Final Day At NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships – Villanova In The 1500 Meters

Three Villanova Runners Compete In The Final Day Of Competition 

The Villanova Wildcats had three runners represented in the 1500 Meter run at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.  Emily Lipari placed fourth in the women’s event, and teammate Angel Piccirillo placed twelfth in the race.  In the men’s 1500 Jordy Williamsz registered a fifth place finish for the Wildcats.

In the women’s race Lipari crossed the line in 4:19.60, while Piccirillo finished the distance with a time of 4:27.66.  Piccirillo had the lead after 800 meters with Lipari in fourth position.  On the bell lap each runner got boxed in and fell back in the pack.  Lipari got back in contention with 150 meters left to run, but could not catch the leaders.  Shelby Houlihan of Arizona State won the championship covering the distance in 4:18.10.

Lipari was the BIG EAST champion in the 800 meters, while she and Piccirillo each ran a leg on the Wildcats conference champion 4×800 meter relay. Lipari was also the indoor national champion in the Mile and anchored Villanova to a sweep of the distance relay events at the Penn Relays.

In the men’s 1500 Jordy Williamsz placed fifth with a time of 3:40.25.  It was the second straight collegiate-best time for Williamsz.  His lifetime best was 3:36.74.  Williamsz was third with 800 meters left to run behind Lawi Lalang of Arizona and eventual winner Mac Fleet of Oregon.  The Wildcat runner was passed at the beginning of the bell lap, and found himself boxed in and far back in the pack.  Willimasz freed himself and got back to fifth place over the last 200 meters.  Fleet ran this distance in 3:39.09.  Lalang turned in a time of 3:39.15.

This was the fourth top eight finish for a Villanova runner in the 1500 in the last six outdoor championship meets.

Villanova scored 7 points in the men’s competition and 5 points in the women’s team standings.  Penn brought home 5.5 points in the meet.  Texas A&M took the women’s championship with 75 points.  The host Oregon Ducks won the men’s title scoring 88 points.