Sunday, December 30, 2012

The Jordy Williamsz Interview


Here's an interview posted today by The Hub of Distance Running. Click HERE to go the site and explore other items.


1. How did you get started in running?
I got started in running when I was about 10 when I made the state team in cross country; before then I only dabbled in the sport. When I started making some more serious teams my training began to get serious.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
I tell them I run 15 miles on a Sunday, its generally good for an interesting reaction.

3. What are you current PR's?
My current PR's are:
400- 48.4
800- 1:47.3
1500- 3:36.7
3000- 8:13

4. How do you manage being a college student with being a college distance runner?
The first semester was tough for me, it has taken me the first semester to get used to running and college together. Villanova is a fairly tough school, but not only do I like to succeed in running I also like to succeed academically.

5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
I really look up to my current coach Marcus O'Sullivan. If I can achieve half of what he has I'll consider it a successful career. I also like any Aussie athlete out there, I realise how hard it can be running out of Australia compared to America.

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
The best part of being a distance running is that feeling after finishing off a tough session. Everybody who has ever been there knows what I'm talking about. There really is nothing else like it. The worst part of being a distance runner is probably behaving at college, but ultimately its worth it. I get far greater satisfaction from running than I ever would from some party.

7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
The best moment of my distance running career has been the last year as a whole. It had its ups and downs, but I really put in a huge effort and it paid off.

8. Goals for 2013?
In 2013 I just want to do the best I can while wearing a Villanova jersey. Of course I'd love to make a senior Australian team, but I feel like the team we have at Villanova can do some very special things and that has my full attention.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Vicki Huber Looks Back at Three Decades of Running

The years, along with the fads and fashions, race by
Written by Vicki Huber Rudawsky On Running
December 25, 2012


Every year, as the end of December approaches, we reflect on how quickly the year has gone by – almost in the blink of an eye.

As we meet to run every other day, sticking to the same routine we have been following for almost seven years, it is scary to imagine how much the world, our lives, our children and even ourselves have changed.

It is undeniable that the world is progressing at warp speed, and even the sport
of running has changed dramatically in the past 30 years.

Thirty years ago, a gallon of milk cost $1.71 and gas was $1.27 a gallon. Jog bras had just been invented. Thirty years ago, the cost of a home was around $25,000, and when you saw a person go running by your house, you might have though he was crazy; crazier if it was a woman.

When I started running in 1981, I didn’t know there were special shoes for it. No one knew the correct pronunciation for the new shoes named Nike. We just knew that they were revolutionary and cost more than the sneakers at Fayva. We didn’t have bras made especially for running, nor did we have special clothes. Winter workouts were run in heavy Champion sweats, and you prayed it didn’t rain or you would be carrying 10 extra pounds of wet cotton.

When running tights appeared, many were scared to wear them. They certainly revealed more than sweatpants, so we wore them with shorts over top to start. I’ll never forget the many strange looks we got as we ran along the main roads, and some people even felt compelled to let us know exactly how inappropriately we were dressed. Now the running clothes that girls wear could not be skimpier.

I remember running a loop and then going back over it in the car to see approximately how far it was. Today, you can go on the computer and map out your run, knowing exactly how far it is before you even step out the door. If someone had told us back then that most runners would be wearing a watch that not only told us how long we had been running but how far and how fast, we would have laughed them off the road.

Every once in a while, I would grab my CD player and go for a short run. My stride would end up skipping the CD or I would run out of battery power halfway through my run. Today, kids don’t even know what a CD player is, let alone could they imagine running with one. Now iPod shuffles are so small you easily can lose it, yet they can carry more than 100 songs. Amazing.

In the past 30 years, we have progressed from cheap running shoes to shoes that stop us from pronating to ones that hold a computer chip in them that keeps track of our mileage to shoes that are hardly shoes at all. Who would have ever thought that the past few years would have been the years of barefoot running?

Running clothes today are amazing, made from fabrics that are warm, wicking and so comfortable you can sleep in them. And every top fashion store now carries a workout line. Wearing tights, which was almost taboo 30 years ago, now is the style.

When I was in high school, we were fortunate to have a physical therapist in our running group. Once in a while, one of us would have a small injury, and he would help us out. Today, every high school has a trainer on staff, and kids receive immediate medical care, whether at practice or during a competition. This is one of the best things to happen to high school sports
in recent years.

My good friend, and hairdresser, is only four years older than me but she had to run with the boys when she was in high school.  Recently, my high school coach from Concord, Don Wood, was inducted into the Delaware Track and Field Hall of Fame. At the dinner, I was enlightened to the fact that Don was instrumental in not only starting girls track at Concord but also in creating the opportunity for the girls in Delaware to have a state track and field meet. It is mind-boggling to me that just a few years before I started running, most girls did not have the same opportunities.

There is evolution in every aspect of life, and running certainly has had tremendous changes in a relatively short amount of time. However, the best thing about running is that regardless of how technical and complicated you can make it, you don’t have to. You can always just throw on an old pair of shorts and a T-shirt, grab your running shoes and head out the door. Simplicity at its best.

Vicki Huber represented the USA in the 1988 (6th place, 3000 meters) and 1996 Olympic Games (1500 meters). While at Villanova, she won 8 individual NCAA titles (3 indoor and 3 outdoor titles at 3000 meters in 1987, 1988, and 1989, the 1988 indoor mile, and the 1989 cross country individual title). Huber was USATF national champion in the 1500 meters in 1988, set a USA 5K record, and was 4th at the 1992 World Cross Country championships.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Nova Signee Julie Willams Sets New PR at Loughlin Games

Recent Villanova signee Julie Williams (Tatnall, DE) came third in the 2-mile run at yesterday's Bishop Loughlin Games at the Armory in New York city. Her time of 11:05.57 was a new PR. It is currently the #4 prep time in the USA this indoor season.

Bishop Loughlin Games - 2012-12-15                          
          The Armory Track & Field Center, New York, NY                    

                  Varsity Girls Two Mile Run                  
==============================================================
    Name                  Yr Team                      Time
--------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Kristiane Width          Unis                  10:46.66   
  2 Gianna Frontera       11 Newburgh Free Academ  10:47.81   
  3 Julia Williams           Tatnall               11:05.57   
  4 Caroline Brown           Holy Trinity          11:06.78   
  5 Kerry Dyke               Mount St. Mary        11:15.87   
  6 Claire Howlett           Westhill              11:19.15   
  7 Paige Duca            10 Sacred Heart Academy  11:19.69   
  8 Anne-laure White      12 Brooklyn Tech         11:21.58   
  9 Jacqueline Willsey       Holy Names            11:23.42   
 10 Kalleigh Forrester    11 Newburgh Free Academ  11:23.76   
 11 Kieran Hanrahan          Tatnall               11:26.26   
 12 Stephanie Gerland        Garden City           11:32.14   
 13 Shannon O'Hehir          Sachem East           11:49.28   
 14 Jessie Smillie        11 Connetquot            11:50.47   
 15 Erika Yamazaki           LaGuardia             11:54.99   
 16 Katie Saroka             Bayport-Blue Point    11:56.36   
 17 Jen Salvatore            North Brunswick       12:00.02   
 18 Alivia Carlton           Jackson Memorial      12:17.67




Friday, December 14, 2012

Fayetteville-Manlius's Katie Brislin Commits to Villanova


Just a few days after finishing 29th at Nike Cross Nationals in San Diego, Katie Brislin of Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, NY) committed to Villanova on December 11th. Brislin earned a trip to the national championship by virtue of her 8th place finish at the NXN New York Regional, where she ran the 5K course in 18:48.40.

Brislin comes from a national track and cross country powerhouse. Two weeks ago the Fayetteville-Manlius girls won their 7th consecutive cross country national championship. Villanova recently lost out on Brislin's teammate Jillian Fanning, who signed with Providence on December 4th. Brislin will join former teammate Courtney Chapman, currently a sophomore on Gina Procaccio's Villanova women's squad.

Katie owns the following PRs:
 800   2:13.80
1000   3:00.62
1600   5:08.76
Mile   5:10.31
3000  10:38.40
5000  17:51.30

Katie's Mile Split page is HERE.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Beamish Bullish at Melbourne's Zatopek 10,000


Hugo Beamish, former Big East 5000 meter champion for Villanova, came 8th overall on Saturday in Melbourne at the Zatopek 10,000 meters. The race was won by 2012's world leader at 10,000 meters Emmanuel Bett, who came home a full 36 seconds ahead of Australian Olympian and NR holder Ben St Lawrence. Recent Villanova graduate Hugo Beamish led the Kiwi contingent in the race in a new PR, coming 8th in a crisp 28:53.19 (see race highlights above). Beamish, 23, had recently returned home from Philadelphia to get in some good summer training down under. He had experienced some excellent results before leaving, finishing a very close 2nd at the Camden Cooper-Norcross Bridge Challenge (10K) in 30:00 (November 4), coming 4th at the Rothman 8K run in Philadelphia, in a very fast 23:02 (November 17), and winning the Four Seasons Parkway Run (5K) in Philadelphia in 14:41 (October 30).


