The Wildcats Finished Second in the Men’s and Third in the Women’s Distance Medley Relays
April 24, 2026 –
The Distance Medley Relay at the Penn Relays is a source of success for the Villanova teams. The Men team has brought home 26 Penn Relays Championship of America Wheels. The women’s team earned 16 championships.
In the 2026 Relays Villanova came close. The men were second place finishers and the women came in third in Friday’s races. However, the women’s team turned the second fastest time in school history in the event.
In the Women’s DMR Villanova held off Clemson for third place running a time of 10:48.84, the second best time for the program. It was also the 11th fastest time in Relays history. Both teams trailed Wheel winner North Carolina who won in a time 10:36.82, just .08 seconds behind Stanford to win by a half step.. The Wildcats started the race in fifth place and managed to move up to take a third place finish in the 800m leg.
Rosemary Shay, Olivia Allen, Isabelle Walsh, and Tilly O’Connor took the baton for Villanova.
In the men’s DMR Villanova finished just behind Oregon by .10 seconds covering the distance in 9:32.18 falling just short of Oregon who takes their fifth Wheel west. Wildcats anchor Marco Langon tried to catch the Ducks 1600m specialist Simeon Birnbaum at the tape but there was not enough real estate left.
It was a tight race with the leading changing hands over the 1200m and 400m legs of the race. Oregon took the lead in the 800m segment and held it throughout the race. Birnbaum is the NCAA 1500m record holder. He finished his split in 4:10.72. Langon ran a 4:08.76. The two runners ran side by side down the stretch with Birnbaum holding off Langon.
Ben Thomas, Ethan Walls, Dan Watcke, and Langon ran for Villanova.
Oregon fielded Thomas Palfrey, Faud Omer, James Harding, and Birnbaum.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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