CHICAGO—Junior distance runner Sadie Sigfstead (Edmonton, Alta.) went wire-to-wire for a conference title in the 5000 meters and Villanova began the 2024 BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Jeep with podium finishes in the 5K, the weight throw and the distance medley relay at Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park on Friday afternoon. The first of two days of competition in the conference championships saw the Wildcats score 30 points to sit in second place in the team standings with six of 18 events scored.
 
Sigfstead won her second career individual BIG EAST title and first indoors with a time of 15:59.18 in the 5000 meters. Graduate student Alex Payne (Silverdale, Wash.) placed third in the weight throw with the fourth-longest mark in program history – 19.00 meters – and became the second Villanova athlete to garner a BIG EAST podium finish in the event. The quartet of junior Emma McGill (Lebanon, N.J.), first year collegians Olivia Allen (Kingwood, Texas) and Caelen O'Leary (Taunton, Mass.), and junior Margaret Carroll (Mount Wolf, Pa.) placed third in the distance medley relay in 11:33.09. It is the 34^th time in the 41-year history of the BIG EAST Championships that the Wildcats have recorded a podium finish in the DMR.
 
"I am really happy to come away with the win," Sigfstead said of the 5000 meter race. "I love representing Villanova and it's good to put some points up for the school. On this track I feel like I'm constantly going around a turn. I find it almost helps because it keeps you focused and engaged on what's around you. I like a little bit more of a crowded race. A good summer set me up really well for this year and coming off cross country, I had some good consistency there and it gave me a lot of confidence heading into the season."
 
The biggest event of the day was the weight throw in which the Wildcats scored 11 team points. Payne was one of three Villanova throwers who recorded personal bests in the event, with fifth year collegians Adria Retter (Quakertown, Pa.) and Jordan Williams (Fresno, Calif.) tallying respective marks of 16.95 meters and 16.29 meters. They finished sixth and seventh out of 16 competitors. All three scorers are in their first year with the Wildcats after competing elsewhere during their undergraduate careers.
 
"Going into today it was about trusting myself," Payne said. "It was all about turning my brain off, trusting my technique and my practice, and just executing. I was so excited to have four female weight throwers because I get to have people in meets to cheer on, to take a step back from my throws and root for their success. Jordan Williams had a great PR today. Adria Retter had a great PR today. The encouragement in the throws, particularly women's throws is unlike anything else. I'm so thankful for that because without them yelling, clapping and cheering I wouldn't throw that far."
 
One of the standout performers for Villanova on Friday was fifth year sprinter Jane Livingston (Lancaster, Pa.) who is the top qualifier for the final in both the 60 meters and the 60 meter hurdles. The hurdles has been her signature indoor event throughout her collegiate career and she tallied the 10^th-fastest time in program history with a personal best of 8.18 in the first preliminary heat. She came back less than an hour later to run a PR of 7.45 in her heat of the 60 meters.
 
Livingston is ranked second on the Wildcats all-time performance list in both events. She is the defending conference champion in the 60 meters and was the runner-up last year in the hurdles. First year sprinter Ajanae Thompson (Rahway, N.J.) tied her PR in the hurdles with a mark of 8.43 and is an automatic qualifier for Saturday's final. Fellow BIG EAST rookie Lore Olakunle (Elkridge, Md.) registered a PR of 7.70 to advance on time to the final of the 60 meters.
 
Villanova closed Friday's competition with the distance medley relay in which Allen ran her second race of the day and O'Leary made her BIG EAST Championships debut. The race was led off by McGill who posted a 3:30.43 split over the first 1200 meters, followed by Allen in 56.25 over 400 meters and O'Leary with a split of 2:13.99 on the 800 meter leg. Carroll anchored for the Wildcats and ran 4:52.43 on the 1600 meter leg.
 
Three additional team points for Villanova came from senior Caroline Carlson (Miami, Fla.) in the long jump as she finished sixth with a mark of 5.34 meters.
 
Action continues on Saturday at 11 a.m. with competition in women's shot put and triple jump. The first race on the track for Villanova is the final of the mile at 11:30 a.m.