Men 10000 metres Open
=======================================================================
National: N 27:24.95 2011 Ben St Lawrence, NSW
Meet Record: M 27:22.54 1998 Luke Kipkosgie
WC B-Qual: B 28:05.00
WC A-Qual: A 27:40.00
Name Year Team Final Points
=======================================================================

 1. Emmanuel Bett KENYA 27:59.23B
 2. Ben St Lawrence 81 NEW SOUTH WALES 28:35.92
 3. Ben Moreau 82 GREAT BRITAIN 28:40.83
 4. Mitchel Brown 90 VICTORIA 28:44.16
 5. Brett Robinson 91 ACT 28:45.39
 6. Liam Adams 86 VICTORIA 28:47.49
 7. Steve Kelly 88 VICTORIA 28:52.30
 8. Hugo Beamish 90 NEW ZEALAND 28:53.19
 9. Jeffrey Hunt 83 NEW SOUTH WALES 29:11.33
10. Stephen Dinneen 79 VICTORIA 29:18.13
11. Aaron Pulford 92 NEW ZEALAND 29:26.66
12. Bradley Croker 82 NEW SOUTH WALES 29:59.70
13. Neil Berry 92 NEW SOUTH WALES 30:01.32
14. Duer Yoa 91 VICTORIA 30:11.46
15. Brad Milosevic 89 NEW SOUTH WALES 30:12.10
16. Rhydian Cowley 91 VICTORIA 30:49.47
17. Paul Morgan VICTORIA 30:55.67
18. Tyson Popplestone 88 VICTORIA 30:58.33
19. Josh Harris 90 TASMANIA 31:25.18
20. Toby Rayner 86 VICTORIA 31:58.40
–   Kane Wille 89 VICTORIA DNF
–   Tim Hodge 87 NEW ZEALAND DNF

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Amanda Marino 26th at USATF National Club XC Championship


Former Villanova cross country All-American Amanda Marino came 26th this afternoon in Lexington, KY at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championship. Marino was a 3-time cross country All-American (35th, 6th, 10th) and part of two consecutive National Championship cross country teams at Villanova from 2007-2011. Marino was also a 3-time All-American in the 5000 meters on the track. 2012 has been a solid year for Marino. In January she made her marathon debut at the US Olympic Marathon Trials, where she finished 51st in 2:41.22. In June, she came 18th at the NYRR Mini-10K, and finished 18th again at the USA 20K Championship in September. All this on the heels of her November 2011 3rd place finish at the Philadelphia half-marathon, where she ran 1:13.47.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Rhines, Tuppeny Enter Varsity Club Hall of Fame


Villanova track and field giants Jen Rhines and Jim Tuppeny are among nine Villanova athletic greats inducted into the 2012 class of the Varsity Club. Here is the press release from Villanova:

Varsity Club Hall of Fame Announces 2012 Induction Class
Nine new members to be inducted to Hall of Fame

Dec. 5, 2012

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The induction class for 2012 to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame was announced today and nine new members, each from a different sport, will be formally inducted at the 37th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on Friday, February 8 at the Connelly Center. In addition to the nine new Hall of Fame members the Jake Nevin Award will be presented to former baseball coach and athletics administrator Larry Shane.

The members of the 2012 Hall of Fame induction class are David Herr (baseball), Jason Lawson (men's basketball), Denise Dillon (women's basketball), Tyrone Frazier (football), Ken Delgatto (men's lacrosse), Amy Meisinger (softball), Tom Tracey (men's swimming & diving), Jim Tuppeny (track & field) and Jen Rhines (women's track & field).

Ticket information for the Hall of Fame Awards dinner on February 8 will be announced at a later date and will be available for purchase at Villanova.com. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the basketball game on Saturday, February 9 against USF at the Pavilion.

Below are capsules of each of the 10 honorees.

DAVID HERR (BASEBALL, 1992-95)

Herr is one of the top pitchers in the history of the Villanova baseball program and his academic accomplishments are equally impressive to those that came on the diamond. Herr ranks in the top 10 in school history in four career categories, including being tied for third with 20 victories. He also is tied for fourth in the Wildcats record book in complete game (12), is sixth in strikeouts (209) and ranks 10th in innings pitched (241). Herr is a two-time All-BIG EAST selection who earned first team honors in 1993 and garnered second team recognition in 1995. His career stats include 50 appearances with a 20-11 record, five saves and three shutouts. He was chosen as the 1995 Villanova Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year and earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 1993. Herr was also a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and received an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship.

JASON LAWSON (MEN'S BASKETBALL, 1993-97)

Lawson is one of the top defensive players in school history and as a senior in 1997 was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. He is the all-time Villanova leader in blocked shots with 375 and during his career was a three-time second team All-BIG EAST selection. Lawson tallied 21 career double-doubles and averaged 11.9 points per game to finish his collegiate career with 1,565 points, the 22nd-most in school history. Lawson was a member of the 1995 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team when the Wildcats won the conference championship and was also the 1994 Big Five Rookie of the Year.

Denise Dillon (WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, 1992-96)

Dillon earned BIG EAST postseason honors all four years of her Villanova career. She was named to the All-Rookie team in 1993, was selected to the All-BIG EAST second team in 1994 and 1996 and received first team accolades in 1995. Dillon was also a three-time first team All-Big Five selection and finished her career with totals of 1,355 points, 677 rebounds, 228 assists and 193 steals. She ranks eighth in school history in both points and rebounds and is one of only four players in school history with at least 1,300 points, 600 rebounds and 200 assists. Villanova won 68 games with a .643 winning percentage during her career, including a 21-7 mark in 1995-96.

TYRONE FRAZIER (FOOTBALL, 1992-95)

Frazier was a consensus first team All-American in 1994 and that season was also named first team All-ECAC and first team All-Yankee Conference. For the season Frazier led the Wildcats with 150 tackles and had six tackles for loss, including four quarterback sacks. Despite suffering a season-ending injury in the second game of his senior year Frazier posted career totals of 218 tackles (125 solo, 93 assisted) and had 10 tackles for loss, including four sacks. He was a freshman on the 1992 Villanova squad which went 9-3 and reached the playoffs.

KEN DELGATTO (MEN'S LACROSSE, 1981-84)

Delgatto was a top offensive player for Villanova during the program's early years as a varsity sport. His career stats include 62 goals and 52 assists for 114 points, all of which rank among the best in school history to this day. Delgatto ranks 10th in school history for career points, 11th in career assists and is 15th in goals. He was named the 1981 Rookie of the Year and that season had 16 goals and 12 assists while leading the team in both assists and ground balls. He led the team in points, assists and ground balls as a sophomore before finishing his career leading the Wildcats in scoring and goals as a senior. Delgatto was also second on the squad in assists and ground balls while helping lead Villanova to an 11-1 record in 1984.

AMY MEISINGER (SOFTBALL, 1990-93)

Meisinger is among the career Villanova leaders in victories, complete game and shutouts. She is fourth in school history with 45 complete games and sixth with 42 victories, while also tying for fourth place in career shutouts. Meisinger earned first team All-BIG EAST accolades in 1992 and was a third team CoSIDA Academic All-American that same year.

TOM TRACEY (MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, 1993-97)

Tracey enjoyed a standout career for the Wildcats and holds seven school records, including two individual records and five relays. He is the school record holder in both the 100 and 200 yard backstroke with top times of 47.44 and 1:44.26 in those events, respectively. Tracey is also part of school records in the 200 and 400 medley relays, as well as the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays. He was a five-time All-American during his collegiate career, including three times in the 100 backstroke (1995, 1996, 1997) and once each in the 200 backstroke (1997) and the 400 medley relay (1996).

JIM TUPPENY (TRACK & FIELD, ASSISTANT COACH 1953-66 and 1994-00)

Tuppeny had two stints as an assistant coach at Villanova and is also well-known in the Philadelphia area for serving as the director of the Penn Relays for 17 years. He first came to the Wildcats in 1953 and was an assistant coach until 1966, during which time he helped the Villanova program produce 15 outdoor national champions. Tuppeny also coached Olympians Ron Delany, Charlie Jenkins, Larry James and Don Bragg in his first Villanova coaching stint. After serving as head coach at Penn (1966-79) and the director of the Penn Relays (1970-87), Tuppeny returned to the Wildcats in 1994 and was still coaching at the time of his death. In 1998-99 he celebrated his 50th year of coaching.

JEN RHINES (WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, 1992-96)

Rhines was a star distance runner for Villanova during one of the most successful periods in the history of the program. She helped lead the Wildcats cross country team to national titles in 1992, 1993 and 1994 while also finishing as the individual national champion in 1994 and the runner-up the year before. She was a two-time NCAA Cross Country All-American and a six-time individual national champion counting cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. She won the outdoor national title in the 5000 meters three straight years from 1994-96 and was a two-time indoor national champion in 1995, when she won the 5000 meters and anchored the Wildcats champion distance medley relay. Rhines was also an eight-time BIG EAST individual champion, including five times indoors and three times outdoors. She was inducted onto the Wall of Fame in Villanova Stadium in 1999 and has competed in three Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008).


