PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Graduate student Lizzie Martell (Essex Junction, Vt.) cut more than half a second off her PR in the 1000 meters as a contingent of Villanova athletes kicked off the indoor track & field season at the Penn Opener on Saturday afternoon. Martell posted a time of 2:46.70 and beat her previous time of 2:47.25 which had stood for just over three years.
 
Martell was the runner-up and top collegiate finisher in the 1000 meters in Saturday's race. The field of 19 runners included four Wildcats, and junior Therese Trainer (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) was the team's second runner across the line with a time of 2:56.03. First year collegian Gabby Pistner (St. Marys, Pa.) posted a time of 2:56.70 and junior Caelen O'Leary (Taunton, Mass.) recorded a mark of 2:58.98.
 
In the 3000 meters, first year runner Sophia McInnes (Bayport, N.Y.) picked up on her momentum from a strong cross country season to post a time of 9:43.56 in her first collegiate track meet. Senior distance runner Kinsey Pogue (Danville, Calif.) recorded a time of 10:07.14. The runner-up in the race was Villanova sophomore Bella Walsh who was competing unattached and registered a time of 9:38.97.
 
First year throwers Kiera Christensen (Alexandria, Minn.) and Jane Carey (Webster, N.Y.) made their collegiate debuts competing in the shot put. They recorded marks of 1334 meters and 13.29 meters.