UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.—Junior middle distance runner Dan Watcke (Hinsdale, Ill.) ran his first big 800 meter race of the season and tallied one of the top times in school history, as well as in the nation this year. He cruised to a time of 1:46.62 at the Penn State National Open and moves up to No. 5 on this year's NCAA Division I performance list. His mark ranks third on Villanova's all-time indoor list.
 
Watcke now owns the top three indoor times and five of the eight fastest indoor marks in school history in the 800 meters. His school record of 1:46.32 was set at this same meet at Penn State last season. Watcke is the seventh-fastest Villanovan ever on the program's all-seasons performance list. He has seven career times below 1:47 combining indoor and outdoor results.
 
Friday's race moves Watcke into second place on this year's BIG EAST performance list and No. 5 on the national descending order list. He has now posted top-three indoor marks in school history in both the 800 meters and the1000 meters this season. Watcke was a first team All-American in the 800 meters in his first year of indoor collegiate eligibility last year. He will have additional chances to improve his season mark next month. The top 16 declared athletes in each individual event will be selected to compete at this year's NCAA Championships which take place on March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark.
 
Villanova junior Ryan Beegle (Chatham, N.J.) also competed in the 800 meters at Penn State on Friday night and recorded a time of 1:54.09.