            59.78  Pac-12    Fred Harvey (10th)      7 
11. Ohio State         57.99  Big Ten   Karen Dennis (6th)     40 
12. Southern Illinois  57.69  MV        Connie Price (11th)    21 
13. Southern Miss      57.17  Conf USA  Kevin Stephen (5th)    13 
14. Georgia            53.38  SEC       Wayne Norton (13th)    NR 
15. Stony Brook        48.21  Am. East  Andy Ronan (12th)      30 
16. Arizona State      47.75  Pac-12    Greg Kraft (16th)      40 
17. Texas A&M          47.71  Big 12    Pat Henry (8th)         5 
18. Baylor             47.66  Big 12    Todd Harbour (7th)     10 
19. Michigan           45.21  Big Ten   James Henry (27th)     18 
20. Connecticut        44.24  Big East  Bill Morgan (9th)      23 
21. Oklahoma           43.10  Big 12    Martin Smith (7th)      6 
22. Villanova          40.02  Big East  Gina Procaccio (12th)  12 
23. Stanford           36.71  Pac-12    Edrick Floreal (7th)   15 
24. Georgetown         34.84  Big East  Patrick Henner (5th)   50 
25. Nebraska           32.39  Big Ten   Gary Pepin (32nd)      17

Rhines, Nicolini & Marino Get Set for US Marathon Trials

2012-01-10T10:12:00.000-06:00

Villanova will be represented at this weekend's US Olympic maraton trials by alums Jen Rhines, Kristen Nicolini, and Amanda Marino.

*** UPDATE: Kristen Nicolini has scratched from the trials ***

Jen Rhines, 37, is a three-time USA Olympian who won multiple NCAA individual championships while at Villanova: 4-times NCAA 5000 meter champion and NCAA individual cross country champion. She has a half-marathon PR of 1:11:14 (2011, Houston) and a marathon PR of 2:29:32 (2006, Rome). She finished 3rd at the 2004 USA Olympic marathon trials and was a 5000 meter finalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Rhines Achievements
THREE TIME OLYMPIAN: 10,000m (2000), Marathon (2004), 5,000m (2008)
2011 US 15k Champion
2011 US Half Marathon Champion
3rd All Time US at 5,000m
2008 US Olympian, 5,000m
2005 World Championships 10,000m
2005 US Champion 15K
2006 4th Place Rome Marathon
2004 US Olympian Marathon
2002 US National Champion 10,000m
2000 US Olympian 10,000m
7th Place Tokyo Women's Marathon
3-Time NCAA Outdoor Track 5000m Champion
NCAA Indoor Track 5000m Champion
NCAA Cross Country Champion

Kristen Nicolini, 34, graduated from Villanova in 2000. Kristen ran first at Auburn and then at Villanova, where she was a member of the 1998 National Cross Country Championship team - placing 17th - and the 4 x 1500m Penn Relays team. She was an All American for both cross country and for the 3000m indoor. Nicolini has PRs of 1:12:41 for the half-marathon (2009, Houston) and 2:35:06 for the marathon (2009, St. Paul). Here are some of her post-collegiate milestones:

Nicolini Achievements
2009 USA Marathon Championship - 3rd
2009 USA 20k Championships - 6th
2009 USA 10 Mile Championship - 5th
2009 USA 7 Mile Championships - 8th
2009 USA Half Marathon Championships - 7th
2008 IAAF World Half Marathon Championship - 25th
2008 USA Half Marathon Championships - 5th
2002 USA Chiba Ekiden Road Relay team

Amanda Marino, 22, is a 2011 graduate of Villanova, where she was a 3-time All American in cross country (2008, 2009, 2010), helping Villanova to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2009 and 2010, when she finished 6th and 10th overall, respectively. She was also a 3-time All American at 5000 meters. Marino qualified for the Olympic Trials with her 1:13:47 time at the Philadelphia half-marathon, good for third place. She will be making her marathon debut at the trials in Houston.

Marino Achievements
6x All American (3 each in cross country and 5000 meters)
2011 Philadelphia Half-Marathon - 3rd
2009 ECAC 5000 meter champion

Tom Donnelly: The Man Who Stares at Goats

2012-01-09T19:47:00.001-06:00

Here's a great story about former Villanova All-American Tom Donnelly ('69) who helped Villanova win three consecutive NCAA cross country titles. He's been track & XC coach at Heverford College since 1975.

Leader of the Goats

Tom Donnelly of Haverford College is one of the winningest coaches in the world of running

By Erin Seglem
English House Gazette

Tom Donnelly talks quickly, rattling off a long list of distances and times. “They’re gonna run the bus route first,” he says. Then stops, squinting a little bit, “Do you know what the bus route is?” Immediately, he grabs a pen and paper, laying the pad out on his desk. He starts to draw. As he explains the route his runners will be taking as part of the day’s interval work out, his crisp voice picks up speed. It’s easy for him to envision the familiar course. He has, after all, been coaching these kinds of workouts since 1975.

Donnelly, 60, has been the men’s track and cross-country coach at Haverford College, a 1200 student Division III liberal arts school in suburban Philadelphia, for the last 37 years.

Coach Tom Donnelly

He has coached his team to countess conference championships, and helped 132 men achieve All-American status between track and cross-country. Twenty-five of his runners have also taken home individual national championships. In 2011, the Haverford men, also called “The Goats,” took the Centennial Conference Championships by storm. Along the side of the course, a runner from Dickinson college, which is Haverford’s chief conference rival, held up a homemade sign: “This year, 12% of the Centennial Conference has 83% of the championships. OCCUPY HAVERFORD.” The timely sentiment was true. Every year, other Centennial conference teams work to bring down the small but mighty college but they rarely succeed. This year, the Goats defended their championship title with both the individual and team championship. Donnelly was also awarded coach of the year.

While Donnelly rattles off the times and short distance “pick ups” included in “the bus route,” a short, car-free loop that goes through parts of Haverford and Ardmore, he leans back in his chair. For a second, his head is framed by a dozen all-American certificates. In fact, the white walls of his office are heavily decorated by All-American and championship certificates. None of them, however, say, “Tom Donnelly.” Over the last several decades, Donnelly has collected multiple “Coach of the Year” awards too, from the conference, regional and national levels. None of those trophies are within view.

