HAVERFORD, Pa. - Villanova had a successful day on the track just a short ride from campus as a group of athletes combined for eight first-place finishes and seven personal best marks during the Haverford Invitational on Wednesday afternoon. The local meet was postponed by a day due to the heavy rain that fell in the area.

Three of the victories recorded by the Wildcats at Johnson Track on Wednesday came in the sprint events. Freshman Dan Powers (Chadds Ford, Pa.) tallied a personal best time of 49.65 in the 400 meters, while freshman Ike Osuagwu (Wilmington, Del.) and sophomore Utsav Deshpande (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) crossed the finish line first in the 100 meters (11.41) and the 400 meter hurdles (58.81), respectively. Osuagwu also recorded a time of 23.41 in the 200 meters.

Villanova also won a pair of middle distance events and had several noteworthy results in the 800 meters and the 1500 meters. Redshirt freshman Casey Comber (Maple Glen, Pa.) paced a field of two dozen runners in the 800 meters with a winning time of 1:53.54. Sophomore Zach Swenson (Boulder, Colo.) followed him with a new personal best of 1:53.96, and sophomore Colin O'Mara (Little Rock, Ark.) also had a PR of 1:57.26 to eclipse his previous time which had been set in high school.

There were four Wildcats in the 1500 meters, which redshirt freshman Paul Power (Phoenixville, Pa.) won with a personal best time of 3:58.41. Sophomore Grant Wiggins (Virginia Beach, Va.) also set a new top mark with a time of 4:00.03, while redshirt freshman Lucas Arrivo (Ann Arbor, Mich.) placed third in 4:06.31. Redshirt freshman Louis Vazquez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished eighth with a PR of 4:11.67.

Freshman thrower Jadyn Anczarski (Ringtown, Pa.) recorded a season-best distance of 41.68 meters in the discus, while also throwing the hammer for 36.97 meters. Freshman Chika Nwachukwu (Lawrence, N.J.) tallied a mark of 39.66 meters in the discus and senior John McDonald (New Providence, N.J.) had a throw of 44.37 meters to win the hammer.

Three other athletes competed in the pole vault and were part of a 1-2-3 Villanova sweep. Freshman Thomas Conboy (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) led the way with a winning mark of 4.35 meters, followed by senior Kolby Koeck (Altoona, Pa.) with a height of 4.20 meters and senior PJ Succi (Warminster, Pa.) who cleared the bar at 4.05 meters.

Action gets underway Thursday at the 123rd running of the Penn Relays. The first event for the Wildcats men's team is the 400 meter hurdles on Friday morning at 9 a.m.

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

100 Meters

Ike Osuagwu                      1st of 10               11.41

200 Meters

Ike Osuagwu                      3rd of 9                23.41

400 Meters

Dan Powers                       1st of 4                49.65     

400 Meter Hurdles

Utsav Deshpande                  1st of 2                58.81

800 Meters

Casey Comber                     1st of 24               1:53.54        Zach Swenson                     3rd                     1:53.96        Colin O'Mara                     9th                     1:57.26     
Jacob Bonanotte (Unattached)     15th                    2:00.31     

1500 Meters

Paul Power                       1st of 13               3:58.41        Grant Wiggins                    2nd                     4:00.03        Lucas Arrivo                     3rd                     4:06.31        Louis Vazquez                    8th                     4:11.67     

Pole Vault

Thomas Conboy                    1st of 5                4.35m        Kolby Koeck                      2nd                     4.20mPJ Succi                         3rd                     4.05m

Discus

Jadyn Anczarski                  1st of 5                41.68m        Chika Nwachukwu                  2nd                     39.66m

Hammer

John McDonald                    1st of 2                44.37mJadyn Anczarski                  2nd                     36.97m