PRINCETON, N.J. - Sophomore distance runner Casey Comber (Maple Glen, Pa.) paid no heed to the breezy and uncommonly cold late-April conditions at the Larry Ells Invitational on Friday night, as he won the elite section of the 1500 meters and set a new personal best time in the process. Comber and fifth-year senior teammate Ben Malone (River Vale, N.J.) were separated by less than half a second at the finish line.

Leading the Way

Despite a temperature at race time of 50 degrees and feeling more like the low 40s, Comber posted a personal best time of 3:45.81 at Weaver Stadium to earn the first place finish. Malone followed close behind in 3:46.23, with the rest of the field more than a second off their pace. Sophomore Logan Wetzel (Saline, Mich.) finished fifth in 3:48.18 to round out the trio of Wildcats that ran in the fastest heat of the 1500 meters.

Three Races Filled Villanova's Friday Slate

Redshirt freshman Paul Nichols (Latham, N.Y.) competed in the unseeded section of the 5000 meters and lowered his personal best for the second time this outdoor season. He finished with a time of 14:48.97 and eclipsed his previous top mark by more than 13 seconds. Senior Ishmael Muhammad (Mays Landing, N.J.) ran in the elite section of the 800 meters and was clocked in 1:54.00 to come in 37th overall.

Judge Places Eighth in Javelin

Junior thrower Jack Judge (Palisades, N.Y.) was the only Wildcats field athlete in action on Friday night. He competed in the javelin and recorded a throw of 54.96 meters to come in eighth out of 21 competitors.