VMI Track and Field Preview: Jumps

Women's Track and Field VMIKeydets.com

Track and Field Ready for Big South Championships

VMI track and field will return to action Thursday, opening competition at the two-day Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships, set to be held at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. Live results will be available at the link above, and an event by event preview follows.

Fans should note that ranks and seeds mentioned below are based on the conference's performance list entering the meet, and that any entries are subject to change. Readers are also reminded that Coastal Carolina does not send a men's team to the Big South indoor meet. Accordingly, their athletes are not included in rankings listed below.

Men's 60-Meter Dash

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 4:30 p.m.; Final – Friday at 12:25 p.m.
Defending Champion: Javon Young (Charleston Southern) – 6.71 (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Rozzie Johnson (Charleston Southern) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Rozzie Johnson (Charleston Southern) – 6.74 (Tied for No. 40 nationally)

Preview: The Keydets run a trio of athletes here, including senior Nate Gant, who finished eighth in 2010. Two freshmen, Aron Long and Pete Reed, rank in the top-15 in this year's Big South results as well, but the field is likely to be chasing Charleston Southern sprinters once again. Junior Rozzie Johnson is ranked 40th nationally and has clocked a 6.74 this season. 

Men's 200-Meter Dash

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 6 p.m.; Final – Friday at 1:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Javon Young (Charleston Southern) – 20.97 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Rozzie Johnson (Charleston Southern) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: ConRoy Smith (Liberty) – 21.67 (Converted)

Preview: Freshman Aron Long has been impressive and will be VMI's hope in this event, after recording a (converted) 22.17 time that places him eighth in the Big South. Rozzie Johnson of CSU could pull a 60-200 double, as he leads the 60 charts and ranks second here, just behind Liberty sophomore ConRoy Smith. 

Men's 400-Meter Dash

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 5 p.m.; Final – Friday at 11:55 a.m.
Defending Champion: Leonard Robbins (Liberty) – 48.70
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Robbins
2013 Leader: Kaise White (Radford) – 48.66 (Converted)

Preview: The Keydets will run three athletes in the 400-meter dash, led by Julian Jackson, who ranks 12th in the Big South with a 50.26 top time so far this year. Three potential participants have run under 49 seconds, led by Radford senior Kaise White's 48.66 effort. Keydet fans may remember White as part of RU's 4X4 team that made a stirring final lap comeback at the 2011 outdoor meet, held at the Institute, to conclude those Championships.
 
Men's 800-Meter Run

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 5:30 p.m.; Final – Friday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Adam Leroux (Winthrop) – 1:57.66
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Gabe Holguin (Winthrop) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Josiah Stanton-Brooks (Gardner-Webb) – 1:52.72 (Converted)

Preview: This is an event the Keydets have, of course, controlled for the past several years - Since the 2008 indoor championships, only twice has a VMI runner not won the Big South title in the men's 800. The problem? All of those titles were won by one man, Felix Kitur, who has since graduated. The cupboard is not bare, however. Junior Jacob Lysher, who was seventh at the Big South Indoor meet last year, ranks seventh on this year's performance list as well. Freshman Avery Martin has been solid as well, ranking 12th on the conference's listing. One of the primary men who chased Kitur for all those years, Josiah Stanton-Brooks of Gardner-Webb, is the conference's leader and may be the overall favorite, but a dark horse could be VMI's own Andrey Dmitriev, who is still rounding into form this indoor season. Dmitriev finished third in this event at least year's indoor meet, and was also the mile champion.  

Men's Mile

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 10:50 a.m.
Defending Champion: Andrey Dmitriev (VMI) – 4:17.50
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Dmitriev
2013 Leader: Benji Szalai (High Point) – 4:11.03 (Converted)

Preview: Dmitriev returns to defend his title, but with his delayed start of competition, may be a dark horse in this event as well. He cannot be overlooked however, as he is a two-time IC4A qualifier and has already cracked the conference's top-20 in an extremely limited time period. Avery Martin and Jason Thorpe are two Keydets in the Big South's top-10 this year in the event. Senior Thorpe hopes to close his individual indoor career out on a high note after posting more than a five-second PR at January's YSU Invite. The Keydet group, which also includes Hartnel Paultre, will be chasing two veterans, Chris Schulist of Campbell and Brian Gorwitz of Radford, as well as Big South leader Benji Szalai of High Point.