LARRY SHANE (JAKE NEVIN AWARD, ADMINISTRATOR AND BASEBALL COACH)

Shane first came to Villanova in 1963 and he spent the next 35 years as a baseball coach and an athletics administrator. After serving as an assistant baseball coach from 1963-72 he was head coach from 1973-85. During his time as head coach he led the Wildcats to 153 wins, the fifth most in the nearly 150-year history of the program. Villanova made consecutive appearances in the ECAC South Division Playoffs in 1980 and 1981 and during those two seasons compiled a combined record of 41-19 (.683). Shane had five players chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft while he was head coach and five of his players have been inducted to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Following his head coaching career Shane was an athletics administrator in the Student Services office from 1985 until his retirement in 1998.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Auspicious Debuts for Villanova Frosh
Margey & Piccirillo Set Meet Records at Jack Pyrah Invite

Villanova track and field opened the 2012-2013 indoor season in style yesterday at the Jack Pyrah Invitational at Haverford College, winning 10 individual and 2 relay events. Especially noteworthy were the debuts of three highly recruited freshman: ten-time Pennsylvania state champion and two-time All American miler Angel Piccirillo, who sat out the cross country season with a nagging -- if minor -- injury, donned the vest for the first time as a Villanova Wildcat. Likewise, middle distance ace Kelsey Margey, winner of the 2012 New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the mile and New York state champion over 800 meters, made her track debut for Villanova. Finally, on the men's side Josh Lampron, winner of the 2011 New Balance Outdoor Nationals mile title (and owner of a 4:02 mile PR), hit the track for the first time in a Villanova singlet. Both Piccirillo and Lampron had recently been named 2012 All-American prep milers by Track & Field News.

Women Set Three Meet Records
Perhaps the performance of the meet was Kelsey Margey's obliteration of the meet record at 800 meters. Margey's 2:10.99 win surpassed the 2003 meet record of 2:16.03 by Swarthmore's Elizabeth Gardner. Angel Piccirillo also set a new meet record, this time at 1000 meters. In her first-ever race for Villanova, Piccirillo won the event by almost three seconds in 2:51.21, besting Ariann Neutts' 2:52.34 record set in 2010. A third meet record for the women was set by Alex Wasik in the pole vault. Wasik surpassed 12 feet, winning with a 3.90 vault -- besting the 3.81 meter meet record from 2004. Other women event winners were Emerald Walden (60 meter hurdles), Varonica Johnson (both at 60 meters and 300 meters), and Samantha Francis (triple jump). Freshman Michaela Wilkins ran a strong second over 500 meters. Villanova also went 1-2 in the women's 4x400 meter relay.

Ellison, Solis, and Kido Take Wins.
The men's team took individual wins at 1000 meters (Sam Ellison), the mile (Dusty Solis), and the pole vault (Charles Kido). Ellison ran 2:30.61 for the win at 1000 meters. Frosh Josh Lampron, running unattached, was 5th in the race, running 2:32.18. Dusty Solis set a new PR in the mile with his 4:16.04 victory. The third event winner for the Villanova men went to pole vaulter Charles Kido, who cleared 4.35 meters. Freshman Donald Urschel came second in both the 60 meter and 300 meter dashes. The men also took a win in the 4x400 meters.

Complete meet results are HERE.

Villanova Results: WOMEN
3000 meters
3.  Meghan Smith     10:31.27

60 meter hurdles
1.  Emerald Walden         8.70
4.  Katherine Petruzellis  9.44

60 meters
1.  Varonica Johnson    7.70

500 meters
2.  Michaela Wilkins     1:15.62
7.  Qualitra Brown       1:22.30

300 meters
1.  Varonica Johnson      40.60
4.  Emerald Walden        42.22
5.  Tiera Fletcher (alum) 42.24

800 meters
1.  Kelsey Margey         2:10.99  MR
2.  Mary Bohi             2:16.13
3.  Amanda Borroughs      2:17.19
4.  Shannon Browne        2:17.57

1000 meters
1.  Angel Piccirillo      2:51.21  MR
2.  Leanne Tucker         2:54.16
3.  Faith Dismuke         2:57.11

Mile
2.  Caitlyn Bungo         5:18.10

4 x 400 meter relay
1.  Villanova "A"        3:54.53
2.  Villanova "B"        3:55.96
6.  Villanova "C"        4:15.42

Weight Throw
2.  Alita Ostapkovich    11.69 m

Long Jump
 3.  Kathleen McPhillips     5.31 m
 4.  Anne Yahiro             5.24 m
 5.  Sam Yeats               5.23 m
 8.  Alexandria Reo          5.04 m
11.  Katherine Petruzzellis  4.92 m

Pole Vault
1.  Alex Wasik             3.90 m  MR
2.  Kathleen McPhillips    3.60 m
2.  Virginia LaMacchia     3.60 m
3.  Bianca Reo             3.60 m
6.  Sam Yeats              3.35 m

Shot Put
3.  Alita Ostapkovich     10.89 m

Triple Jump
1,  Samantha Francis      11.44 m
2.  Anne Yahiro           11.23 m
4.  Marie Minasi          11.08 m
6.  Victoria Profit       10.92 m



Villanova Results: MEN
60 meter hurdles
3.  Aaron Sandifer      8.83

60 meters
 2.  Donald Urschel     7.17  
17.  Kyle Chou          7.45

500 meters
 8.  Matthew Whalen    1:08.78
 9.  Corey Serfoss     1:08.84
10.  Joseph Messick    1:08.95

300 meters
 2.  Donald Urschel       35.70
 3.  Bryan Murphy         36.15
 7.  Kyle Chou            36.71
 8.  David Stillings      36.84
16.  Aaron Sandifer       37.69

1000 meters
 1.  Sam Ellison         2:30.61
 4.  Andrew Golato       2:31.81
 5.  Josh Lampron        2:32.18
 7.  Phil O'Connell      2:34.69
10.  Kieran Brennan (ua) 2:36.44

Mile
1.  Dusty Solis          4:16.04  PR
3.  Chris O'Sullivan     4:18.11
4.  Chris Pietrocarlo    4:21.11
6.  Charles Bates        4:21.47
8.  Juan Castillo        4:35.77

 4 x 400 meter relay
1.  Villanova "A"        3:23.25
4.  Villanova "B"        3:29.13

Weight Throw
 4.  Chris McLeod      13.90 m
 5.  Drew King         13.59 m
11.  James Rowen       10.95 m

Long Jump
2.  Elbert Maxwell      7.05 m
3.  Lazaro Tiant        6.53 m
4.  Jason DiNardo       6.15 m

Pole Vault
1.  Charles Kido        4.35 m

Shot Put
3.  James Rowen        12.73 m

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Recruiting Target Brent Kennedy Makes Foot Locker Nationals


Western Pennsylvania's Brent Kennedy (New Kensington's Kiski Area high school) is squarely in Villanova's recruiting cross hairs. Villanova is competing against Syracuse, Notre Dame, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, all of whom are keen to land a commitment from Kennedy. We at Villanova Running showcased Kennedy recently HERE, at which point in time Kennedy had made campus recruiting visits to both Villanova and Syracuse. Since that post, which highlighted his runner-up performance at the Pennsylvania state cross country meet, Kennedy -- only a junior with another prep year remaining -- has gone on to qualify for Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego (see the top results of last weekend's Footlocker Northeast Regional below) by finishing 9th of 169 competitors at Van Cortlandt Park on November 24th. Commenting on the race, Kennedy admitted that "I thought if I went out too fast, things definitely wouldn't work out for me. I went out through the mile pretty far back and really wasn't feeling great, but people started to come back (to me) through the Back Hills. I pulled up into about 15th place at the two-mile (mark) and was able to get those last six spots."

Foot Locker Northeast Regional -- Top 10: Nationals Qualifiers
 1.  Cheserek, Edward  12   Newark          NJ   15:21.8
 2.  Green, Jonathan   12   Berlin          MA   15:36.8
 3.  Wilson, Shawn     12   Marlton         NJ   15:42.5
 4.  Shearn, Brendan   12   Frackville      PA   15:45.5
 5.  Kroon, Kyle       11   Toms River      NJ   15:46.0
 6.  Crawley, Trevor   12   Cumberland      RI   15:47.3
 7.  Norris, Max       12   Narberth        PA   15:48.3
 8.  Alvarado, Chris   11   Fairfield       CT   15:49.1
 9.  Kennedy, Brent    11   New Kensington  PA   15:50.9
10.  Pondel, Austin    12   Columbus        PA   15:51.0 

Today, Kennedy posted his first journal entry as he leads up to the national championship race on Saturday, December 8th.


November 29

What a season. I am truly honored to be part of such a historic year in PA cross country. I know the purpose of this journal is to share my training and race experiences and things like that, but I could not begin without thanking my family and coaches, Mr. Berzonsky and Mr. Arabia, for their complete dedication to maximizing my success as a person and a runner. Of course, a big thank you goes to my teammates for making running such a fun and enjoyable part of my life.