“You will never see one Coach of the year trophy,” said Brian Sokas, a sophomore Goat. “Yeah,” another, Jeff Duncan, class of 2015, adds, “he throws them away.”

Though Donnelly happily talks about his childhood, one would never realize all of the success the coach had as a runner at Villanova University in the mid to late 1960s. He is a local kid. He grew up in the Olney section of Philadelphia and his father was a roofer. He went to La Salle High School and before attending Villanova. Recruited to run, he was a multi-time all-American and ran on national championship teams. When his college career is mentioned he quickly brushes it off, “Nah,” he waves a hand, “I wasn’t that good. I just ran with good guys.” Donnelly has retained that sense of modesty. According to legend, in 2001, the same day that J.B. Haglund, Haverford, class of 2002, took 1st at the National Cross country championships, Donnelly took his coach of the year award and tossed it into the Mississippi River. Donnelly would always prefer to talk about his athletes’ successes, rather than his own. A coach is only one person,” he says.

When it comes to his runners’ achievements, the present isn’t just what matters. How each individual developed themselves and became a champion runner is just as valuable. File cabinets and boxes are filled with old running logs. He has his runners turn one in every week. It helps them have a sense of what they’re doing right and sometimes, he adds laughing, what they are doing wrong. He pulls out a manila folder with a calendar on it, pointing to a specific day. That day, the guys that worked out were a little sick because it was so hot. That workout same though, had been done the year before by Anders Hulleberg, class of 2011, who went on to win the Division III National Cross Country Championships. Even through the heat, Donnelly reminded his runners that they had just done the same workout as a national champion.

When it comes to planning for an individual’s season, Donnelly has his runners write down their goals and then, at a meeting, discuss them with him. His goal is make sure that the athletes are not overselling or, as the case more often is, underselling themselves.

After a little sifting through a cardboard box, Donnelly retrieves an old marble notebook. As he flips through it, he stops on one yellowed page. Neat blue block letters say: We won nationals!!! He hesitates for a moment before skipping to another page, pointing at a workout, “30 400s,” he said, “at around 65.” A jaw-dropping workout for most, he and teammates would sprint a lap on the track, ¼ of a mile, in 65 seconds, rest for a minute, and do it again. Then, looking it over, he continues, “Everybody did twenty but I did an extra ten because I was mad. I did the 20th in 56 and got blown away by the other guys, so I did 10 more.” He did an extra 10 just because he was frustrated with himself for not keeping up.

In 1975, Donnelly started coaching at Haverford College. The job was part time at first, though Donnelly immediately poured in full-time hours. Two years later, the college created a full-time position and the coach has been there ever since. During his tenure, Donnelly has coached professionals, such as former worldclass runner and current Villanova head coach, Marcus O’Sullivan, and major Division III champions like J.B. Haglund and Karl Paranya (Paranya was the first man to break the four minute mile in division III.).

Between his years at Villanova and his coaching at Haverford, Donnelly taught history at Archbishop Wood and La Salle High school. He also spent a year at Villanova for graduate school. It was his time there that made him realize that the best way to learn is by doing. That, as well as his love of history and teaching, has followed him through his career. Junior Jordan Schilit says that on his first visit to Haverford, Donnelly spent three hours showing him the campus, which can be contained by a 2.25 mile nature trail, telling short histories about many of the buildings that most on Haverford’s campus pay little attention to. “He really just wants to teach you,” Schilit says. Donnelly wants to teach his runners how to become great. To him, putting in the time and effort is the necessary, but wanting to do that is the only way anyone can truly succeed. “All you can ask for is for them to run well…to do their best.” Donnelly says.

In 2011, the Goats took second at Nationals, losing their title to North Central of Illinois. “I feel like I was the only happy one there.” Donnelly smiled a little bit, his blue eyes twinkling. “I remember when it was a big deal that we got twelfth in the region.” In keeping with his previous philosophy, the Goats ran the best they could that day and that’s enough.

Donnelly checks his watch, with a double take though, he jumps to his feet. “We better get down there,” he says, grabbing a lint-covered black fleece jacket. “It’s going to be cold out there,” he says. At the fieldhouse, some of the early arrivals are milling around. Eventually, as all of the Goats gather, they form a clump, with Donnelly at the center. At first, he makes some jokes, taunting a few of the upperclassmen runners, he makes running references that only a few hardcore track nerds would understand, then mentions something about the last week’s workout. When Donnelly is with his runners he moves between awkward and silly, teasing some while trying to make genuine conversation with others. As he turns his attention to his clipboard, Donnelly adjusts his faded blue Phillies hat a little. Everyday, Donnelly wears a similar uniform: faded jeans, running sneakers, a polo or t shirt and his Phillies cap. When it gets cold, he wears fleece under a heavy down vest that swishes in time with the swing of his arms. His wardrobe is as consistent as his training methods.

Laughter erupts from the center of the circle. Donnelly has built a strong community within his team, one that is focused on enjoying running, through training and racing. The coach says that, “A coach is only one man.” One of his athletes, Soren Rasmussen recalls another interview with Donnelly in which he said, “as a coach you influence your athlete by 1%, maybe.” But so many of Donnelly’s athlete’s would disagree. Rasmussen says that Donnelly is a unique coach because, “He’s not going to try and micro-manage your life or order you around, instead he challenges you to discipline yourself to do the best you can both academically and athletically.” Many of his runners can only describe him as “indescribable.” Donnelly pours hours into his work, going over each runner’s logs and perfecting the workouts he prepares for his team.

Junior Jordan Schilit says, “He cares so much about each runner, so much about the program.” Donnelly doesn’t race his guys for points, he races them because he wants to see them improve their times. This December, he got the all-American certificates for several of his runners and he acted as if it was the first time he had a runner do so well at the national level. In the fieldhouse, he’s bouncing on his toes a little bit, looking at Andrew Sturner, a senior, who had just come back from a run. “Hey,” Donnelly says, grinning, “your certificate,” he stumbles over his words a bit, “your all-American thing came through today.” Sturner smiles, responding with a quiet nod,

“Cool.” He says. For the Goats, seeing another All-American certificate in Donnelly’s office is like seeing another tree take root within the Haverford’s arboretum. For Donnelly though, every individual’s achievement is just as thrilling as the last.