Men's 3,000-Meter Run

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 3:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jacob Smith (High Point) – 8:20.71
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Caleb Edmonds (Liberty) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Caleb Edmonds (Liberty) – 8:14.09

Preview: The Keydets will be at full song here, as they will run four of their top names - Cabell Willis, Hartnel Paultre, Sean Helmke and Andrey Dmitriev. None of them ranks above 13th on the current performance list, but this is an event that VMI had three runners in the top 10 of last year. With some runners moving up to focus on the 5K, and others dropping to the mile, the 3K entry list is often one that can surprise when final entries are officially released.
 
Men's 5,000-Meter Run

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 2:15 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jacob Smith (High Point) – 14:30.42
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Caleb Edmonds (Liberty) – 3rd place
2013 Leader: Caleb Edmonds (Liberty) – 14:26.36 (Converted)

Preview: Caleb Edmonds of Liberty leads both the 3K and 5K performance lists, and does so here by some 14 seconds. Cabell Willis and Hartnel Paultre both rank in the Big South's top nine, and both are likely to enter, along with Patrick Spahn and Sean Helmke. Any points here or in the 3K would be huge for VMI's final standings results.

Men's 60-Meter Hurdles

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 3:10 p.m.; Final – Friday at 11:25 a.m.
Defending Champion: Milan Ristic (UNC Asheville) – 7.91
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Ristic
2013 Leader: Milan Ristic (UNC Asheville) – 7.75 (Tied for No. 8 nationally)

Preview: The way that Coach Darrin Webb's teams have been able to deploy their talent has been seen, to a large extent, in their ability to creatively find points when they could be there for the taking. That is especially true of events where there is a heavy favorite, but an open field behind them - And this year's 60-hurdles fits that description perfectly. While two of the top hurdles in the country, Milan Ristic of Asheville and Vincent Wyatt of Radford, will go at it up front, the field is wide open behind them. Quincy Murphy, who has been seeking an IC4A qualifying time this season, is ranked fourth on the conference performance list entering the meet. It is worth noting, however, that while Ristic and Wyatt have some seven-tenths of a second on the field, only four-tenths separates the third and 13th-ranked hurdlers.

Men's 4 x 400 Relay

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 2:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Liberty – 3:14.70
2013 Leader: Charleston Southern – 3:16.21 (Converted)

Men's Distance Medley Relay

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 6:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Winthrop – 10:09.91
2013 Leader: Liberty – 10:01.85

Men's Long Jump

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 3:25 p.m.
Defending Champion: Lavon Allen (Charleston Southern) – 24-10.5 (7.58m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Braxton Drummond (Charleston Southern) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Braxton Drummond (Charleston Southern) – 24-1 (7.34m)

Preview: The Keydets send four competitors into the field here, led by senior Antonio Wood, who ranks second in the conference this season. Wood is an IC4A qualifier in this event and a former All-Big South long jumper, having posted a best mark of 7.21 meters (23'8") so far this season. Freshman Pete Reed ranks eighth after his 6.93 leap (22'9") this past week at the VMI Winter Relays, while Nate Gant is a former scorer in this event. Brandyn Laury will also take part.
 
Men's Triple Jump

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 12:15 p.m.
Defending Champion: Ademola Titcombe (VMI) – 48-3.5 (14.72m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Avery Coe (Charleston Southern) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Avery Coe (Charleston Southern) – 48-5.25 (14.76m)

Preview: After the graduation of long-time stalwart Ademola Titcombe, the Keydets send four competitors to the triple jump pit, seeking as many points as possible in the event. Antonio Wood is among them. Wood had never competed in the triple jump collegiately until this season, but posted a 13.94 meter leap (45'9") at the Libery Quad and ranks eighth in the conference heading into this meet. Freshman Avion Jones, meanwhile, is fourth, and his classmats Brandyn Laury and Pete Reed are also on the entry list. Charleston Southern's Avery Coe is the top-ranked triple jumper this year at 14.76 M (48'5 1/4").
 
Men's High Jump

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 12:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kyle Wheeler (Liberty) – 6-8.75 (2.05m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Wheeler
2013 Leader: Avion Jones (VMI) – 6-11.75 (2.13m) (Tied for No. 49 nationally)

Preview: This very well may be the 'must see' event of these Championships, the one that a track & field fan will go out of their way to watch. Keydet freshman Avion Jones has exploded onto the scene, breaking into the top-50 in Division I, qualifying for the IC4A meet and going undefeated through the first five meets of his career. Jones has faced Kyle Wheeler of Liberty, the defending indoor and outdoor champion in the event, twice and has knocked him off both times. He has over a three-inch lead on Wheeler for the Big South lead, but should be aware of the fact that Wheeler stepped up his game at last year's indoor meet. Going in having never exceeded the two-meter mark (and in fact, having hit it just once), Wheeler popped a 2.05 meter jump to win that day, and would go as high as 2.16 meters outdoors.