Our team set our sights on making it back to the state meet for the second year in a row. Though we came up short, it would be impossible to view the year as a failure. Our personal successes reflect the hard work from everyone top to bottom on the squad. I was lucky enough to have a legitimate shot at winning every race I was in, losing to Vinny Todaro and Dan Jaskowak in some exciting races. My friends Tyler Snider and Patrick Miller did come up big (like always) at WPIALs and joined me for states. I carried my WPIAL win into Hershey with some confidence before having my hopes squandered by a CR from Tony Russell, a great guy by the way. The finish was a bit of a letdown and I am for sure being hard on myself, but I do feel like there are a hundred other kids that deserve to be second in the state and I am not going to look past that accomplishment.

I headed into Foot Locker with some feelings of uncertainty. A new course, new competition, even new socks (lost the racing socks). Physically, after a long championship season, I felt sort of run-down. But you don’t want to hear me complain and it wasn’t all negative, believe it or not. I felt like I had a pretty good chance of making top ten with a smart race; my plan was to hang back through the flat first mile, then stay consistent through the woods.

A few minutes before the race, Conner Quinn welcomed me to a spot on the line next to a swarm of fellow Pennsylvania runners, and I heard Brendan Shearn screaming his head off at the other end of the line, “PA don’t play!” That really got me going and I was finally ready to run. The race played out for me like I had hoped. I went through the mile at 5 flat, moved my way into the top 20 by the two mile point, and then hammered the down hills to finish with Austin Pondell. I made that sound pretty easy I guess, but I am looking forward to the yearlong break before hitting the hills at Van Cortlandt again.

Running for a team, in my opinion, is the most inspirational part of any cross country race. Representing Pennsylvania at Regionals was an aspect of the race I hadn’t really thought about before. It is so cool that I get to run for my state and the Northeast Region in San Diego next week. I can’t wait to get these couple weeks of training going and see how I match up against 39 of the top runners in the country.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wilmington Tatnall's Julie Williams Commits to Villanova

On November 10th of this year Julie Williams of Wilmington, Delaware's Tatnall High School committed to run for Gina Procaccio's Villanova women's team. Williams committed after finishing second at the Delaware state cross country meet, where she ran 19:12.54 over the 5000 meter course. To date, Williams has found most success over 800, 1600, and 5000 meters.

Last weekend Williams finished 18th (for the second straight year) at the Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional in Cary, NC. At the race, she improved her time from 2011 (18:31.40) to 18:15.50, a new PR. In 2011 Williams qualified for Nike Cross Nationals, where she finished 120th. In late September of this year, she came 23rd at the Great American Cross Country Festival, also in Cary, NC, running 18:22.40.

On the track, Williams finished third at the 2012 Delaware State meets (both indoor and outdoor) in both the 800 meters and 1600 meters.

Julie's Mile Split page can be seen HERE. She presently boasts PRs of:
 2:16.00 (800 meters)
 4:55.07 (1600 meters)
10:27.47 (3000 meters
11:12.00 (3200 meters)
18:15.50 (5000 meters)

November 28th a Good Day for Villanova Track:
Happy Birthday to Sonia O'Sullivan & Bobby Curtis

Two of Villanova's all-time track heroes share November 28th as a birthday.

On this day in 1969 three-time world champion Sonia O'Sullivan was born in Cobh, Country Cork, Ireland. After winning two NCAA cross country individual titles (1991, 1992) as well as two NCAA 3000 meter titles (both indoors and outdoors in 1990) on the track for Villanova, O'Sullivan represented her native Ireland at four consecutive Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004). She won a silver medal over 5000 meters at the 2000 Games in Sydney, where she ran a blistering PR of 14:41.02. She won two world cross country titles (executing a rare short- and long-course double in 1998) as well as the 1995 world title in the 5000 meters on the track. She won a silver medal over 1500 meters as well at the 1993 World Championships. O'Sullivan was a three-time European Champion (over 3000, 5000, and 10,000 meters) and set World Records over 2000 meters (5:25.36 in July 1994), 2 miles (9:19.56 in June 1998), and 5000i meters (15:17.28 in January 1991). She is by virtually all accounts the greatest runner ever produced by the country of Ireland.

November 28th is also the birthday of Villanova's most recent male individual NCAA champion. The new 28 year old won the NCAA 5000 meter title in 2008 and his time of 13:33.93 was the 10th fastest time ever run by a US collegiate athlete over that distance. He was Villanova's first NCAA outdoor male champion since 1981. Curtis had been the 5000 meter runner-up at the 2007 NCAA championships. Curtis was a 2-time Big East cross country champion (2004, 2007), won the 2007 NCAA Mid-Atlantic cross country regional, and finished as high as 4th (2007) at cross country nationals. He was a 2-time All-American in cross country. After graduating from Villanova, Bobby Curtis has developed into an international-class 10,000 meter runner and his 27:24.67 PR is the 7th fastest time ever run by a native-born American.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Koons & Beamish Post Top-5 Finishes at Rothman 8K

Over 1800 competitors contested the Rothman 8K on the streets of Philadelphia on Saturday, and two former Villanova stars finished in the top five of their respective races. Former Rothman 8K race champion (2009 in 26:34) Frances Koons finished third, covering the 8K distance in 26:29, 47 seconds behind race winner Misiker Demassie of Ethiopia. On the men's side, Hugo Beamish, the former Big East 5000 meter champion, was one of 4 men to break Marcus O'Sullivan's 15 year old course record (23:03). Beamish came 4th in 23:02, 33 seconds behind Kenya's Isaac Korir. Former Villanova trackman Brandon Eck was 63rd in 28:41.

Rothman 8K -- Men
1.  Isaac Korir       KEN   22:29  CR
2.  Samuel Ndereba    KEN   22:47
3.  Scott Smith       USA   22:47
4.  Hugo Beamish      NZL   23:02
5.  Mengistu Nebsi    ETH   23:03







Rothman 8K -- Women
1.  Misiker Demessie  ETH   25:46
2.  Amy Van Alstine   USA   25:59
3.  Frances Koons     USA   26:29
4.  Helen Jemutai     KEN   26:51
5.  Erin Koch         USA   27:18


Full searchable results from the race are HERE.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Villanova Back in the Pack at NCAA Cross Nationals
Women Come 20th, Men 27th


The Villanova men and women finished close to their national rankings at the NCAA cross country nationals yesterday: the #25 men finished in 27th place, while the #22 women came 20th. Neither team ran its best race of the year. For the men, the team's usual top two finishers (Sam McEntee and Jordy Williamsz) were the team's 3rd and 4th finishers. Topping the men's finishers were seniors Mathew Mildenhall (108th individually) and Matt Kane (145th individually). McEntee (150th) and Williamsz (161st) were next, and Rob Denault (166th) rounded out the top five. Alex Tully, on whose effort the Villanova men finished 2nd at Mid-Atlantic regionals, was unable to catch lightning in a bottle a second time. He came 198th, followed by Brian Basili in 234th place. As has been the case throughout the season, the men ran is a tight cluster, with a mere 26.7 seconds from 1-5. The good news for the men is that several key runners will return next year.

The full men's results are HERE.

Villanova Men 587 places
108/84    Mathew Mildenhall     30:50.0
145/116   Matthew Kane          31:04.6
150/120   Sam McEntee           31:06.6
161/131   Jordy Williamsz       31:12.8
166/137   Rob Denault           31:16.7
198/(153) Alex Tully            31:39.6
234/(197) Brian Basili          32:36.8

Splits
               2000     3215     4950     6910     5 mi     10K     
Mildenhall     5:49     9:24     14:47    20:56    24:35    30:50.0
Kane           5:57     9:38     15:08    21:12    24:57    31:04.6
McEntee        5:51     9:29     14:54    20:58    24:52    31:06.6
Williamsz      5:46     9:23     14:51    21:00    24:55    31:12.8
Denault        5:56     9:41     15:11    21:15    25:03    31:16.7
Tully          5:56     9:38     15:12    21:26    25:21    31:39.6
Basili         6:00     9:48     15:28    21:47    25:50    32:36.8

On the women's side, Emily Lipari put in the best performance of the day for either team, as she finished 25th overall, good for All American status. Lipari finished in 20:05.6, about 38 seconds off race winner Betsy Saina of Iowa State. Nicky Akande, who won the NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional a week ago, struggled on the day, finishing well back in 95th place overall, some 41 seconds behind Lipari. As she has done all year, Summer Cook was Villanova's no. 3 finisher, just 5 seconds in arrears of Akande. The women's 1-5 split was 1:13.6.

The full women's results are HERE.

Villanova Women 475 places
 25/18    Emily Lipari          20:05.6
 95/68    Nicky Akande          20:46.5
110/82    Summer Cook           20:51.7
173/136   Stephanie Schappert   21:19.2
209/171   Sydney Harris         21:34.1
219/(181) Megan Venables        21:40.9
240/(202) Courtney Chapman      22:04.5

Splits
              2000     3022     6K     
Lipari        6:27     9:53     20:05.6
Akande        6:34    10:06     20:46.5
Cook          6:39    10:12     20:51.7
Schappert     6:45    10:22     21:19.2
Harris        6:58    10:41     21:34.1
Venables      6:57    10:40     21:40.9
Chapman       6:49    10:37     22:04.5

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Back in Philly, Koons Looks to Make a Mark


Villanova graduate Frances Koons looks forward to Rothman 8K

Jen A. Miller, For The Inquirer
Thursday, November 15, 2012

When Frances Koons lists her reasons for running the 2012 Rothman 8K race on Saturday, she points out the same attributes that draw almost every other runner in the Philadelphia area.

