RALEIGH, N.C.—Junior distance runner
Devon Comber (Ambler, Pa.) shattered his previous personal best in the 5000 meters by nearly 20 seconds and surged to ninth place in school history in the event with a time of 13:45.90 at the Raleigh Relays on Thursday night. He was one of four Villanova runners in action in the 1500 meters and the 5K at Paul H. Derr Track. Fifth year collegian
Xian Shively (Glendale, Calif.) also recorded a PR in the 5000 meters.
Comber's previous personal best of 14:05.69 came nearly a year ago at the Duke Invitational in his first big race of the 2023 outdoor season. He was primed for his 2024 outdoor opener on Thursday after breaking eight minutes in the 3000 meters indoors. Comber's time of 13:45.90 in Raleigh puts him into ninth place on the Wildcats all-time performance list for times run during the collegiate season. He ranks both ninth overall and ninth on the outdoor-only list.
In the final section of the 5K on Thursday night, Shively lowered a PR which had stood for just over two years. He posted a time of 13:53.61 to break his previous mark of 13:58.22 set on March 11, 2022 at the UC Santa Barbara Invitational. Shively finished 16
th in the fastest section on Thursday night in a strong start to his outdoor campaign.
Sixth year middle distance runner
Charlie O'Donovan (Cork, Ireland) was the runner-up in the fastest section of the 1500 meters earlier on Thursday evening. He crossed the finish line in 3:39.65 to record the third-fastest time of his career and his best in a collegiate race. O'Donovan recorded times of 3:38.11 and 3:38.44 during in Europe last summer. His PR of 3:38.11 is the 12
th fastest run by any Villanovan while they were still in college.
Junior
Sean Donoghue (Dublin, Ireland) also competed in the fastest section of the 1500 meters on Thursday night and recorded a time of 3:50.34.
Villanova will next be in action on Saturday in the Sam Howell Invitational at Princeton, while members of the women's track & field team will compete at the Raleigh Relays both Friday and Saturday.
