Memorable Moments: Penn and Villanova at the NCAA Track and Field Championships

June 14, 2020 –

The eighth Memorable Moments installment looks back at the 2019 NCAA Track and Field Championships and the performance of Penn and Villanova who competed in the finals of their events.

Last June six athletes from the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova made the finals in their individual events.

Nia Akins

Nia Akins of Penn was the highest finisher placing second in the women’s 800 meter run. Akins covered the distance in 2:01.67, a personal best. She made a charge around the last turn, but could not pass Jazmine Fray of Texas A&M. Akins was on her shoulder, but Fray held on to the lead winning with a time of 2:01.31.

High Jumper Ana Peyton Malizia took third place in her event. She set a school record height of 1.84 meters and recorded 6 points for the Red and Blue.

Akins scored 8 team points giving the Quakers a total of 14 finishing tied for 17th place in the meet.

Villanova high jumper Sanaa Barnes, a freshman and member of the school volleyball team, finished in 6th place with a height of 1.81 meters. Zarria Willis of Texas Tech won the high jump going over the bar at 1.87 meters. She won on fewer misses over Nicole Greene of North Carolina.

Caroline Alcorta scored 4 points for the Wildcats in the women’s 10,000 meter run. She was the 11th place finisher in the women’s 5000 meters with a time of 16:18.66. Alcorta was in the top six with 11 laps to run. Later in the race she faded into the chase pack, but would add 2.5 points to the Nova total.

Casey Comber ran in the men’s 1500 meters final, and turned in his second fastest performance of 3:42.77, just .23 seconds behind his personal best. Comber placed 8th, the third highest finisher for Villanova. Jordy Williamsz took 5th place in 2015. Sydney Maree still holds the meet record with a time of 3:3.30 set in 1981.

Ashley Anumba competed in the discus throw for the Red and Blue. A throw of 49.6 meters gave her a 21st place finish.

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com

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