"It's close, so we don't need to wake up early and drive somewhere," said Koons, 26, who lives in Ardmore, which is just shy of five miles away from Center City. "It's a nice, flat course."

What Koons leaves out is that she won the women's race in 2009 in 26 minutes, 34 seconds and that this will be her first return to the distance in three years.

Koons, an Allentown native, ran track at Allentown Central Catholic High School and then for Villanova. While at 'Nova, she was named an all-American eight times and racked up a first-place Big East finish in the 1,500 meters in 2006 and the 1,000 and mile indoor titles in 2007, along with first-place finishes in the distance-medley relay and the 4x800 relay.

"She's a very determined individual," said her coach, Marcus O'Sullivan, the director of Villanova's track and field program who still holds the course record for the Rothman 8K. He set the mark in 1997 at 23 minutes, 3 seconds.

"She's incredibly tough and very ambitious," he said.

O'Sullivan added that Koons is also "remarkably positive."

Case in point: When talking about injuries that have hampered her running career, Koons references plantar fasciitis, which is the thickening of tissue on the bottom of the foot followed by a stress fracture, not a 2007 bout with clear-cell renal carcinoma.

A golf-ball-size tumor was removed from her kidney in the summer of 2007. She took six weeks off and was back in running shape in time for the 2008 U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

After graduating in 2009, Koons went right into a master's degree program at Villanova for applied statistics. And she kept running, winning the Rothman 8K in 2009 and the Penn Relays 5K in 2010. She set two personal bests in 2011: a 4:31 mile and a 15:29 5K.

She took time off from her degree to train with the New Jersey-New York Track Club, an elite group of runners based at Rutgers in New Brunswick, N.J. It's the first track club of its kind on the East Coast and it sent one runner to the Olympics this summer.

But, earlier this year, Koons decided to come back to Pennsylvania to finish her master's while also working as an assistant coach to the men's cross-country team. She also wanted to be coached by O'Sullivan.

This year has been a struggle because of the foot injury, but O'Sullivan said the Rothman 8K has been an excellent training goal for Koons, who considers it a "season opener" for the forthcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons.

"I'd like to someday get into longer races," she said when asked about moving up to the half-marathon or marathon distance. "But for now, the aim next spring will be the 5K again."

That's after Koons crosses another Rothman 8K off her race list.

Box Draws for NCAA Cross Country Nationals

Here are the box draws for teams and at-large individuals for this Saturday's cross country nationals. The Villanova men are in box 22, about the exact center of the race start. The Villanova women are in box 9, about one-quarter of the way off the edge. The boxes are assigned randomly, by computer allocation.

Xc 12 National Box Draw

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Nicky Akande is Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year


Villanova junior Nicky Akande has been named NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Cross Country Athlete of the Year. A Villanova women has now won this award for the 5th straight year (after Frances Koons in 2008, and Sheila Reid in 2009, 2010, 2011). Akande has enjoyed a great fall campaign. She finished 2nd at the Main Line Invitational at Haverford, 8th at the Paul Short Run at Lehigh, 26th at Pre-Nationals in Louisville, and 3rd at the Big East championships at Van Cortlandt Park in New York. She capped those performances by winning the NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional at Penn State.

The release from the USTFCCCA is HERE.

Here is the official news release from Villanova:

Nicky Akande Named Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year
Villanova junior won individual title at NCAA regional meet last week

NEW ORLEANS--For the fifth consecutive season a Villanova runner has been chosen as the Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Junior Nicky Akande (Lawrenceville, Ga.) was announced as this year's winner on Tuesday night after winning the individual title at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional last week.

Akande made great strides as a sophomore last season to emerge as one of the Wildcats most dependable runners and this year she has become a fixture at the top of the team's lineup. At the NCAA regional last Friday she cruised to a nine-second margin of victory and registered a career-best time of 20:14 on a 6,000 meter course.

This is the second straight year that Akande has earned All-Mid Atlantic Region honors for a top 25 finish at the regional meet. She also earned All-BIG EAST accolades for the second straight year after coming in third at the conference meet last month.

Led by Akande, fellow junior Emily Lipari (Greenvale, N.Y.) - the BIG EAST individual champion - and senior Summer Cook (Thornton, Colo.) the Wildcats have earned a team berth to the NCAA Championships for the fifth straight year. Villanova was selected as one of 13 at-large bids to the field of 31 teams that will compete in the national championship meet this coming Saturday afternoon.

In four scored meets this season Akande has been the top Villanova finisher two times and has been the team's second runner in the other two races. Prior to the first two postseason meets she led the Wildcats with an eighth place finish at the Paul Short Run and also came in 26th at the Pre-NCAA Meet.

The NCAA Championships are being held at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville and the women's race begins on Saturday at Noon.

NOTES: Villanova has produced the Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year in cross country every year since 2008 ... That year Frances Koons was the winner, while most recently Sheila Reid was a three-time recipient of the award from 2009-11.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Overview of Villanova Cross Country in the NCAA Championships

Villanova Women's Cross Country

NCAA Team Championships: 9
1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2009, 2010

NCAA Individual Champions: 9
Vicki Huber (1989)
Sonia O'Sullivan (1990, 1991)
Carole Zajac (1992, 1993)
Jen Rhines (1994)
Carrie Tollefson (1997)
Sheila Reid (2010, 2011)

Team Finishes
Year Place Score  
1983	14	337
1984	 9	256
1985	16	341
1986	13	279
1989	 1	 99
1990	 1	 82
1991	 1	 85
1992	 1	123
1993	 1	 66
1994	 1	 75
1995	 3	151
1996	 2	106
1998	 1	106
1999	21	462
2000	20	482
2001	24	560
2002	 8	256
2003	11	380
2004	 7	277
2005	21	497
2008	 6	248
2009	 1	 86
2010	 1	120
2011     3      181 



Villanova Men's Cross Country

NCAA Team Championships: 4
1966, 1967, 1968, 1970

NCAA Individual Champions: 1
Vic Zwolak (1963)
Team Finishes
Year Place Score  
1962	 2	 69
1963	 9	237
1964	12	304
1966	 1	 79
1967	 1	 91
1968	 1	 78
1969	 2	 88
1970	 1	 85
1971	 4	161
1976	21	486
1978	15	386
1979	 7	245
1980	 9	298
1981	13	377
1983	14	322
1992	 4	153
1994	 9	263
1995	15	302
1996	19	445
1999	17	424
2000	 6	181
2001	 8	282
2002	12	398
2003	11	350
2007	25	526
2008	31	643
2009	11	359
2010	23	550
2011    13      352

Vic Zwolak: Villanova's Only Individual Male XC Champion


Despite NCAA team titles in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1970, to say nothing of numerous team top-ten finishes and dozens of All-Americans since then, only one Villanova male harrier has ever won the NCAA cross country individual title. Vic Zwolak won that title in 1963, a year when the Villanova men finished 9th in the team competition (going 1-23-57-59-87-(112)-(117)). Zwolak led the 4-mile race from start to finish: he was in first place at 1 mile (4:34), 2 miles (9:39), and 3 miles (14:46), before ultimately winning the race in 19:35. Zwolak also won two NCAA titles (1963 and 1964) in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

Villanova Running highlighted Zwolak previously HERE.

Here are the top finishers in that 1963 cross country national championship race:
FINAL RESULTS

Twenty-fifth Annual National Collegiate Athletic Association University Division
Cross Country Championships held at Michigan State University, East Lansing, on
Tuesday, November 26, 1963, at 11:30 a.m.

 l.  Victor Zwolak            Villanova          19:35 
 2.  John Camien              Kansas State       19:38
 3.  Jeffrey M. Fishback      San Jose State     19:48
 4.  Geoff Walker             Houston            19:53
 5.  Danny  L . Murphy        San Jose State     19:56
 6.  G. Douglas Brown         Montana State      19:59
 7.  Richard A. Schramm       Miami              20:04
 8.  Ben F. Tucker            San Jose State     20:06
 9.  Arthur Scott             Idaho State        20:07
10.  Richard Sharkey          Michigan State     20:08
11.  Clayton Steinke          Oregon             20:09
12.  Walter Hewlett           Harvard            20:10
13.  Bill Clark               Notre Dame         20:11
l4.  Ken Moore                Oregon             20:14
15.  David  Highton           Colorado           20:16
16.  Frank Carver             Notre Dame         20:19
l7.  Jack Bacheler            Miami              20:20
18.  Herman E. Gurule         San Jose State     20:21
19.  Ralph A. Lingle          Missouri           20:23
20.  William J. Straub        Army               20:25

Monday, November 12, 2012

Villanova Women Receive At-Large Invite to XC Nationals
Invite is 5th Straight & 25th Overall for the 9-Time Champs


Here is the press release from Villanova's official athletic website, announcing that the Villanova women have received an at-large bid to cross country nationals. The Villanova women were the next-to-last at-large team invited to the national meet. They will join the Villanova men who received at automatic bid to nationals based on their second-place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. The women finished third at the regional and thus were forced to rely on a non-automatic selection.

