CHESTER, Pa.—The progress made by the Villanova throwing group over the last several years can be seen in the evolution of the program's top 10 lists in various events, perhaps none more so than the hammer. In the second outdoor meet of her collegiate career, freshman Kiera Christensen (Alexandria, Minn.) surged into eighth place in program history with a mark of 49.07 meters recorded at the Danny Curran Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Her result highlighted a strong overall day of competition for the Wildcats at the local meet.
 
Seven of the 10 athletes on Villanova's top 10 performance list in the hammer have competed within the last five years. The list now includes both Christensen and teammate Jane Carey (Webster, N.Y.) who carved out her own spot on the list in last week's season opener at Penn. She came in at ninth place before dropping a spot to 10^th with Christensen's performance this week. Christensen had thrown 46.04 meters at Penn last week; this week she surpassed that mark on four of her six throws. Her top effort of the day for a new PR and top 10 mark came on her third throw.
 
It was another day this season in which the first year members of the team thrived. Freshmen middle distance runners Gabby Pistner (St. Marys, Pa.) and Maeve Smith (Ocean City, N.J.) were event winners in the 800 meters and the 1500 meters, respectively. Pistner and junior Therese Trainer (Havertown, Pa.) went 1-2 in the 800 meters with respective times of 2:11.65 and 2:15.96. Smith won the 1500 meters in 4:39.51.
 
Freshman sprinter Kate Borton (Auckland, New Zealand) finished sixth in the 400 meters in 58.15 to highlight results in the sprints. Junior Lore Olakunle (Elkridge, Md.) posted a time of 12.66 in the 100 meters, followed by freshman Mariana Lopez del Valle (Tampa, Fla.) and junior Gina Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with times of 12.71 and 13.90.
 
Villanova had three competitors in the long jump, led by sophomore Jenny Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) who came in eighth overall. She was followed by sophomores Emily Staerk (Phoenixville, Pa.) and Marin Torrens (Pittsburgh, Pa.).