NEW YORK -- Freshman Kelli McDonald captured the women’s pole vault and Chris Dixon set a school record in the men’s 500 meters to highlight University of Delaware performances at the New York City Gotham Cup Indoor Track and Field Invitational Friday night at the New York City Armory.

The meet, which was hosted by New York University, was attended by some of the top teams in the region. The Delaware women placed eighth out of 31 teams in the women’s team standings while the Blue Hen men were tied for 15th out of 32 teams with 22 points. Villanova captured the team title for both men and women.

McDonald, a freshman from Phoenixville, PA (Phoenixville HS), won her second collegiate pole vault competition in three tries this season. The Delaware women posted 13 top 10 finishes overall.

Other top Delaware women’s finishes included Rachel Young (at right) placing second in the shot put (43-4 1/2) and 12th in the weight throw (40-7), Colleen O’Brien placing third in the 5,000 meters with a career best time of 17:38.98, Toni Riggi placing third in the mile (5:28.87), Sari Weissbard placing fourth in the mile (5:31.32), Asha Quant finishing sixth in the long jump (17-9 1/4), Alexi Capsouras posting a ninth place finish with the second best 60-meter hurdles time in school history (9.33) and a 14th place finish in the 400 meters (1:01.05), and Paula Green placing 10th in the 60 meters with the third best time in school history (7.96).

For the Delaware men, Will Jurkowski (North Salem/North Salem, NY) was third in the 1,000 meters (2:29.80), P.J. Meany was fourth in the seeded 5,000 meters (15:14.33), and Dixon (Hempfield/Manheim, PA) was third in the 500 meters with a time of 1:04.69, breaking the former UD record of 1:05.01 set by Nick McIntosh in 1995. Also for the Hens, Gregg Cantwell was sixth in the mile (4:25.77) and Chris Martens was seventh in the pole vault (13-9 1/4). The Blue Hens recorded 10 top 10 finishes overall.

Both Delaware teams will compete at the Maryland Indoor Invitational at Prince George’s, MD next Saturday, Jan. 21.

AGATE:

Women’s Final Team Standings: 1. Villanova - 75; 2. Albany - 67.5; 3. Morgan State - 54; 4. Bowie State - 48; 5. Essex County CC, Lafayette, Quinnipiac - 47; 8. Delaware - 43; 9. Lehigh - 34.5; 10. Rider - 33.4; 11. Delaware State - 29; 12. Fordham - 27.5; 13. Haverford - 26.5; 14. Wagner - 26.4; 15. Princeton, UMBC - 25......30. La Salle, Monmouth - 1.

Delaware Women’s Finishers: 1st - Kelli McDonald, pole vault (11-3 3/4); 2nd - Rachel Young, shot put (43-4 1/2); 3rd - Colleen O’Brien, 5,000m (17:38.98); Toni Riggi, Mile (5:28.87); 4th - Sari Weissbard, Mile (5:31.32); 6th - Asha Quant, long jump (17-9 1/4); 4 x 800m relay (9:59.07); 7th - Amy Miller, pole vault (9-10); 8th - 4 x 400m relay (4:02.60); 9th - Brooke Maguire, 5,000m (18:26.54), Alexi Capsouras, 60m hurdles (9.33); 10th - Renee Gresh, 3,000m (11;15.13); Paula Green, 60m (7.96); 11th- Liz Paul, 3,000m seeded (11:38.42); Lindsay Schmiedel, Mile (5:37.93); 12th - Rachel Young, weight throw (40-7); Julia Somers, 5,000m (18:31.09); 14th- Alexi Capsouras, 400m (1:01.05); 16th - Angela Pollino, shot put (36-3); Meghan Weaver, Mile (5:41.96); 19th - Jessica Leitsch, 1,000m (3:11.14), Allison Behrle, 5,000m (19:50.79); 20th - Annie Fulton, triple jump (33-6 1/2); Brenda Greene, 3,000m (11:46.16), Angela Pollino, weight throw (34-11 3/4); 21st - Lauren Heenan, 1,000m (3:15.68); 23rd - Jennifer Kramer, weight throw (28-5 3/4); 24th - Asha Quant, 60m (8.13); 25th - Colleen Reid, 3,000m (11:56.00); 27th - Jennifer Kramer, shot put (30-9 1/4); 29th - Emily Bunker, 1,000m (3:25.85); 30th- Daniella Price, 60m (8.17); 37th - Annie Fulton, long jump (14-9 3/4); 44th - Rayna Horsey, 400m (1:05.54)

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