Does Rhines Have a Real Shot at Olympic Marathon Trials?

2012-01-08T21:56:00.000-06:00

One thing is clear in the lead-up to next weekend's US Olympic marathon trials: no one is giving Jen Rhines much of a chance to finish in the top three and make the team. Only one of the 263 experts who voted in a Runner's World poll predicted that Jen would win the trials. Most observers think that she'll have to catch lightning in a bottle to make the team. Three reasons form the basis of this conventional wisdom: (1) Jen has not completed a marathon since running her PR (2:29:32) in Rome in February 2006; (2) she was a DNF at the 16 mile mark at the New York City marathon in November, despite some optimistic talk prior to the race; and (3) Jen has been rather clear that she'll try to make her fourth USA Olympic team at a different distance: the 10,000 meters. On the other hand, Jen did win national titles on the roads in the past year at 15,000 meters and the half-marathon (where in January 2011 she ran her PR of 1:11:14). Moreover, one of Jen's three Olympic berths was a marathoner (Athens in 2004).

Click HERE for a good review from Runner's World of the major contenders at the trials.

Recruit Margey 3rd at Hispanic Games Elite Mile

2012-01-08T21:55:00.004-06:00

Georgetown-bound Samantha Nadel won the invitational mile at the Hispanic Games handily, front-running over the second half of the race. Sophomore Mary Cain finished second, joining Nadel as automatic entrants in the girl's mile at the Millrose Games. Villanova signee Kelsey Margey finished third, in 4:52.33.

Girl's Invitational Mile
1.  Samantha Nadel    North Shore       4:46.11  (USA #1 & Facility Record)
2.  Mary Cain         Bronxville        4:48.98
3.  Kelsey Margey     Friends (LI)      4:52.33
4.  Audrey Batzel     Ocean Lakes (VA)  4:58.07
5.  Sara Sargent      Pennsbury (PA)    4:59.07
6.  Taylor Driscoll   Saratoga          5:03.76
7.  Tiana Guevara     Miller Place      5:06.25
8.  Keelin Hollowood  Saratoga          5:07.19
9.  Estela Smith      Saratoga          5:07.95
10. Tiana Guevara     Miller Place      5:09.25
11. Gianna Fronters   Newburgh          5:17.51
12. Tess Keller       Pope John XXIII   5:20.15
13. Lauren Fontana    St Anthony's      5:33.93

Delaware Invitational Nets 5 Big East Auto Qualifiers

2012-01-07T08:55:00.003-06:00

Several Villanova track and field athletes competed Friday night at the Delaware Invitational in Newark, DE. Highlighting the results were Big East automatic qualifiers for frosh Matthew Sidney (high jump), soph Chris Dougherty (pole vault), soph Samantha Yeats (high jump), frosh Alexandra (Alex) Wasik (pole vault), and frosh Kathleen McPhillips (pole vault). Here are the complete Villanova results from the meet.


Men's High Jump
1.  Matthew Sidney      FR   6' 7"    BIG EAST QUAL
2.  Elbert Maxwell      FR   6' 4 1/4"

Men's Pole Vault
1.  Chris Dougherty     SO   14' 9"   BIG EAST QUAL
-.  Charles Kido        FR   NH

Men's Long Jump
2.  Lazaro Tiant   SO   21' 1 1/2"

Women's 400 meters
3.  Katherine Petruzzelis   FR   1:01.60

Women's 60 meter hurdles
5.  Katherine Petruzellis   FR   9.77

Women's High Jump
1.  Samantha Yeats         SO   5'7"   BIG EAST QUAL
10. Katherine Petruzellis  FR   4'11"

Women's Pole Vault
1.  Alex Wasik            FR   11' 9 3/4"   BIG EAST QUAL
2.  Kathleen McPhillips   FR   11' 7 3/4"   BIG EAST QUAL
3.  Melissa Meggiolaro    JR   11' 3 3/4"

Women's Long Jump
4.  Samantha Yeats        SO   17' 10 3/4"
8.  Kathleen McPhillips   FR   17'  3 1/4"

Women's Shot
8.  Kathleen Petruzellis  FR   31' 9 1/4"

Nova Signee Kelsey Margey in Elite Mile at Hispanic Games

2012-01-06T08:28:00.000-06:00

The girls mile at Saturday's Hispanic Games in the Armory in New York, a Millrose Games qualifier, could be the highlight of the meet. It features Neptune, New Jersey sr Ajee Wilson, Bronxville, New York soph Mary Cain, North Shore, New York sr Samantha Nadel, and Friends Academy, New York sr Kelsey Margey (who gave Villanova a verbal commitment in November). Wilson, of course, is best known for her 800 prowess, which netted her last year’s World Youth title (US#2 2:02.64, #6 all-time) as well as last winter’s New Balance Indoor Nationals crown (US#1 2:06.17, #6 all-time). Wilson is being heavily recruited by many schools, Villanova included. Wilson, who is also the defending champ in this race, has run 4:43.92 for 1600 (outdoors 2010), and last winter won the loaded Brooks PR mile (4:49.48) and was 3rd at Millrose. Cain set the frosh 1500 USR with a US#2 4:17.84 last spring to win the New York state meet, then was 5th in the New Balance Outdoor Mile and 2nd in the USATF Jr 1500. She is currently US#1 in the 1500 and 1000. Nadel is the defending Millrose Champ and last spring also ran a 4:25.59 1500. She is currently US#1 for 3k at 9:46.39 and has anchored North Shore’s US#1 4x1500 and DMR relays (the latter with a 4:47 that is the best anyone has run for any distance close to the mile this winter). Margey, ran a 4:23.82 1500 and 4:47.39 mile last spring, and has an even faster mile PR of 4:43.91 from 2010.