The Villanova women won the NCAA team title in 2009 and 2010, and finished 3rd last year (see photo above). They have won 9 NCAA titles overall.

Women's Cross Country Receives At-Large Bid to NCAA Championships
Wildcats earn fifth straight team berth in national meet after strong regional showing

Nov. 11, 2012

VILLANOVA, Pa. - One day after a strong performance at the regional championships the Villanova women's cross country team learned on Saturday that it had received a team berth to the NCAA Championships, which take place at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville next weekend. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Wildcats have earned a team bid to the 31-team NCAA field. Villanova was one of 13 teams chosen for as an at-large selection.

The berth in the NCAA Championships comes on the heels of strong performances by the Wildcats in their last two meets. Villanova came in fourth at the BIG EAST Championships on October 26 and more recently finished third in a close race at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Friday afternoon. Leading into the regional meet the Wildcats had been ranked second or third in the region in every poll this season, including holding down the No. 2 spot in the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region poll for the first month of the season.

Villanova has fire power at the top of its lineup with the junior duo of Nicky Akande (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Emily Lipari (Greenvale, N.Y.), who have combined for top-three finishes in each of their last two races. Akande captured the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region individual title by a nine-second margin on Friday and Lipari placed third in a reversal of their finishes at the BIG EAST meet two weeks earlier. Lipari was the BIG EAST individual champion and Akande finished third in that race.

Senior Summer Cook (Thornton, Colo.) has solidified herself in the Wildcats lineup this season and joined Akande and Lipari in earning both All-Mid Atlantic Region and All-BIG EAST accolades. All three runners were among the Villanova top-seven at the NCAA Championships last season.

The women's national championship race begins at Noon on Saturday and the Wildcats will be returning to E.P. Tom Sawyer Park, where they registered a seventh place finish at the Pre-NCAA Meet last month. The site was also host to the BIG EAST Championships last season.

Each of the top five teams in the BIG EAST received a berth to the NCAA Championships, including three automatic bids and two at-large selections. Connecticut, Georgetown and Providence all finished first or second at their respective regional championships to earn an automatic bid, while Villanova and Notre Dame were at-large picks.

This will be the 25th appearance at the NCAA Championships for the Wildcats, whose nine titles all-time are four more than any other women's program has. Over the years Villanova has crowned nine individual champions and also has the distinction of having won the most consecutive team titles with six in a row from 1989-1994.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Nova Men Qualify for Cross Nationals with 2nd at XC Regional


Villanova's men ran a strong race today at Penn State's Blue & White course at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. The team (57 places) finished second, a mere 1 place behind Georgetown (56). Princeton was beaten into third, with 61 places. The hero of the day award goes to Alex Tully who ran the race of his life, finishing 14th overall, in 30:49. In a race where the top three teams were separated by a mere 5 places, Tully's dynamic run was critical in getting Villanova to nationals.

The Villanova men were in a strong position at the half-way mark, when they led the team competition with 33 places, ahead of Penn State (77), Georgetown (93), and regional #1 Princeton (95). Princeton moved up after 3 miles and with a mile to go crept within 45 to 60, with Georgetown at 65 and Penn State at 123. Ultimately, Georgetown was able to inch ahead, but Villanova held off Princeton to guarantee its place in Louisville. The Villanova men finished with an impressive 20 second 1-5 spread.

Full results are HERE.

Villanova
 2.  Sam McEntee         30:34
 4.  Jordy Williamsz     30:36
14.  Alex Tully          30:49
18.  Mathew Mildenhall   30:53
19.  Rob Denault         30:54   
43.  Brian Basili        31:30
50.  Matt Kane           31:42

Team Scores
1.  Georgetown      8-9-11-13-15-(17)-(65)      56
2.  Villanova       2-4-14-18-19-(43)-(50)      57
3.  Princeton       3-5-6-21-26-(29)-(32)       61
4.  American        7-16-22-49-51              145
5.  Penn State      12-25-28-40-42-(46)-(94)   147

Villanova's Nicky Akande Takes NCAA Regional Crown
Third Place Women on Bubble for Nationals


Today at Penn State's Blue & White course, Villanova's Nicky Akande won the individual NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional title, with Emily Lipari in third, but the women faded a bit over the finals kilometers and came third in the team standing. They are now clearly in jeopardy of not gaining an invite to the national meet. The women dropped from the team lead at one mile, and the second spot at three miles, to finish third behind winner Penn State (61) and Georgetown (63). Villanova finished with 95 places, and Princeton was fourth with 101. Since only the top two teams at regionals are awarded an automatic berth at cross country nationals in Louisville, the Villanova women will have to hope for an at-large bid. Should that bid not be forthcoming, Nicky Akande (as regional winner) and Emily Lipari (who won the Big East individual title two weeks ago and who was 7th at Pre-Nationals) would likely be invited as at-large individual competitors.

Full results are HERE.

Here's how the Villanova women finished:

Villanova
 1.  Nicky Akande           20:14
 3.  Emily Lipari           20:27
14.  Summer Cook            20:52
33.  Courtney Chapman       21:42
45.  Megan Venables         21:58
51.  Sydney Harris          22:06
52.  Stephanie Schappert    22:06

Here's how the top five teams fared (places are individual, not team, places):
1.  Penn State    4-6-10-20-21     61
2.  Georgetown    5-11-13-16-18    63
3.  Villanova     1-3-14-33-45     95
4.  Princeton     8-12-17-28-36   101
5.  W. Virginia   7-22-24-27-33   111

PA State XC Runner-Up Brent Kennedy Eyeing Villanova


Here's an article on Brent Kennedy of Kiski Area high school from today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Kennedy, a junior, was class AAA runner-up at last week's Pennsylvania state cross country championships. He has already visited Villanova and Syracuse on recruiting trips, and is also interested in Notre Dame, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.

Kennedy's Mile Split page is HERE.

PIAA Cross Country: Kiski's Kennedy a silver streak in Hershey
November 9, 2012 12:07 am
By Cara De Carlo / Tri-State Sports & News Service

Kiski Area junior Brent Kennedy bolted to a 15:52 finish at last Saturday's PIAA Class AAA cross country championship meet in Hershey.

He placed second to West Chester Henderson's Tony Russell, earning a silver medal.

The race actually began as though the runners were in a can of sardines.

"We were all packed together through at least the first half of the race," Kennedy said. "It's a downhill start for the first mile so everyone goes out really hard."

Kennedy kept his pace as the course went into the "Aloha Hills" -- a series of dips and U-turns in which the spectators wave hello and goodbye to their favorite runners. The disruptive terrain was stirring Kennedy's pack but he kept his sights on Russell. At 2 miles in, Russell's pace intensified to take a seven-second lead on Kennedy.

"[Russell] was about that far ahead of me for the last mile of the race," Kennedy recalled.

He said that didn't intimidate him, though.

The path continued up the course's last hill -- a 100-meter quad-drainer known as "Poop Out Hill." It was on that hill that Kennedy stayed strong and separated himself from the 217 remaining finishers.

Kennedy's second place finish was definitive -- four seconds ahead of Corry Area's Austin Pondel. But Kennedy had had his eye on a victory.

"I just didn't have enough for the win at states," Kennedy said. "Tony Russell is a great runner and he deserves it. I can't be too unhappy."

Saturday's state meet wasn't Kennedy's first race against Russell.

"I raced him this year at the Carlisle Invitational," Kennedy said. "I knew he'd be up there [in front at states]."

Kennedy had actually beaten Russell in the 1,600-meter event at the PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg last May. The two made it to the finals, where Kennedy finished eighth and Russell finished less than one second behind him.

As Russell and Kennedy finished their runs on Saturday, the two were happy for each other.

"We're all pretty good friends," said Kennedy, referring to himself and many of his cross country opponents. "We're all doing the same type of thing."

Two days after Hershey, Kennedy was at Villanova University on a college visit that included a meeting with the cross country coach. The next day, Kennedy was scheduled to visit Syracuse.

"I'm just trying to check out all my options," Kennedy said. "The list is getting bigger, I guess."

Kennedy is a junior and does not intend to make a final college decision until his senior year. Nonetheless, he attended track/cross country camps at Notre Dame and at the University of Virginia last summer. Since that time, Virginia Tech has also joined Kennedy's list of potential schools.

Before Kennedy can don spikes for the right college or university, he's got a lot of running still to do for Kiski Area. Kennedy said he's looking forward to running track this spring, especially if the competition includes Russell.

"I'm looking forward to getting the chance to race [Russell] again" said Kennedy. "There'll be some fast times and good competition there."

