Part three of this year's VMI track and field preview, a look at the distance and middle distance events, follows. The final part of this year's preview will run Wednesday here on VMIKeydets.com.
In both the middle distance and distance events, Andrey Dmitriev will be looked at to lead the way for the Keydets. Dmitriev, the fifth-year senior from Russia, comes off his first NCAA Preliminary Round appearance last year in the 1,500-meters. He also was third in that event at the IC4A meet for his first all-IC4A honor. This year, he will likely see time in the 800, 1,500 and mile, with defending (indoor) Big South 800-meter champion Jacob Lysher, also a senior, and sophomore Avery Martin providing support. All three scored in the 800 at last year's conference championship.
One time to watch in the supporting cast to VMI's big three is freshman Max Midkiff. Midkiff is a former all-state honoree in the 800. Zachary Chase should also play a role in the middle distances.
On the women's side, these events will be led by Kelsey Newcomb, who set the new 800-meter school records both indoors and outdoors last season. Newcomb, in fact, was the top qualifier to the finals at the Big South indoor meet. Hannah Best and Molly Western should also see time, while Hannah Dickinson could see action in the mile.
Much like in the middle distance events, Dmitriev's versatility will play a factor in those events longer than a mile. Dmitriev could see time in both the 3K and 5K during both the indoor and outdoor years, although his specialties remain in the shorter events.
Cabell Willis, Patrick Spahn and Luke Phillips, three of VMI's top five cross country runners this year, should provide support in the longer 5K distance. Willis has previously finished eighth in the event indoors at a conference championship, doing so last year, and was sixth outdoors as a sophomore, while Spahn hopes to build on the momentum of his breakout cross country campaign that saw him finish the year as VMI's #1 runner. Hartnel Paultre's health could factor in here, as he missed the cross country season due to injury, but his specialties lies in these longer distances. Others include Will Thompson and a cast of others whose roles have yet to be determined at press time.
In the shorter 3K distance, both Willis and Martin are expected to see time. As a true freshman, Martin did not compete in a track race longer than a mile, so any stepping up in distance will be an interesting storyline to watch. Sean Helmke will be looked at to compete in this race as well, and outdoors, to lead the steeplechasers. Helmke, who is coming off all-conference honors during the cross country season, finished eighth in the conference in the 3K steeplechase last year. Steven Trayer, who redshirted the XC season, could provide support in the event.
On the women's side, the Keydets' primary hopes will lie in their top two distance runners, Dickinson and Dalton Kuhar. Dickinson finished in the top 15 in both the mile and the 3K at last year's conference indoor meet, while Kuhar was 13th in the steeplechase outdoors. Casey Clune and Kelly Russell should also see time.