"Phantom Foot Injury" Scratches Curtis Out of Edinburgh XC

2012-01-04T22:51:00.008-06:00

Bobby Curtis has been in the UK since Christmas, in preparation for the BUPA Great Edinburgh Cross Country meet (Curtis was named captain of Team USA, which will compete in a team format against British and European Select squads). Unfortunately, he's been niggled since mid-December by what he has termed (via Twitter) a "phantom foot injury" of unknown origin. The injury recently forced him to drop out of his planned 10K race in Balzano, Italy on New Year's Eve. He's getting treatments while in Britain, but it looks like Curtis has scratched from the race. He's been replaced on the 9-man squad by Ben Bruce, known best in the States as a steepler. It's not clear how debilitating the injury might be (at last report, Curtis is currently doing only light jogging), but European cross country courses are not very forgiving on the feet. In any event, with 2012 being an Olympic year and Curtis seemingly intent on making the USA team at 10,000 meters, discretion is currently the better part of valor. The situation is reminiscent of the last-minute injury that kept Adrian Blincoe out of the world championships' 5000 meters last year. Very frustrating for all involved.

Reid Wins Eastern Track's Female Athlete of the Year

2012-01-03T22:32:00.003-06:00

Eastern Track Names Its Athletes Of The Year

Walt Murphy's News and Results Service
Eastern Track
(c)Copyright 2012-all rights reserved.

Here are the picks for Eastern Track's Athletes of the Year. Athletes representing schools from Maine to Virginia were considered, as well as those collegians who attned schools that are outside E.T.'s geographic region, but are active members of the IC4A/ECAC.

College Men-Leonard Korir (Iona)
College Women-Sheila Reid (Vilanova)
High School Boys-Nick Vena (Morristown,NJ)
High School Girls-Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall Central,NY)

2011 Athletes of the Year

College Women: Sheila Reid (Villanova)

Sheila Reid won the NCAA Div.I Cross-Country title in the fall, anchored Villanova to a win in the DMR at the Indoor NCs (and finished 2nd in the 3000), and scored a historic double by winning both the 1500 and 5000 at the Outdoor NCs. Now a senior, Reid is the 7th woman from Villanova to be named E.T.’s AOY (the first since Carrie Tollefson was so named in 1999).

Other Eastern notables in 2011:

Duke’s Juliet Bottorff was the NCAA Champion at 10,000-meters and the ECAC Champion at 3000-meters.

Chelsea Carrier, West Virginia’s all-around talent, won three Big East outdoor titles(100h, 400h, LJ) and was 5th in the NCAA Pentathlon and 3rd in the NCAA Heptathlon.

Virginia Tech’s Dorotea Habazin won the hammer throw at the NCAA Championships.

Stony Brook’s Lucy Van Dalen was 3rd in the NCAA 3000(i) and 2nd in the 1500.

Katie Van Buskirk was 2nd in the NCAA mile(i) and anchored Duke to victory in the 4x800 at the Penn Relays.

College Men: Leonard Korir (Iona)

Iona’s Leonard Korir and Liberty’s Sam Chelanga raced against each other five times during the 2010-2011 school year, with Korir beating his fellow Kenyan three times. That was enough to give the nod to Korir, ending Chelanaga’s bid to become a 3-time AOY!

Chelanga drew first blood, winning the NCAA X-Country title in the fall of 2010(Korir was 4th), with Korir evening the score by winning the 5000 at the NCAA Indoor

Championships(Chelanga-2nd). They both competed the next day in the 3000, with Korir finishing 6th and Chelanga a distant 15th.

They next went head-to-head at the Outdoor NCs, with Korir winning the 10,000 (Chelanga-2nd) and Chelanga winning the 5000(Korir-3rd).

While those two dominated the voting, others also performed well in 2011.

Robby Andrews won his 2nd NCAA 800 title and once again anchored Virginia to victory in the 4x800 at Penn.

Virginia Tech’s Alexander Ziegler won the NCAA hammer throw and was 2nd in the weight throw indoors.

Princeton’s Donn Cabral was 2nd in the NCAA steeple and was an All-American in X-Country.

Amanda Marino to Marathon Debut at USA Olympic Trials

2012-01-03T07:48:00.006-06:00

Amanda Marino's blog entry below appears HERE from the folks at FloTrack.

Quest to Rediscover the Passion
Amanda Marino on January 1, 2012, 3:23pm

Amanda Marino was a 3-time cross country All-American (35th, 6th, 10th) and part of two consecutive National Championship cross country teams at Villanova from 2007-2011. Her PRs include 16:04 5k and 33:47 10k on the track as she heads into Houston with a half marathon qualifying time of 1:13:47. The Houston Trials will be her marathon debut.

AM: After a roller coaster ride through indoor and outdoor track last year, running left a bitter taste in my mouth. I wanted to forget about finishing one place out of making outdoor NCAAs, I wanted to forget about two consecutive years of wasted indoor seasons, and I just wanted to cherish the great memories of college—two team championships in XC, a last-minute solo plane ride to indoor NCAA’s sophomore year, watching teammates take the 2011 indoor DMR, etc. And most importantly, I didn’t want the disappointments of my sub-par track seasons to overshadow the value of my whole college experience. In a quest to rediscover my passion for the sport, I thought it would be best to leave it for a while.

If you know me well enough, you know that my fifteen-day no-running streak was a feat. All it took to break me was my brother Matt, an ex-runner who would now rather wash the dishes than run, to say “I think I’ll go for a run. It’s nice out.”

Soon thereafter, Villanova grad Craig Segal contacted me about running some races at the shore for the team Runner’s High. I love New Jersey, I love the beach, and I love meeting new people, so, naturally, I joined the team. Out of my own desire, I woke up at 5:30am every summer weekday to run before reporting to my job as counselor at a YMCA day camp. It was during those lonely morning hours that I came to the realization that I was simply born to be a runner (and/or that I am crazy).

Beginning at some point in July, I met Craig and a few other people every Sunday for a long run. When people asked what I was training for, I would jokingly say “Sunday runs!” Since my early summer training consisted of only thirty minute runs every other day, the first few long runs were tough. Ten miles one week. Twelve the next. Then an ambitious attempt at fifteen, which left me walking the last two miles of my third trip around the Manasquan reservoir’s five-mile loop. However, as my fitness started to come around, ten turned into thirteen, thirteen turned into fifteen, and fifteen turned into eighteen. One Sunday after a hilly thirteen-miler in Holmdel, NJ, Craig told me he was planning to run the Philadelphia Half Marathon in November. He gave me the idea that it would be fun to train for something new and exciting. About a month later, I solidified the idea by signing up.