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Reid, Koons in Elite Field for Rothman Institute 8K

Sheila Reid will make her Nike pro debut a week from Saturday at the Rothman Institute 8K. Her scheduled debut as a Nike-sponsored runner (The Dash to the Finish Line 5K in New York City, as part of the NYC marathon weekend) was cancelled duo to the recent storm. Reid will be joined by a former Villanova teammate and All-American Frances Koons. Koons won this race in 2009. Here is the press release for the event. As noted below, Villanova's own Marcus O'Sullivan still holds the Rothman Institute 8K course record -- an uber-quick 23:03 that has stood for 15 years.

Athletics: Rothman Institute 8K Elite Field Announced

PHILADELPHIA - The 2012 Rothman Institute 8K announces an impressive field of elite runners this year led by Philadelphia-area standouts Samuel Ndereba, Sheila Reid, Frances Koons, Samantha McNally, Cecily Tynan, Chris Heisey, John Itati and Matt Sadercock.

The Rothman Institute 8K (4.97 miles) -- held on Saturday, November 17 on Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend -- is a great way to take part in Race Weekend. Runners will start on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art -- looking out upon City Hall -- before taking a turn on the scenic banks of the Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive.

Female Runners to Watch

The fastest entrant in the field is Sheila Reid, a 2012 Olympian (5,000 Meters, Canada) and an NCAA All-American from Villanova. Frances Koons, the 2009 Rothman Institute 8K champion and an NCAA All-American from Villanova, is trying to reclaim the title.

A few women will be doubling, running both the 8K and the Philadelphia Half Marathon on Sunday including Hirsute Madero (Flagstaff, AZ) -- the 2010 8K runner-up and the 2010 Philadelphia Half Marathon winner -- and Kenya's Helen Jemutai, who won the Tufts 10K in Chicago in October.

Other notables are: Samantha McNally (Doylestown, PA), who qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials while running in the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon; Amy Van Alstine (Midland Park, NJ) who boasts a 15:43 5K PR; American University standout Erin Koch (Chevy Chase, MD); and Marissa Ryan who enters with a 33:36 10K PR.

The 2011 Masters Champion and local favorite, Cecily Tynan (Media, PA), will be back to defend her title in the Masters Division.

Male Runners to Watch

Kenya's Samuel Ndereba (Philadelphia, PA), the 2011 Rothman 8K winner, is back to defend his title. Ndereba also will be competing in the Philadelphia Half Marathon, and should be a contender in that race as well; he is just coming off of a victory at the Des Moines Half Marathon on Sunday, October 21.

Looking to stand in the way of a repeat victory for Ndereba are some speedy international runners including 2011's second-place finisher Ethiopian John Itati (Royersford, PA); Kenya's Emmanuel Bor, a University of Alabama graduate with a 23:18 8K PR (Bor will also be running the Half Marathon on Sunday), and Harbert Okuti (New Paltz, NY) is Uganda's 5K record-holder.

Scott Smith (Flagstaff, AZ), with a 28:33 10K PR, is the top American prospect in the men's field. Other Americans to keep an eye on include Chris Pannone (Gardiner, NY) with a 2:18 Boston Marathon time this year; University of Pennsylvania alumni Phillip Kawkwell; Jonny Wilson (Flagstaff, AZ) and Temple Podiatry student Chris Heisey (Philadelphia, PA).

Going for a three-peat in the Masters Division is two-time winner Matt Sandercock (Exton, PA), the 2010 and 2011 masters Rothman 8K winner.

Registration for the Rothman Institute 8K is available at PhiladelphiaMarathon.com, costs $45 and closes on November 11, 2012.

Rothman Institute 8K Records
Men: Marcus O'Sullivan, Time: 23:03 (1997)
Women: Svetlana Zakharova, Time: 25:37 (2001)

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

John Kellogg Handicaps the Mid-Atlantic XC Regional

Here's the perspective of John Kellogg of the running website LetsRun.com. He sees the Villanova teams on the bubble in their quest to qualify for the NCAA cross country national meet. Each team is sitting at #3 in the region, with only the top two team finishers getting an automatic slot at Nationals.

2012 NCAA Regional Formchart – Mid-Atlantic Region

by John Kellogg
November 7, 2012

LetsRun.com Editor's note: LetsRun's coaching/stat guru John Kellogg has done what basically no one else in the world would have the expertise/patience to do – predict what his going to happen at Friday’s NCAA D1 cross country regionals. The top two teams in each region and top four individuals not on a team that qualifies will make it to NCAAs. Then 13 at large teams will be added in and two at large individuals. If someone wants to take the time to tell us who the at-large teams teams and individuals will be based on these previews, then please email us as we’d love to put that up later in the week. We imagine even the great John Kellogg is bound to have missed someone in these predictions, so if you have corrections, please email them to us.

Mr. Kellogg seemingly comes out of hibernation every few months to make predictions in the running world. He did Regional previews in 2011 and 2008 and in the spring of 2010, he said it wouldn’t surprise him if someone ran faster than 2:03:59 in Boston and then Geoffrey Mutai ran 2:03:02 and after the race everyone (except us) was saying the unthinkable had happened.

Mr. Kelllogg has scoured the season’s results – with the most weight given to recent (conference meet) performances – to take a guess at who should be the top 25 individuals and few teams in each of the nine regions. A lot of runners were considered for the top 25 and he’ll undoubtedly get quite a few wrong – someone just outside his top 25 has just as good a chance as someone who just made it – and there are always a couple of huge surprises. Team scores are generally based on the strengths of the top teams relative to each other (discounting many of the runners outside the top 25 or so from non-contending teams) and will probably end up being higher than he’s listed them due to displacement from those individuals. In short, this is a pretty good general idea of who should be in the hunt, but it’s still bound to get a bunch of it completely wrong. So basically this is all for S&Gs. We hop you enjoy them. For more on the logic behind the picks, please see last year’s instructions.


Mid-Atlantic

Blue And White Golf Course, University Park, Pennsylvania

Men

Individuals

Georgetown’s Mark Dennin finished 6th in this region a year ago and would be the top returner, but he hasn’t raced since winning at Paul Short over a month ago. Directly behind him in 7th at last year’s Regional was teammate Andrew Springer, who has run well of late and came in 6th at Big East to lead the Hoyas. He should be challenged by Princeton’s recently-crowned HEPS champion Chris Bendtsen. Bendtsen has been running second for Princeton throughout most of the season, but his last effort made him a conference champion, so he gets the top spot in the formchart. Tiger teammate Alejandro Arroyo-Yamin has actually had the best overall season of anyone in the field, including a 31st place at Wisconsin, best of the region’s runners in that massive race. Duquesne’s Jim Spisak was on fire until recently, with 3rd at Paul Short and 13th at Pre-Nationals, but then slipped back to 22nd at Atlantic 10. That conference meet was won by 8:36.10 steepler and 1st team All-American Travis Mahoney (Temple) ahead of LaSalle’s Alfredo Santana, who has put up some pretty impressive results of his own this fall. Santana was 14th in the region last year and is the 3rd returner (minus Dennin).

Chris Bendtsen (Princeton)
Andrew Springer (Georgetown)
Alejandro Arroyo-Yamin (Princeton)
Travis Mahoney (Temple)
Ben Furcht (Georgetown)
Tyler Udland (Princeton)
Alfredo Santana (LaSalle)
Darren Fahy (Georgetown)
Sam McEntee (Villanova)
Jim Spisak (Duquesne)

Jonathan Vitez (Princeton)
Mathew Mildenhall (Villanova)
Eddie Owens (Princeton)
Mark Allen (American)
Miles Schoedler (Georgetown)
Robert Denault (Villanova)
Logan Mohn (St. Joseph’s)
Tyler Mueller (Lehigh)
Matt McDonald (Princeton)
Jordy Williamsz (Villanova)

John Dugan (Bucknell)
Ryan Mahalsky (Lehigh)
Jonathan Mazzio (St. Joseph’s)
Robby Creese (Penn State)
John Murray (Georgetown)

Teams

Princeton, surprised big-time by a monster race from conference rivals Columbia at Wisconsin, went into the Ivy League meet as underdogs for the first time in a long time, but galloped to the top two individual spots and placed 4 in the top 7 on their home course to emerge with a convincing 26-58 victory over the Lions. Princeton also beat Georgetown head-to-head very early in the season. Though early September meets don’t matter in November, the 13th-ranked Tigers should still be the favorites here if they run on a par with their HEPS race. Villanova got the best of Georgetown at Pre-Nationals by a scant 13 points and one team spot, but the Wildcats were relegated to 5th at Big East, where the Hoyas came up for second. Ergo, the pre-meet edge goes to Georgetown for the 2nd auto spot.

Princeton
Georgetown
Villanova

Women

Individuals

Big East champ Emily Lipari (Villanova) gets the nod as the favorite in the region, also having the most impressive regular season result of any of the field’s runners – a 7th place at Pre-Nationals. Meghan McGlinchey of LaSalle raced to 33rd at Wisconsin and a runner-up finish at Atlantic 10. Assuming she runs up to expectations here, there’s a small chance she could be the only individual NCAA qualifier to finish in the top 10 in the meet. Most of the other top spots stand to be occupied by runners from the four currently ranked or formerly ranked teams in the region. One spot behind McGlinchey at Wisco was Penn State’s Rebekka Simko, who continued her strong running with 5th place at Big Ten. West Virginia has been without injured XC All-American Kaitlyn Gillespie all season, but the Mountaineers regained 2011 10k All-American Sarah-Anne Brault just in time for the Big 12 meet. Brault is actually the top returner in the region (not counting Gillespie) and raced to 10th at Big 12 – perhaps not strong enough to win the Regional but an impressive rust buster nonetheless, with the likes of Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Texas in the conference.

