CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—There is a new BIG EAST leader in the 100 meter hurdles this season after sophomore sprinter Ajanae Thompson (Rahway, N.J.) recorded a personal best time of 13.60 at the Virginia Challenge on Saturday afternoon. Thompson also broke onto Villanova's all-time top 10 performance list in the event for the first time in her career to highlight a strong day of competition at Lannigan Field.
 
There was significance to Thompson's performance both from a school history standpoint and as it relates to the BIG EAST and East Region descending order lists. Thompson cut more than a tenth of a second off her previous top time of 13.72 from last season and finished fourth out of 43 competitors in Saturday's heats. She takes over the top spot in the BIG EAST for the current season after having been the conference runner-up and silver medalist to her now graduated teammate Jane Livingston last season.
 
Thompson also moved into a tie for 45^th place in the East region with Saturday's performance, pending the outcome of other competitions taking place this weekend. The top 48 declared athletes in each individual event qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary next month, with that meet serving as the early rounds of the NCAA Championships.
 
Junior sprinter Myonica Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill.) was also among the Wildcats top performers on Saturday after she recorded a PR of 24.66 in the 200 meters. She won her heat and cut .17 seconds off her previous personal best. Jackson was less than a tenth of a second (.08) away from moving into Villanova's all-time top 10 in the 200 meters. Thompson came back after her result in the 100 meter hurdles to post a time of 25.16 in her second race of the day.
 
The duo of sixth year collegian Maggie Smith (Halifax, N.S.) and sophomore Tilly O'Connor (Spring Lake, N.J.) posted strong results for the second straight day. Smith led a trio of Wildcats in the 800 meters with a season best mark of 2:11.78 and O'Connor equaled her PR set earlier this season as she crossed the finish line in 2:11.81.
 
Senior Emily Robinson (Rogers, Ark.) was also in action for the straight day. She led Villanova with a three-plus second PR of 4:22.73 in the 1500 meters on Friday night, then came back on Saturday with a time of 2:18.92 in the 800 meters.
 
Villanova closed out competition on Saturday afternoon with a time of 3:42.46 in the 4x400 meter relay. It is the first 4x400 race of the outdoor season for the Wildcats and puts the team second in the BIG EAST this season. The time of 3:42.46 is the second-fastest for Villanova in the last four years.