September and October flew by. Among taking graduate classes, helping out (and being inspired by) Nova’s cross country teams, training, tutoring, babysitting, and attempting to have a social life, there wasn’t much time to think. The 4:30am alarm on November 18th came before I knew it, and it was time to test my limits. I had no race plan and little indication of what kind of shape I was in, but in the back of my mind I knew that I wanted to run under 1:15, since that was the qualifying time for the trials. Characteristically, I went out slow and gradually picked people off; characteristically, I was averaging miles that were faster than any workout would have indicated (I’ve never been a workout warrior), and I somehow found myself crossing the line well under my goal time. Since then, those eighteen-milers have turned into twenty-milers, those 85-mile weeks have turned into 100-mile weeks, and along the way, I have strengthened my appreciation for the running community. I have been encouraged and supported by former coaches, Nova’s current team members, former college competitors, elite runners, fellow New Jersey-ans, my little sister’s high school teammates—the list goes on and on.

I always knew that one day I would want to try a marathon. But I never could have predicted that my first one would be at the Olympic trials at the age of 22. I have no idea what to expect in Houston. I’m excited to see all the pros in person. I’m excited to see what the crowd is going to be like. I’m scared as hell of what I’m going to feel like at mile 20. I’m aware that there are about a million different things that can go wrong. But I also know that everyone else out there, whether young or experienced, is human just like me. I’m ready to talk myself through it; ready to fight through the inevitable onset of pain. I’m going to take it all in, because although right now I don’t know what the heck I’m doing, maybe four years from now I’ll have a shot. I certainly can’t plan life, but I can choose to take advantage of its opportunities. This is a pretty big one, and I’m ready for it.

Piccirillo Reflects on Foot Locker XC Nationals

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Villanova signee Angel Piccirillo reflects below on her race at the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals last month in San Diego. Piccirillo finished 13th overall, earning All American status.

Day before the race
We had our meal, and they also had a panel of athletes who are past or present Olympians, NCAA champions, record holders and Olympic hopefuls that all started in our shoes. We were assured that we were taking the first step to becoming just like them; I’m sure that’s what we were all dreaming of. It couldn’t have been more inspirational and kind of them to take time out of their busy schedules, especially with this being an Olympic year, to share their past trials and tribulations, successes and everything in between. This panel included some of the following professional athletes: Jen Rhines, Bobby Curtis, Jorge Torres, Adam Goucher, Suzy Favor Hamilton, Adam Goucher, Carrie Tollefson, among others. It was especially cool for me to meet Carrie Tollefson and Jen Rhines because they both ran for Villanova!! I was so excited to get to talk to them for even a little while because they were both so amazing and made sure I knew I had chosen the right school. After that, we headed to bed as quickly as possible to get as much sleep as possible because for tomorrow we were going to need it.

Race Day
The next day we woke up bright and early, were served a huge amazing breakfast and it was time to go to the course. I did do a shake out run for 10 minutes before we ate but that was nothing major and just to get the blood flowing early. On the bus ride to the course it was not at all like the other rides we had taken. You could tell everyone just sort of knew it was time to get serious, and there were the nerves. When we got to the course, there were already plenty of people there and the announcers had started showing clips of what we had done the day before and some interviews that had been taken.

Everyone was really just trying to focus on their strategy and race plan. We warmed up and then were lined up to be announced right before the race. I was really excited and nervous at this point to get going and start the race, and before we knew it it had started. I did go out nice and easy like I wanted to but I had underestimated the pace they would go out in. Don’t get me wrong, I was expecting them to go out fast but I wasn’t expecting them to go out as fast as they did. It ended up just being too much for me to make up in the end. I had gone there with some different goals in mind but the big one was I wanted more than anything to be All-American. I just squeezed in All-American by getting 13th, which I can’t say I was completely satisfied with, but no one close to me would let me be disappointed. One of the really cool things about this race was that my future Villanova coach, Gina Procaccio was there! It was awesome to see her and talk to her a little bit about my race and she got a chance to meet my coach face to face and hear some of the things I have been doing.

Sheila Reid Repeats as PSWA's Outstanding Amateur Athlete

2012-01-01T10:28:00.000-06:00

Villanova All-American to be honored at PSWA’s 2012 banquet on January 30

Villanova University’s great track and cross country All-America Sheila Reed has again been named the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s Outstanding Amateur Athlete, it was announced by PSWA president Rich Westcott.

Reid, the two-time NCAA cross country individual champion, will be honored at the PSWA’s 108th annual Sports Awards Dinner on Monday, January 30, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, N.J.

A winner of numerous national awards, Reid was the 2011 outdoor individual champion in the 1500 and the 5000 meters, becoming the first woman ever to double-up in winning both of these events at the same NCAA meet. Indoors, she anchored the Wildcats to a national title in the distance medley relay.

An 11-time All America in cross country and indoor and outdoor track, Reid triggered Villanova’s run to its second straight NCAA cross country title in 2010, an achievement that helped the Newmarket, Ontario native win the 2011 Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top female athlete in the sport.

Reid was twice named the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year and also National Scholar-Athlete of the Year. An English major, she is also a four-time Big East Academic All Star and Villanova’s Senior Student Athlete of the Year.

Previous winners of the Outstanding Amateur Athlete award—in addition to Reid last year—include Matt Ryan, Steve Slayton, Jameer Nelson, Lisa Raymond, Dawn Staley, Vicki Huber, Jay Sigel, and Michael Brooks, among others.

Other prestigious awards at the dinner that have previously been announced include the Philadelphia Phillies, as the Team of the Year, and Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux, the Pro Athlete of the Year. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and Flyers coach Peter Laviolette will also be in attendance.

The Living Legend, Native Son, Humanitarian of the Year, and Good Guy Athlete awards, among others, will be announced in coming weeks, as will a couple of surprise presentations and some “Special Achievement” awards. The most coveted award—Most Courageous—is kept secret until the night of the dinner. Comedian Joe Conklin will also perform at the oldest continuing sports awards banquet in the nation.

