PRINCETON, N.J. - Sophomore middle distance runner Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Dublin, Ireland) had a big race in the 800 meters and was one of three Villanova standouts from the Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday night. Freshmen Sammy Bockoven (Hudson, Ohio) and Bella Burda (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) also had big results in the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters, respectively. There were a total of 11 athletes competing in five different events for the Wildcats at Weaver Stadium as a busy weekend of competition got underway.

Cleirigh Buttner ran one of the fastest 800 meters races in school history and crossed the finish line with a personal best time of 2:03.52. Her previous top mark of 2:03.74 is the indoor school record, while her time on Friday night moves her up a spot to seventh place on the all-time Villanova performance list in the 800 meters. The mark of 2:03.52 tentatively ranks seventh on this season's national performance list, pending the results of other meets around the country this weekend. Cleirigh Buttner was the runner-up out of 79 overall competitors in Friday night's Elite section of the 800 meters.

In addition to moving up to seventh on the Wildcats performance list (sixth on the outdoor-only list) in the 800 meters, Cleirigh Buttner approached the list of the top 10 fastest times in school history. The 10th fastest time in the Villanova record book is 2:03.37 and was recorded by Debbie Grant on May 29, 1986. The current list of the 10 fastest times has remained unchanged for over 20 years even while the Wildcats have had several national standouts in the 800 meters, giving further credence to Cleirigh Buttner's race Friday night.

Bockoven led a group of five Wildcats in the Elite section of the 1500 meters with a time of 4:23.05. She came in fourth out of 78 competitors overall and lowered her previous personal best time - set at the Colonial Relays earlier this month - by more than six seconds. Her time ties her for 34th place on the East region performance list this season and puts Bockoven in strong position to have a chance at qualifying for the NCAA East Preliminary next month.

A similarly successful race for Burda in the 5000 meters also places her in excellent standing on the East region performance list. Burda was the runner-up out of 70 runners in the 5000 meters with a personal best time of 16:26.32. That puts her 32nd on the current East region list and beats the time of 16:27.77 she had run at the Colonial Relays earlier in the season.

It was a terrific night all-around for Villanova, with noteworthy performances coming out of each of the events the team competed in. Sophomore Rebecca Del Rossi (Canton, N.Y.) registered a personal best time of 2:09.00 in the 800 meters and classmate Erin Jaskot (Blauvelt, N.Y.) crossed the finish line in 2:13.34.

In the 1500 meters, three of the five Wildcats entries came away with new personal best times. Bockoven headlined that group, while freshman Nicole Hutchinson (West Vancouver, B.C.) was the next Villanova finisher with a time of 4:30.22. Sophomore Katie Fisher (Uxbridge, Ont.) posted a personal best time of 4:35.44, sophomore Nicole Armstrong (Sydenham, Ont.) finished in 4:36.20 and freshman Ann Campbell (Mission Hills, Kan.) recorded a personal best time of 4:39.81.

Among other results on Friday night, sophomore Alexandra Russo (Bellport, N.Y.) raced in the 3000 meter steeplechase and finished with a time of 11:00.24. Junior Caroline Hamilton (Nottingham, Pa.) finished seventh in the javelin with a throw of 41.21 meters.

The weekend continues for the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon, with athletes competing at the Larry Ellis meet as well as the Virginia Challenge and the Widener Invitational.

NOTES: Cleirigh Buttner and Bockoven were surrounded by Villanova alumni in the 800 meters and the 1500 meters, respectively ââ'¬Â¦ Former Wildcats standouts and sisters Nicole Tully (Schappert) and Stephanie Schappert were among the entries at the Larry Ellis meet on Friday night ââ'¬Â¦ Tully won the Elite section of the 1500 meters in 4:10.13 and Schappert was fourth overall in the 800 meters in 2:04.62 while running in the same section as her former teammate Cleirigh Buttner.

COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS
Larry Ellis Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
No Team Scoring

800 METERS (Elite Section)

Siofra Cleirigh Buttner           2nd of 79           2:03.52Rebecca Del Rossi                 21st                2:09.00Erin Jaskot                       48th                2:13.34

1500 METERS (Elite Section)

Sammy Bockoven                    4th of 78           4:23.05Nicole Hutchinson                 15th                4:30.22Katie Fisher                      34th                4:35.44Nicole Armstrong                  37th                4:36.20Ann Campbell                      45th                4:39.81

3000 METER STEEPLECHASE

Alexandra Russo                   22nd of 33          11:00.24

5000 METERS

Bella Burda                       2nd of 70           16:26.32

JAVELIN

Caroline Hamilton                 7th of 25           41.21m