Emily Lipari (Villanova)
Meghan McGlinchey (LaSalle)
Rebekka Simko (Penn State)
Nicky Akande (Villanova)
Madeline Chambers (Georgetown)
Katrina Coogan (Georgetown)
Sarah-Anne Brault (West Virginia)
Tori Perri (Penn State)
Annamarie Maag (Georgetown)
Brooklyne Ridder (Penn State)

Summer Cook (Villanova)
Greta Feldman (Princeton)
Kelly Williams (West Virginia)
Samantha Nadel (Georgetown)
Kirsten Kasper (Georgetown)
Annie-Norah Beveridge (Navy)
Emily Jones (Georgetown)
Sarah Martinelli (West Virginia)
Rachael Schneider (Georgetown)
Abby Levene (Princeton)

Jordan Hamric (West Virginia)
Jackie Nicholas (Princeton)
Brigid Byrne (Navy)
Megan Venables (Villanova)
Natalie Bower (Penn State)

Teams

Last fall, Georgetown pulled off a minor upset over a few teams to win the national championship, with Villanova in 3rd, West Virginia 8th and Penn State 13th. This made the Mid-Atlantic, geographically the smallest region, the strongest one in the country on race day. It’s a competitive region for sure. G’Town is currently ranked 9th in the coaches poll and, having won their conference, the Hoyas do look to be the top team in the region, but winning it won’t be a gimme. Villanova is extremely good at 1 & 2 and still quite formidable through 3, but lack of depth prevented the Wildcats from rising higher than 4th at Big East, and they may face the same scenario here. Penn State and West Virginia may be behind ‘Nova after four runners are scored but have a chance to make up the gap by the time all five come in. The qualifying scenario is too complicated to figure until results from all the regions are in, but Villanova and West Virginia had better be aiming for top two. PSU almost certainly makes Nationals with a 3rd place team result, but there’s a chance they don’t if they’re any lower in the standings.

Georgetown
Penn State
Villanova
West Virginia
Princeton

Running Times: Who Gets in at NCAA Cross Nationals?

For the first times in several years, Villanova's cross country teams have a lot to worry about as we approach the NCAA cross country regional weekend. Both the women's (#25) and men's (#35) teams are ranked well off the top end of the national polls and sit outside the top two teams in the Mid-Atlantic region. There is real doubt on the question of whether or not each will make it to the NCAA national meet in Louisville. Here is an excellent article from the folks at Running Times that describes the process of filling the list of teams (and at-large individuals) that will be invited to the national meet. Villanova's squads have some real work in front of them on Friday as Penn State hosts the regional.

NCAA Nationals: Who Gets In?
Understanding the selection process for cross country’s premier event
By John A. Kissane
As featured in the Web Only issue of Running Times Magazine

On Nov. 17, a total of 255 men and 255 women will compete in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships at E. P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. The breakdown goes like this: 31 seven-person teams (217 athletes) plus 38 individuals who are not members of any of those 31 teams.

So which teams make up that field? The easiest to understand is the automatic qualifying. The week before nationals, on Nov. 9, nine regional meets — the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West — are held around the country. Each region automatically advances the top two teams (seven runners apiece), as well as the top four individual finishers not on qualifying teams. If you’re doing the math, you’ll see that 162 runners automatically make it to nationals based on the results of the regionals.

That’s the easy part, because there’s no analysis or decision-making involved. But filling out the fields with 13 more teams and two additional individuals is where things get dicey. This task falls to members of the NCAA Division I Track and Field Subcommittee, who will announce their selections the Sunday following regionals (i.e., Nov. 11) after they've analyzed regular season, conference and regional results and applied selection criteria to determine the at-large qualifiers.

“It’s a really fair system, without any backroom politicking,” says Dartmouth men’s coach Barry Harwick, who also serves as President of the NCAA Division I Cross Country Executive Committee. “We’ll run our meet on Friday and the guys will be getting results from the other regions on the trip home, and by the time we get back we’ll pretty much know who the 13 at-large qualifiers are, before they’re announced. That shows the transparency of the system.”

The selection process is somewhat complicated, but here is a brief overview of how it works:

• The subcommittee begins its work by placing the third- and fourth-place teams from each of the nine regions onto a board. Then they review the season performances of those 18 teams, to determine “wins” they might have against the 18 automatic qualifiers during a maximum of seven competition opportunities. The first at-large berth is awarded to the team with the highest win total. The subcommittee is required to review no fewer than 18 teams at all times during the selection process, so with the selection of each at-large team, the subcommittee immediately moves the next team from that same region (based on regional finish place) onto the board of 18 teams and again evaluates all 18 together. Each time an at-large selection is made, remaining teams having beaten the newly selected team are awarded a “win” to add to their point totals.

• Teams must be considered for at-large berths in the order of their regional finish, and a fourth-place team may not be selected for an at-large berth ahead of a third-place team from the same region. Lower-finishing teams may be selected ahead of higher-finishing teams from different regions. (For instance, a team finishing fourth in the West region can get in ahead of a team finishing third in the Great Lakes region.)

But what happens if the fourth-place team from one region (say, team X) has more wins than the third-place team from the same region (team Y)? That’s where the so-called “push process” comes in. The subcommittee is obligated to extend at-large bids to both teams X and Y, so in effect team Y “pushes” team X into the national championship meet. Also, points (wins) will not be awarded to teams having defeated any team advancing into the championships by virtue of the push process.

If any two teams under consideration tied for total wins, the committee will look at head-to-head results. If head-to-head wins and losses are equal (e.g., each of the two teams has a record of 2-2 against the other), the committee may give greater consideration to the most recent competition. Furthermore, wins can only be accumulated against an opponent’s “A” team, which is considered to consist of four or more individuals who competed at the regional meet.

Regular-season scheduling — and a team’s travel budget — can help a team that’s on the qualifying bubble. “Teams with the ability to travel outside their regions have some advantage, in that they’re able to compete against more of the highly ranked teams to get wins,” Harwick says. “So teams without the financial wherewithal to travel are stuck if they finish outside the top two at regionals.”

In addition to selecting 13 at-large teams, the subcommittee will also select two at-large individuals. These will be the two highest-finishing nonautomatic qualifiers from the nine regional meets. For instance, in 2011, Lauren Sara of Connecticut, who finished sixth at the Northeast regional, and Duke’s Madeline Morgan, sixth at the Southeast regional, received the women’s at-large individual bids.

Here are the top four ranked teams in each regional, as of Nov. 5:

Men                                Women

Great Lakes                               Great Lakes
1. Wisconsin (6)                          1. Michigan (6)
2. Michigan (12)                          2. Michigan State (11)
3. Indiana (20)                           3. Toledo (18)
4. Notre Dame (28)                        4. Notre Dame (23)


Mid-Atlantic                              Mid-Atlantic
1. Princeton (13)                         1. Georgetown (9)
2. Georgetown (24)                        2. Penn State (15)
3. Villanova (NR)                         3. Villanova (25) 
4. Penn State (NR)                        4. West Virginia (NR)


Midwest                                   Midwest
1. Oklahoma State (1)                     1. Iowa State (2)
2. Oklahoma (8)                           2. Oklahhoma State (21)
3. Tulsa (19)                             3. Minnesota (28)
4. Illinois (NR)                          4. Tulsa (NR)


Mountain                                  Mountain
1. Colorado (2)                           1. Weber State (13)
2. BYU (7)                                2. New Mexico (17)
3. New Mexico (16)                        3. Colorado (24)
4. Northern Arizona (18)                  4. Colorado State (NR)


Northeast                                 Northeast
1. Iona (4)                               1. Cornell (8)
2. Syracuse (14)                          2. Connecticut (16)
3. Columbia (22)                          3. Providence (20)
4. Providence (NR)                        4. Boston College (27)


South                                     South
1. Florida State (23)                     1. Florida State (1)
2. Georgia (26)                           2. Florida (14)
3. Florida (NR)                           3. Vanderbilt (NR)
4. E. Tennessee State (NR)                4. Mississippi (NR)


South Central                            South Central
1. Texas (5)                             1. Arkansas (12)
2. Arkansas (10)                         2. Texas (22)
3. Texas A&M (29)                        3. SMU (NR)    
4. McNeese State (NR)                    4. LSU (NR)


Southeast                                Southeast
1. Eastern Kentucky (15)                 1. Duke (10)
2. Virginia Tech (17)                    2. William & Mary (19)
3. Virginia (21)                         3. NC State (30)
4. NC State (NR)                         4. Kentucky (NR)


West                                     West
1. Stanford (3)                          1. Oregon (3)
2. Portland (9)                          2. Ariziona (4)
3. Oregon (11)                           3. Stanford (5)
4. Arizona State (25)                    4. Washington (7)