Douma-Hussar is Third at Emerald Nuts Midnight Run

2011-12-31T09:39:00.000-06:00

PEACOCK, PEZZULLO ARE MIDNIGHT RUN CHAMPIONS

By David Monti, Race Results Weekly

NEW YORK (31-Dec) — Two athletes training in North Carolina, Landon Peacock of Blowing Rock and Stephanie Pezzullo of Charlotte, won the 33rd Emerald Nuts Midnight Run, a four mile road race held here in Central Park at the stroke of midnight.

Peacock, 24, a former University of Wisconsin Badger who now runs for the Reebok-sponsored ZAP Fitness program, clocked 18 minutes and 35 seconds, three seconds up on Tesfaye Dube, an Ethiopian athlete who runs for the New York-based West Side Runners club. Stephen Pifer, who runs for the Nike Oregon Track Club in Eugene, finished third in 18:48.

“It was a whole lot of fun,” Peacock said after running the race for the first time. He smiled and added: ”It was the most interesting way I’ve started a year.”

Pezzullo, 29, who represents Saucony, outlegged rivals Sarah Porter and Carmen Douma-Hussar in the final mile to win in 21:05, a personal best for the distance by 55 seconds. For Pezzullo it was her first Midnight Run victory; she was second back in 2006.

“Awesome, awesome,” Pezzullo said when she was asked how the race went. She continued: “It was just a great experience, and the crowd support was unbelievable.”

Porter, who like men’s winner Peacock runs for the ZAP Fitness program, crossed the finish line in 21:17 in her debut at the race. Douma-Hussar, a Canadian Olympian and former Midnight Run champion and course record holder, ran 21:26. Former Providence College standout Katie DiCamillo was fourth in 21:38.

Both Peacock and Pezzullo earned $600 each in prize money and time bonuses.

The New York Road Runners, the race founders and organizers, said about 5000 runners took part. A nearly 20 minute fireworks display accompanied the race.

Top 10 Finishers


WOMEN 
 1 Stephanie Pezzullo  29      Charlotte, NC     USA     21:05
 2 Sarah Porter   22           Blowing Rock, NC  USA     21:17
 3 Carmen Douma-Hussar  34     Ardmore, PA       CAN     21:26
 4 Katie DiCamillo  25         Providence, RI    USA     21:38
 5 Breanne Simpson  29         New York, NY      USA     22:56
 6 Leonora Petrina  29         Bayport, NY       USA     23:37
 7 Elizabeth Briasco  19       Forest Hills, NY  USA     24:09
 8 Alem Ashebir Gebreezgi 26   New York, NY      ETH     24:49
 9 Marisa Cummings  19         New York, NY      USA     25:40
10 Sarah Cummings  22          Princeton, NJ     USA     25:40

Carmen Douma-Hussar on Tap for New Year's Eve Race

2011-12-30T07:46:00.002-06:00

Emerald Nuts Midnight Run to Ring in New Year

Carmen Douma-Hussar, Sarah Porter, Landon Peacock and Christian Hesch set to race under a glittering sky of fireworks at midnight

NEW YORK - (December 27, 2011) - As 2011 winds down, New York Road Runners is gearing up to celebrate the new year with the legendary Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in Central Park at midnight on December 31. Professional athletes will toe the line with thousands of reveling New Yorkers, it was announced by NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

The Midnight Run, a Central Park tradition since 1978, offers runners and spectators a fun and athletic way to celebrate New Year's Eve. As the ball drops in Times Square just blocks away, runners can party through a four-mile run knowing they won't drop the ball on their fitness this year. The run promises to be one of the most distinctive, cost-effective parties in all of Manhattan.

"The Emerald Nuts Midnight Run is a unique and active way to celebrate New Year's Eve in New York City," said Wittenberg. "It's the perfect way to start the New Year on the right foot, literally! We welcome friends and family to join an extravaganza of fun-from the run to the fireworks."

"We look forward to partnering with the NYRR for an eighth straight year, especially in such an iconic New York event," said Craig Tokusato, vice president of marketing at Diamond Foods, Inc. "The Emerald Nuts Midnight Run will be a great way to celebrate the new year in a fun, healthy and safe environment."

The festivities begin at 10:00pm with music and a massive dance party, followed by a spirited costume parade and contest at 11:00pm. At the stroke of midnight, runners will take off on a four-mile loop through Central Park while the night sky sparkles with a 17-minute fireworks show. Halfway through the race, runners will have the option of toasting the new year with a glass of non-alcoholic champagne at the two-mile mark.

In addition to the celebrations that are planned throughout the evening, a strong professional athlete field will race for a prize purse of $2000, including $500 apiece to the male and female winners. Canadian Olympian and 2007 Emerald Nuts Midnight Run champion Carmen Douma-Hussar will be up against Sarah Porter, the 2011 NCAA Division II 10,000 meter champion, who made her marathon debut in this year's ING New York City Marathon. Other top contenders in the women's field include Katie DiCamillo, Stephanie Pezzullo, Lesley Higgins and Sarah Cummings.

In the men's field, Landon Peacock, the 2010 Big Ten 5000 meter indoor champion, will compete against two-time Emerald Nuts Midnight Run champion (2003-04) and former course record holder Christian Hesch. Other top contenders in the men's field include Tim Ritchie and Stephen Pifer.

Douma-Hussar, 34, of Ardmore, PA, won this event in 2007 in 20:54. She was second in 2010 in 20:55.

Porter, 22, of Blowing Rock, NC, won the 2011 NCAA Division II 10,000m championship in 33:17.39. She finished the ING New York City Marathon this past November in 2:44:25.

Peacock, 24, of Blowing Rock, NC, won the 2010 Big Ten Indoor Championships 5000 meters in 14:11.94 for the University of Wisconsin. He was recently second at the Manchester Road Race (4.75 miles) on Thanksgiving Day in 21:39.

Hesch, 33, of Hollywood, CA, won this event in 2003 (19:36) and 2004 (18:28), and is a former course record holder.

