The Villanova track & field team hosted their sole home event of the season this past weekend at the Villanova Invitational at Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex. 

Sophomore middle distance runner Rachel McArthur in the Mile and the sprint duo of juniors Danielle Burns and Trudy-Ann Williamson were the highlights of the women’s meet by setting their own personal bests.

Rachel McArthur easily won the mile with a personal best time of 4:37.79. This new top time is good for 14th in the nation and is the second personal best she has set this season. McArthur’s previous personal best was her 2:46.51 performance in the 1000 meter in the season opener at Navy last month. Last weekend, she ran the leadoff leg of the distance medley relay last in a race that will likely qualify the Wildcats for the NCAA Championships later in the year. Ann Campbell came in sixth in the mile with a time of 4:53.26. 

 In addition, Burns and Williamson won the 60-meter hurdles and the 60 meters run, respectively. Burns won the hurdles with a personal best mark of 8.47 in the final. Sophomore Sarah Jones came in second behind Burns in the hurdles, with her own personal best of 8.62. Williamson won the 60-meter run with a 7.38, which is the second fastest time in the University’s history. The only faster time is her own record of 7.37 from last season.  In addition to winning the 60 meters, Williamson later finished third in the 200 meters with a time of 24.59.  Burns placed seventh in 25.31, while Jones recorded a time of 25.70.  

As for the men’s team, the day was highlighted by three personal bests by junior pole vaulter Thomas Conboy, junior sprinter Ike Osuagwu and junior runner Jacob Bonanotte. 

Conboy finished fifth out of 10 competitors and topped his previous personal best height of 4.71 with his final jump over the bar being at 4.75. Osuagwu recorded a personal best time with his sixth-place finish of 7.25 in the preliminary heats of the 60-meter, which topped his former best of 7.31. 

Fifth-year senior Zach Swenson finished on top of the four Wildcats participating in the 800 meter. Swenson’s sixth-place finish among the 31 competitors was solidified with his time of 1:53.70.  Bonanotte followed him in eighth, with his time of 1:53.92, easily lowering his previous personal best of 1:55.86. Freshman Trevor Potts came in 11th, with a time of 1:55.57. 

The next track meet is The David Hemrey Valentine Invitational on Feb. 8, in Boston.