NEW YORK -- A 1,000 meter championship three-peat and meet-record run by senior Emily Lipari and a string of distance victories lifted Villanova to the women's crown and a sweep of the team titles at the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field championships.
The women's title came down to the 4x400 meter relay, the last race on a frenetic final day. Nursing a lead against Georgetown, the Wildcats hung on despite finishing fourth and last. The Hoyas came up points short as St. John's sent many in the crowd home happy with the win.
The Villanova women finished with 159.5 points and Georgetown second with 157 for the first team title since 2010.
The 1,000 meter women's race featured a brilliant duel between two of the conference's best -Lipari and Georgetown junior Katrina Coogan. Shoulder to shoulder from the early laps, Lipari turned on the kick and the speed in the closing 50 meters to pull away in a meet record 2:43.69. Villanova great Sheila Reid held the record of 2:43.70.
Only in the women's 3,000 meter run were the Wildcats shut out as the Providence dynamic duo of seniors Laura Nagel and defending champion Emily Sisson took first and second, respectively.