Other top contenders in the women's field:

DiCamillo, 25, of Providence, RI, won the 2010 ECAC Outdoor Championships 5000 meters in 16:25.83.
Pezzullo, 29, of Charlotte, NC, was second at this event in 2006 in 22:00.
Higgins, 31, of New York, NY, placed second in the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships Mile in 4:42.36.
Cummings, 23, of New York, NY, placed second in the 2011 Ivy League Outdoor 5000 meters in16:48.51.

Other top contenders in the men's field:

Ritchie, 24, of Brighton, MA, placed fifth at this year's Manchester Road Race (4.75 miles) on Thanksgiving Day in 21:47.
Pifer, 27, of Eugene, OR, placed second in the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships 5000 meters in 13:39.34.

For more details on the race and pre-race festivities in Central Park, visit: www.nyrr.org

"The Great One" -- Reid Wins FloTrack Gretsky Award

2011-12-29T12:51:00.005-06:00

Here's the latest from the folks at FloTrack:

As we sat down and reflected on what were truly the greatest moments of the 2011 season one name kept coming up but we couldn't find a superlative that truly encompassed the greatness of this athlete. This athlete has consistently risen to the occasion and seems to have a quiet tenaciousness that combined with a race savvy like none else, produces an almost unbeatable package.

The athlete is Villanova Senior Sheila Reid. We knew we wanted to recognize her but didn't know what title to bestow upon her name. The first idea was to give her "Canadian of the Year" which, is a tremendous title especially when you consider how well Canucks have done this year. But that was too generic, bland and unFlotrack. So eventually we came to the idea of naming it after the Canadian Chuck Norris. Wayne Gretzky.

Who better to receive this award then a fellow Ontarioan ..Ontarianite ..(a person who is from Ontario). The two are just plain winners. Gretzky once said "A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be."

Sheila has been able to craft races into her own blueprint. Her keen race senses are unparalleled and in 2011 almost unbeatable.

Indoors she anchored her Villanova crew to a DMR crown and was barely edged out in the 3k by Hasay. (Fortunately for her, the last place finish in the pee test was went virtually unnoticed and did not effect her indoor stats- 4:00 into vid)

Then Came Outdoors and Sheila was all business as she tore up the Blue Oval in Des Moines. Battling through A 1500 prelim on the second day, Sheila came back the next night to pull away and win the 5k in 15:37. The long weekend continued as she still had a tough, 1500m final on her plate. It came down to the wire again, but as usual, Sheila timed it right, winning in 4:14.57.

Cross Country brought a lot of pressure for the reigning NCAA champion. Reid didn't have an easy road to the championship opening her season at the Wisconsin Invitational. It came down to scene we all know to well. With Jordan and Sheila stride for stride going into the home stretch, Reid set the tone for her season and pulled away with a signature kick.

Reid Continued to roll, and in November arrived in Terre Haute with an undefeated season on her hands. The women's race seemed as though it was scripted it was so dramatic. Fjortoft of SMU took the race out hard and did all she could to not let the race come down to a kick. But with 400m to go, in almost slow motion, a pack of about five women hugged the turn and darted for the barely visible finish line and for a second, it looked as though someone might take down the reigning champ. (I wanted to insert a nickname here, but i don't think she has one yet..lets work on that. Gretzky is "The great one"..just saying) With 200 meters to go the two titans of NCAA XC broke forth and it came down to none other than Sheila and Jordan. It was tight, each inching in front of the other with syncopated strides. Then the barrier was broken and Sheila powered away across the finish line to defended her title.

The NHL has officially retired Gretzky's #99 from ever being used again. Sheila Could leave her Collegiate career with 13 All American Awards so how can Coach Procaccio immortalize Sheila once she leaves Nova and is toeing the line in London next summer?

I will deliver this award to Sheila personally and I will be wearing my best Canadian Tuxedo (Denim Jacket, Denim Jeans, Denim Attitude.)

Jen Rhines on the Upcoming US Olympic Marathon Trials

2011-12-23T22:34:00.006-06:00

Jen Rhines for the first time speaks openly about her DNF at the New York City marathon in November -- her first marathon in 5 years -- and her surprising decision to compete in the upcoming USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston on January 14th. She competed in the 2004 US marathon trials, where she finished 3rd and made Team USA. She finished 34th at the Olympics that year, in 2:43:52. Overall, Jen has competed in three previous Olympic Games for the USA: over 10,000 meters in 2000, the marathon in 2004, and over 5000 meters in 2008. Jen has indicated for well over a year that her intention for 2012 was to attempt to make the US team at 10,000 meters. Inasmuch as she has not completed a marathon since 2006, and given her recent DNF in New York, Jen would have to be considered a long shot to make the marathon squad this time. Rhines has a marathon PR of 2:29:32 (good for 4th place at the 2006 Rome Marathon).

Running the marathon trials next month does not, of course, preclude an attempt to make the team at 10,000 meters. That race will be held at the Olympic Trials on June 22nd in Eugene, Oregon. Her coach and husband (and former Villanova All-American) Terrence Mahon recently explained the decision to give it a go in Houston: "She's running. . . . We trained her to run New York in November off her track season, but I don't think we timed it right. She didn't adapt quickly enough. She wanted to give it another try, and I thought, 'Okay, let's run the Marathon Trials.' Her primary goal is still to run on the track in London. She's not going to race as aggressively as the other two [Mammoth TC competitors, Deena Kastor and Amy Hastings]. But if she runs smart and makes the Olympic Team, great. If she gets close to the third-place runner in the last six miles, that's not going to be good for the woman in third. But for Jen it's not an all-or-nothing situation the way it is for Deena."

Curtis Named Captain of Team USA for Great Edinburgh XC Challenge

2011-12-21T22:28:00.005-06:00

Team USA Announced for Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country - International Challenge
12/21/2011

INDIANAPOLIS - Team USA will travel to Scotland for the second Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country - International Challenge on Jan. 7, 2012.

Teams from the United States, Great Britain and Northern Ireland and a select European team will compete in men’s and women’s junior and senior races. Each country competing in the International Team Challenge will consist of nine athletes per team (six on the junior teams) with the first six athletes per team (first four on the junior teams) scoring. In cross country, the team with the lowest overall score wins.

