AKRON, Ohio - The new year started on a positive note for Villanova at the Akron Pole Vault Convention, where a group of five field athletes were in competition on Friday night. Senior Alexandra Wasik (Medina, Ohio) led a group of four Wildcats athletes who competed in the Invitational section of the pole vault and cleared a height of 4.00 meters to finish first out of 14 competitors in the event. The meet at Stile Athletics Field House was by invitation only for a number of top field athletes.

Wasik, competing just a short distance from her hometown, was the only athlete in the Invitational section to be successful at a height of 4.00 meters. Fellow senior Kathleen McPhillips (Carlisle, Pa.) tied for third place overall with a mark of 3.70 meters, while junior Abigail Nolte (Branchburg, N.J.) and sophomore Alexandra Elder (Moorestown, N.J.) came in eighth and 12th, respectively. Nolte cleared a height of 3.55 meters and Elder recorded a mark of 3.40 meters.

Junior Anne Yahiro (Downers Grove, Ill.) also competed for Villanova and was third in the Invitational section of the triple jump with a distance of 11.71 meters.

All of the results for the Wildcats were particularly strong for this early in the season. The team returns to action with its first full meet of the new year next Friday (Jan. 16) when it competes in the Gotham Cup at New York Armory.

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

Pole Vault (Invitational Section)

Alexandra Wasik                1st of 14            4.00mKathleen McPhillips            tie-3rd              3.70mAbigail Nolte                  8th                  3.55mAlexandra Elder                12th                 3.40m

Triple Jump (Invitational Section)

Anne Yahiro                    3rd of 5             11.71m