Last weekend, Villanova track and field competed in the Raleigh Relays and Danny Curran Invitational from Thursday, March 26 through Saturday, March 28.
Members of the women’s team traveled to North Carolina to compete in the Raleigh Relays held at NC State.
After lightning strikes delayed the race for an hour, Junior Tilly O’Conner put up a spectacular time despite the conditions. O’Conner recorded a 15:42.69 finish in the 5k while it poured down rain in Raleigh. Her time marked the seventh fastest 5k finish in program history, earning her a new personal best and a fourth place finish in the event.
“A really, really impressive finish for her and accomplished her goal of running a time that will qualify her for the regional meet,” women’s head coach Gina Procaccio said.
Sophomore Rosie Shay ran the fastest 1500-meter time since 2019. At 4:14.19, Shay finished twelfth out of 227 runners and earned a personal best. Sophomore Bella Walsh also earned a personal best in the 1500-meter, crossing the finish line at 4:14.62. Fifth year Nikki Vanasse ran a 4:19.49 in the event.
The rookie pair of freshman Sophia McInnes and freshman Zoe Mosher put up personal bests in their respective events. McInnes ran a 4:25.34 1500-meter, and Mosher finished the 5k in 16:35.08.
All four of the Villanova women in the 1500-meter returned for the 800m on Saturday. Shay recorded another personal best of 2:07.31, nearly two seconds faster than her previous time. Walsh crossed the finish line three tenths of a second behind Shay at 2:07.56. McInnes and Vanasse finished at 2:10.65 and 2:10.99, respectively. Junior Caelen O’Leary closed out the Villanova contingent in the 800-meter in 2:12.33.
Back in PA, Villanova had a strong presence in Chester for the Danny Curran Invitational.
Junior Ryan Beegle won first place in the 1500-meter race, crossing the finish line at 3:58.09.
In the women’s 1500-meter, freshman Maeve Smith won with a personal best time of 4:39.51.
“The conditions were a bit on the chilly side,” Procaccio said. “I was just looking to see them compete tough and not really worry about times, but just get in a position to compete for the win.”
Senior Amiri Prescod reached a personal best in the 100-meter race of 10.94.
Freshman Gabby Pistner and junior Therese Trainor went 1-2 in the 800-meter race, finishing at 2:11.65 and 2:15.96.
In the hammer throw, freshman Kierra Christensen earned 6th place, throwing 49.07m. The distance accounted for a personal best and the eight best in program history. Fifth year Theo Hedgemon threw 56.49, earning fifth place. Freshman … also extended his personal best to 48.58m to earn sixth place.
“[The hammer throw] was a big one for this weekend, it’s just timing and precision,” men’s head coach Marcus O’Sullivan said. “The opportunity to be able to get into a cage in a competition…is different from throwing in practice versus throwing when you’re in a competitive setting.”
With a time of 48.66, senior Jimmy Milgie finished third out of 130 runners in the 400-meter. Freshman Andy Guiser was close behind, finishing at 48.80 for a personal best. Freshman Kate Borton earned sixth place in the women’s 400-meter at 58.15.
If weather permits, several members of the men’s track and field team are scheduled to run in the Sam Howell Invitational on Saturday, April 4 in Princeton, NJ. The women’s team will have members traveling to Gainesville, FL, for the Florida Relays. Competition is set to start on Friday, April 3, and both meets can be watched on FloTrack.
