PRINCETON, N.J.—Villanova continued its impressive season in the distance events with big performances in the 800 meters and the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday evening. The night was headlined by the freshman duo of Zoe Mosher (Pleasantville, N.S.) and Cecilia Montagnese (Leetsdale, Pa.) making their career debuts in the steeplechase with times below 11 minutes. Three runners posted their top times of the season in the 800 meters, including sophomore Rosie Shay (Middletown, N.J.) who lowered her lifetime best for the second time this outdoor season.
 
Mosher is the Wildcats third runner ever to run below 10:30 in their first career steeplechase race. She posted a time of 10:24.26 at Weaver Stadium to instantly move into No. 6 on the program's all-time performance list in the steeplechase. Montagnese recorded a time of 10:55.37 in the same race as she and Mosher move into the top five in the BIG EAST this season (Mosher third, Montagnese fifth).
 
Earlier in the evening, Shay and freshmen Sophia McInnes (Bayport, N.Y.) and Gabby Pistner (St. Marys, Pa.) took their turn in the spotlight in the 800 meters. All three tallied their top times of the outdoor campaign, with Shay winning her heat in a personal best time of 2:06.36. McInnes lowered her season best to 2:07.18 in the same race, while Pistner finished first in a later heat with a time of 2:11.10 and junior Therese Trainer (Havertown, Pa.) recorded a time of 2:16.87.
 
In the 1500 meters, graduate student Nikki Vanasse (Martinsville, N.J.) finished fourth with a time of 4:19.90 and freshman Maeve Smith (Ocean City, N.J.) tallied her third PR of the season by lowering her time to 4:30.98.
 
Freshmen throwers Jess Bentum (Deptford, N.J.) and Kiera Christensen (Alexandria, Minn.) got the day started for Villanova by competing in the hammer throw on Friday afternoon. Bentum recorded a mark of 47.57 meters and Christensen threw 45.42 meters.