NEW YORK, N.Y.- Led by seniors Anthony Harris and
Ashley West and boosted by the efforts of two freshmen, the VMI Track and Field teams posted solid outings Friday at the Great Dane Classic, held at the Armory Track and Field Center, in New York.
On the men's side, Harris sparked the Keydet efforts. The Sunshine State native helped lead the VMI Distance Medley Relay squad to a victory, as he and teammates Jared Balsor, Jared Klajnbart, and Donnie Cowart combined for a time of 10:04.60, which was both a meet record and an IC4A qualifying time. Individually, Harris won the mile, pacing the field with a time of 4:14.01. His effort in that discipline qualified him for the IC4A championships, to be held at Boston University in early March. Cowart also had a standout day, as he finished third in the mile in addition to the triumph in the DMR event.
West led the Keydet women's efforts on Friday, as the senior finished second in the women's long jump, breaking an indoor school record with her leap of 18 feet, 7 ? inches (5.66 M). The effort qualified her for the prestigious East Coast Athletic Conference Championships, and broke the VMI mark she set during her junior campaign.
Other VMI participants also enjoyed notable achievements during the day's efforts. Freshman Dennis James nearly won the high jump, as he equaled the highest height cleared during the competition by leaping 6'7" (2.01 M). However, he finished second due to the number of misses he posted. Felix Kitur, a highly touted freshman from Kenya, nearly prevailed in the men's 800 meters, finishing second by just one one-thousandth of a second (.001).
Two other school records fell to the VMI efforts on this day, as Alisha Jenkins jumped 34'11 ?" (10.65 M) in the women's triple jump, setting an indoor school record, and sophomore
Chandale Williams broke her own indoor school record by racing to a 59.29 mark in the women's 400 meters. Williams then followed up her efforts by posting a 26.28 in the 200 meter event.
In the men's weight throw, freshman Cody Davis posted a lifetime best, as the Georgia native launched the implement 49 feet, 3 inches (15.01 M). Jasper Watkins, the junior sprint specialist, ran an impressive 49.32 in the men's 400 and missed the IC4A qualifying standard by just .12 of a second. The two other Keydets with notable marks on the day were Andrew Rademaker and
Kelsey Stafford. Stafford came home second in the women's 5000 meters, and put up a time of 18:48.02, while Rademaker raced to a fifth-place effort in the men's version of the event.
Coming off Friday's efforts, the Keydet Track and Field teams will return to action on Saturday, February 2, as they will host the VMI Winter Relays.