After only a senior men’s race was held in the inaugural event in 2011, Team USA will be in full force in the second running of the event. Bobby Mack (Raleigh, N.C.) is the sole returning athlete after finishing sixth last year to finish as the second American en route to the team’s silver medal.

Mack will be joined by team captain Bobby Curtis (Ardmore, Pa.) who ran the second fastest 10,000m time by an American in 2011 with his 27:24.67 effort at the Stanford Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. Mack and Curtis will be joined by recent USATF National Club Cross Country Champion Jon Grey of (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Araon Braun (Flagstaff, Ariz.) who finished as the runner-up in the same race. The men’s squad is rounded out by Phil Reid (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Colby Lowe (Southlake, Texas), Justin Tyner (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Landon Peacock (Blowing Rock, N.C.) and Robert Cheseret (Colorado Springs, Colo.).

Neely Spence (Shippensburg, Pa.) will lead the senior women’s team after finishing as the runner-up at the recent USATF Club Cross Country Championships. Spence will be joined by Alisha Williams (Colorado Springs, Colo.) who finished 4th in the same race and Sarah Porter (Blowing Rock, N.C.) the 2011 NCAA D-II 10,000m champion. Other team members include Katie DiCamillo (Providence, R.I.), Bethany Nickless (Santa Barbara, Calif.) Jamie Cheever (Minneapolis, Minn.), Laura Thweatt (Boulder, Colo.), Maggie Infeld (Washington, D.C.) and Betzy Jimenez (Austin, Texas).

The junior squads include a mix of outstanding high school seniors and collegiate freshman. On the women’s side, Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.) a freshman at Stanford leads the team after being the top junior finisher for Team USA at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Kaitlin Flattman (Benton, La.) was recently named the SEC freshman cross country runner of the year and will be joined on the U.S. squad by her teammate Jessica Jackson (Neosho, Mo.) from the University of Arkansas. High school athletes include the top two finishers from the recent Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, Molly Seidel (Hartland, Wisc.) and Erin Finn (West Bloomfield, Mich.), as well as the third place finisher from the Nike Cross Country Nationals, Katie Knight (Spokane, Wash.).

On the junior men’s side, Princeton freshman Eddie Owens (Brooklyn, N.Y.) leads the team after winning silver in the Junior Pan-American steeplechase in July. Other collegiate runners include Ohio State freshman Michael Bradjic (Bay Village, Ohio) and Oklahoma State freshman Kirubel Erassa (Grayson, Ga.). and Thomas Curtain (Leesburg, Va.) of Virginia Tech. The high school duo of Nathan Weitz, and Andrew Gardner both of Spokane, Wash. round out the squad.Weitz recently finished 3rd at the Foot Locker Championships while Gardner took 6th.

Carmen Douma-Hussar to Contest Emerald Nuts Midnight Run

2011-12-21T21:46:00.002-06:00

From Dave Monti in today's Race Results Weekly:

DOUMA-HUSSAR, PEACOCK LEAD MIDNIGHT RUN ENTRANTS:

The 33rd Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in New York’s Central Park, which will ring in the New Year on Saturday, December 31, will feature a solid elite field led by Canadian Carmen Douma-Hussar and American Landon Peacock. Douma-Hussar, 34, an Olympian and Villanova alumnus, won the race in 2007 and was the runner-up last year. Peacock, 24, was the 2010 Big 10 indoor 5000m champion for Wisconsin and was recently second at the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day. Other top contenders include last year’s NCAA Division II 10,000m champion Sarah Porter, the 2010 ECAC 5000m champion Katie DiCamillo, the 2006 Midnight Run runner-up Stephanie Pezzullo, two-time Midnight Run champion and former course record holder Christian Hesch, the fifth place finisher at the Manchester Road Race Tim Ritchie, and the 2008 NCAA 5000m championships runner-up Stephen Pifer. The four-mile road race, which usually draws about 5000 New Year’s revelers, has an impressive elite tradition. Former champions include Irishman Marcus O’Sullivan, USA Olympian Amy Rudolph, and 2011 Boston Marathon runner-up Desiree Davila.

Matt Gibney Named to Academic All-Area Team

2011-12-20T18:28:00.000-06:00

Matthew Gibney Named to Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team
www.villanova.com

Villanova senior continues to excel in competition and academically

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.--Senior Matthew Gibney (Albury, Australia) has been named to the 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men's Cross Country Team, as announced on Tuesday morning by the Philadelphia Area Sports Information Directors Association. The award is based on both athletic and academic achievements and is voted on by local sports information directors. This is the first time that Gibney has won the award.

During the 2011 cross country season Gibney earned All-Mid Atlantic Region and All-BIG EAST honors while helping Villanova finish 13th as a team at the NCAA Championships, where the Wildcats placed 10 spots higher than last season. Gibney was one of the team's first two runners at each of the first four meets of the season, including coming in first on the team at both the BIG EAST Championships and the Paul Short Run.

Gibney placed fifth overall at both the conference meet and the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional and at the latter meet recorded a career-best 10K cross country time of 30:42. He came in fourth on the team and 109th overall at the national championships meet.

Outside of competition Gibney is a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and last spring garnered Capital One Academic All-America third team honors for cross country and track & field. Gibney is an English major and maintains a 3.71 grade-point average.

Gibney also was named a Scholar-Athlete by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) last spring after a successful outdoor track season which saw him garner All-America honors in the 1500 meters and anchor Villanova to a Championship of America title in the distance medley relay at the Penn Relays.

The members of the 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men's Cross Country Team are Gibney, Eric Arnold (Haverford), Tyler Dye (Philadelphia University), Stephen Hoffman (Rowan), Jacob Phillips (Swarthmore), Andrew Sturner (Haverford) and Matt VanDenHengel (Gwynedd-Mercy).

Each year the sports information directors from 28 area institutions vote on the Academic All-Area Teams for 22 different sports, plus two at-large teams. The teams recognize those student-athletes who are best able to balance athletics with academics, and excel at both. Voting is based on both grades and athletic performance. An overall Performer of the Year is also chosen from each team, as well as a Male Performer of the Year and a Female Performer of the Year at the end of each academic year.

The Academic All-Area program is now in its seventh year. A list of the honorees for each fall sport will appear in the printed edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer at a later date.