Villanova track and field started this past weekend at the Ott Center in Philadelphia, where fifth-year Maria Deaviz broke the program record in shot put, her third time breaking the record in a month. With a distance of 16.76 meters on Friday afternoon, the Michigan transfer threw the second best in the Big East and No. 13 in the NCAA this season.
“She’s just a really, really, really good person,” women’s head coach Gina Procaccio said. “She’s been through a lot in the last year, so you just really want nothing but great things to happen for her.”
Also on Friday, Jan. 30, two juniors ran the 800-meter race at the Penn State National Open in University Park, PA.
Dan Watcke finished 1:46.62, which is only .3 seconds away from his school record set last indoor season. Watcke’s stellar time also landed him No. 2 in the conference and No. 5 in the country.
“The 800-meter is a very fast race that they try to put on out there,” men’s head coach Marcus O’Sullivan said. “I tried to express to him he’s had such a great build-up to this in the fall. When you’re training hard, your legs are still heavy, and it takes a while for it to kind of come to fruition.”
Ryan Beegle also ran the 800-meter, crossing the line at 1:54.09. The transfer from Boston College was four seconds off his personal best. Beegle was coming off an injury and had gotten caught in traffic on the way to BU, causing a late arrival to the meet.
“I think he was just a little bit despondent when he got done,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s still very young in the sport of what he’s doing and what he’s trying to accomplish. So, I just try to give him some encouragement and kind of come back out again the next time.”
O’Sullivan was in New York City this weekend, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 4xMile world record. While in Manhattan, O’Sullivan was able to watch the 118th Millrose Games at the Armory, although no current Villanova athletes competed.
On Jan. 31, four distance runners traveled to Boston to compete in the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University. Sophomore Charlie Moore, fifth-year Devon Comber, along with juniors C.J. Sullivan and Bailey Habler, all ran the 3000-meter race on Saturday.
Leading the way for the ‘Cats was Boston native Sullivan, who ran a 7:50.07, shaving five seconds off his personal best. Not far behind, Habler broke eight minutes in the 3000-meter, clocking in at 7:58.53. Moore achieved a new personal best, crossing the finish line in 8:02.05, over six seconds faster than his previous record. Fifth-year Devon Comber came in at 8:18.79 to round the group out.
“I think Charlie and CJ ran really well,” O’Sullivan said. “They’re gonna be happy enough with what they did, and I think Bailey and Devin are disappointed, hence the reason a mixed bag of sorts.”
Villanova women’s and men’s track and field will return to the Ott Center at the University of Pennsylvania for the Penn Classic on Friday, Feb. 7.
“It was not supposed to be heavy, but [competitions] get heavier as the season goes on,” O’Sullivan said. “Sometimes, we need to race more than we thought.”
Competition is set to begin with field events at 10 a.m.
