Meet Results

HAVERFORD, Pa.--Villanova posted a number of strong results during competition at the McElligott Invitational on Saturday afternoon, where the team had a dozen athletes competing in five different events at Alumni Gym on the Haverford campus. There were a pair of first-place finishes for the Wildcats, with senior Kathleen McPhillips (Carlisle, Pa.) winning the pole vault and sophomore Ekiah Lewis (San Bernardino, Calif.) taking first in the long jump.

Lewis registered a winning mark of 5.45 meters in the long jump and three other Villanova athletes all established new personal bests in the event. Senior Katherine Petruzzellis (Annandale, N.J.) finished second behind Lewis with a distance of 5.33 meters. Freshmen Marley Byrne (Auburn, Maine) and Katie HoSang (Bedford, N.H.) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, with each posting marks of 4.95 meters.

It was a busy afternoon for Petruzzellis, HoSang and Byrne, who all compete in the multi-events. Petruzzellis finished 14th in the 800 meters with a time of 2:32.14, while HoSang and Byrne competed in the 60 meter hurdles. HoSang placed 10th in that event with a time of 10.97, while Byrne was 11th in 11.07.

The top six finishers in the pole vault all came from the Wildcats, with McPhillips clearing the bar at 3.80 meters to win the event. Junior Virginia LaMacchia (Bloomsburg, Pa.) was the runner-up (3.65m), while the trio of sophomore Alexandra Elder (Moorestown, N.J.), junior Abigail Nolte (Branchburg, N.J.) and freshman Kara Snyder (Loudonville, N.Y.) all were successful at 3.50 meters. Elder and Nolte tied for third place overall, while Snyder was fifth. Freshman Bridget Owen (Northborough, Mass.) cleared the bar at 3.35 meters and finished sixth.

Junior Alita Ostapkovich (Bensalem, Pa.) recorded a new personal best mark in the shot put with a distance of 12.22 meters. She came in second out of 12 competitors and sophomore Kristen Erickson (Princeton, Mass.) was fourth (11.51m).

Villanova returns to action next week when it competes in the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University. The women's individual races will be run on Friday afternoon and evening, with a distance medley relay set for the next day.

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

60 Meter Hurdles

Katie HoSang                    10th of 13             10.97Marley Byrne                    11th                   11.07

800 Meters

Katherine Petruzzellis          14th of 35             2:32.14

Pole Vault

Kathleen McPhillips             1st of 11              3.80mVirginia LaMacchia              2nd                    3.65mAlexandra Elder                 tie-3rd                3.50mAbigail Nolte                   tie-3rd                3.50mKara Snyder                     5th                    3.50mBridget Owen                    6th                    3.35m

Long Jump

Ekiah Lewis                     1st of 9               5.45mKatherine Petruzzellis          2nd                    5.33mMarley Byrne                    4th                    4.95mKatie HoSang                    5th                    4.95m

Shot Put

Alita Ostapkovich               2nd of 12              12.22mKristen Erickson                4th                    11.51m