Freshman sprinter Danielle Burns (Phoenix, Ariz.) tallied a fourth place finish in the 100 meter hurdles and Villanova competed in several sprint events as the Sam Howell Invitational came to a conclusion at Weaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Four different Wildcats tallied top-eight finishes on the second day of the meet.

Burns registered a personal best time of 14.28 in the preliminary heats to rank third out of 20 total competitors. She followed up that performance with a fourth place finish and a time of 14.34 in the final. Burns later came in 12th in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:05.07.

In other sprint results, senior Kalissa Caesar (Port Jervis, N.Y.) led three Villanova runners with a time of 25.93 in the 200 meters. She came in ninth overall, while senior Melissa June (Massapequa, N.Y.) and sophomore Niki Cleary (Flemington, N.J.) placed 11th and 12th, respectively. They each recorded times of 26.28, with Cleary establishing a new personal best for the second straight week. June and Caesar also notched top-10 finishes in the 100 meters with respective times of 12.56 and 12.61.

Sophomore Sarah Knowles (Clifton Park, N.Y.) competed in the 400 meters and recorded a time of 58.05. Senior Arielle Massillon (Charlotte, N.C.) and sophomore Temi Odukale (Sewaren, N.J.) registered times of 1:05.07 and 1:06.70, respectively, in the 400 meter hurdles.

The only distance event on the Wildcats schedule Saturday afternoon was the 1500 meters. Freshman Jacquelyn Smith (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) and junior Nicole Armstrong (Sydenham, Ont.) posted times of 4:37.31 and 4:39.96, respectively.

Villanova had several strong results in the field events, led by sophomore Alex Zimmerman (Lititz, Pa.) with a fifth place finish in the discus after a season-best throw of 37.55 meters. Senior Hannah Lee (Scituate, R.I.) placed seventh in the javelin and set a new collegiate best mark for herself with a throw of 37.18 meters.

Junior Marley Byrne (Auburn, Maine) came in eighth in the long jump with a personal best mark of 5.34 meters. Sophomore Alex Patrick (Media, Pa.) came in 10th (5.25m) and Cleary was 16th (4.93m).

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

100 Meters

Melissa June               9th of 18               12.56Kalissa Caesar                   10th                   12.61

100 Meter Hurdles (Preliminary Heats)

Danielle Burns                    3rd of 20                    14.28

100 Meter Hurdles (Final)

Danielle Burns                     4th of 7                 14.34

200 Meters

Kalissa Caesar                   9th of 18             25.93Melissa June                  11th                       26.28 [26.272]Niki Cleary                     12th                      26.28 [26.274]

400 Meters

Sarah Knowles                   11th of 21               58.05

400 Meter Hurdles

Danielle Burns                  12th of 17               1:05.07Arielle Massillon               14th                     1:06.70Temi Odukale                    15th                     1:06.81

1500 Meters

Jacquelyn Smith                10th of 31               4:37.31Nicole Armstrong                12th                     4:39.96

Long Jump

Marley Byrne                    8th of 18                5.34mAlex Patrick                    10th                     5.25mNiki Cleary                     16th                     4.93m

Discus

Alex Zimmerman                  5th of 9                 37.55m

Javelin

Hannah Lee                      7th of 15                37.18m