Feb. 1, 2008

Official Millrose Games Website

NEW YORK-- At Madison Square Garden on Friday evening, the Villanova entry in the 4x800 meter relay at the Millrose Games finished second out of seven squads with a time of 7:35.45. The Wildcats posted a season-best time and finished just over one second off the winning time set by Arkansas.

The time posted by Villanova was four seconds quicker than its time in the event at the Penn State Relays earlier in the season. It also came within two seconds of the top time in the BIG EAST this season, which belongs to a quartet from Georgetown. The Hoyas also had an entry in Friday evening's Millrose race and finished third, coming in four seconds behind the Wildcats.

Junior Sean Tully (Syosset, N.Y.) anchored the race for Villanova on Friday, just as he had at Penn State last month. With just over two laps to go, Tully passed his counterpart from Arkansas to give Villanova the lead, but the Razorbacks took the lead back with less than a lap remaining.

"I am happy with the result because it was a great effort," Villanova head coach Marcus O'Sullivan said. "It was a very entertaining race and everyone ran exceptionally well. Sean may have made his move a little prematurely but Arkansas has a great team and I am pleased with this effort."

Senior Michael Kerrigan (Stroudsburg, Pa.) led off for the Wildcats and was followed by senior Mark Korich (Wyndmoor, Pa.). Freshman Jason Apwah (Roxbury, N.J.) ran third for Villanova and turned in a very strong leg of the race.

Columbia finished in fourth place and was followed by George Mason, Cornell and Seton Hall.

FINAL RESULTS
Collegiate Men's 4x800 Meter Relay

1) Arkansas - 7:34.18
2) Villanova - 7:35.45
3) Georgetown - 7:39.97
4) Columbia - 7:43.76
5) George Mason - 7:45.96
6) Cornell - 7:47.23
7) Seton Hall - 7:56.96