PRINCETON, N.J.—Villanova opened two days of competition in the Larry Ellis Invitational with four middle distance runners posting personal best times in their respective events at Weaver Stadium on Friday evening. The event schedule for the Wildcats on Friday featured the elite sections of the 800 meters and the 1500 meters, as well as women's hammer in the only field event of the day. Competition resumes at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.
 
The first track event on Friday was the 800 meters in which the freshman duo of Alex Stasichin (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Emily Robinson (Rogers, Ark.) each recorded personal best times. Stasichin finished 13^th overall out of 37 runners with a time of 2:11.50 to lower her PR in the 800 meters which she had set indoors by more than a full second. Robinson was close behind her in Friday's race and she finished 16^th with a personal best time of 2:13.94. During the course of her first collegiate season, Robinson has established PRs in the 800 meters, the 1500 meters and the Mile.
 
Freshmen Emma McGill (Lebanon, N.J.) and Margaret Carroll (Mount Wolf, Pa.) tallied personal bests in the 1500 meters later on Friday evening. Villanova had three first-year collegians competing in the race and McGill led the trio with a time of 4:30.29. Carroll crossed the finish line in 4:35.08 and fellow freshman Sadie Sigfstead (Edmonton, Alta.) clocked in at 4:35.52. The youth and potential of the Wildcats roster was on display Friday evening. Villanova's distance group features 14 athletes (out of 15) in their first or second year of outdoor collegiate eligibility.
 
Earlier on Friday afternoon the Wildcats got the weekend started with competition in women's hammer. Senior thrower Emily Galvin (Pitman, N.J.) came in 10^th in that competition with a mark of 51.23 meters.
 
Up first for Villanova on Saturday morning is competition in women's discus at 11 a.m. The first track event on Saturday is the preliminary heats in women's 100 meter hurdles at 1 p.m.