Behind the front two, VMI has another threat in Antonio Wood, as the senior looks to pile up points once again. Last year, Wood was the Most Outstanding Field Performer, thanks to his 22-point performance. Freshman Korey Bullard is ranked seventh, and could easily give the Keydets three scorers in this event. 

Men's Pole Vault

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kolby Shepherd (Liberty) – 16-5.25 (5.01m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Cody Fridgen (Liberty) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Tyler Samotis (Gardner-Webb) – 16-0.75 (4.90m)

Preview: One of the interesting questions to answer at Big South meets over the past several years has been: Who will jump in the men's pole vault? Between injuries, teams' caps on entrants and other factors, the list of entrants can vary, sometimes widely, from the in-season performance list. The Keydets put up three athletes here - Sean Connolly, fifth last year outdoors and seventh indoors, Antonio Wood, the multi-event athlete who will look to steal a couple of points here, and the highly touted freshman, Staton Mayfield. Mayfield is ranked seventh in the Big South coming in, the top of the three VMI entrants.

Men's Shot Put

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 4:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Ryan Smith (Liberty) – 60-1.75 (18.33m) (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Smith
2013 Leader: Ryan Smith (Liberty) – 58-8 (17.88m) (No. 43 nationally)

Preview: If there's an event with an overwhelming favorite at these championships, this is it. Ryan Smith of Liberty has won three straight titles, ranks 43rd nationally this season and is almost five feet clear of the second-ranked thrower. It should be a battle for second place, with names like Carson Sears (GWU) and Jacob DeValve (Liberty) potentially figuring in. Much like in the 60-hurdles and pole vault, the Keydets could grab points here, thanks to redshirt freshman Joel Hoisington. Hoisington broke 15-meters (15.10 M/49'6 1/2") for the first time last weekend at the VMI Winter Relays, and currently sits fifth in the conference ranking.
 
Men's Weight Throw

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at Noon
Defending Champion: Ryan Smith (Liberty) – 63-6.25 (19.36m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Smith
2013 Leader: Ryan Smith (Liberty) – 64-4 (19.61m) (No. 33 nationally)

Preview: Ryan Smith should be looking for the shot put/weight throw double for the second straight season here, but this will be the more difficult of the two events for him. Alex Young of Gardner-Webb ranks just an inch and a half behind Smith this season, and the two appear to be on a collision course for a title duel. The Keydets send four competitors into battle, led by freshman Jordan White, who has a solid chance to score. White is tied for seventh in the Big South this year, with a best toss of 50'2 1/2".

Men's Heptathlon

Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Thursday at 10 a.m.; Day Two – Begins Friday at 10 a.m.
Defending Champion: Antonio Wood (VMI) – 5,168
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Wood
2013 Leader: Antonio Wood (VMI) – 5,134 (Converted) (No. 49 nationally)

Preview: After finishing on the podium in this event at last year's IC4A meet, Wood returns to defend his Big South title and set himself up for an even better result in Boston just weeks from now. Only one other competitor in the conference has exceeded 5000 points this season, freshman Cody Bingham of Liberty, who is not entered in the event. Quincy Murphy, meanwhile, ranks third as the Keydets hope to get two all-Big South honorees in this event. 

Women's 60-Meter Dash

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 4:15 p.m.; Final – Friday at 12:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Darriale Henley (Coastal Carolina) – 7.47 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Gabrielle Houston (Charleston Southern) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Erica Peake (Coastal Carolina) – 7.39 (Tied for No. 27 nationally)

Preview: The Keydets will not have an entrant in this event, but much like the 200 (see below), fans can look for an Erica Peake/Gabrielle Houston duel. Unlike in that event, however, there are other names within shouting distance, including third-ranked Abigail Flower of Liberty.

Women's 200-Meter Dash

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 5:45 p.m.; Final – Friday at 1:25 p.m.
Defending Champion: Gabrielle Houston (Charleston Southern) – 24.14
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Houston
2013 Leader: Erica Peake (Coastal Carolina) – 23.61 (Converted) (Tied for No. 14 nationally)

Preview: The Keydets do not have an entrant on the board for this event, but it should blossom into a two-woman battle. Erica Peake of Coastal is currently ranked 14th nationally and has nearly four-tenths of a second on the next fastest time, that of Gabrielle Houston of CSU. It is nearly another three-quarters of a second back to the #3-seeded runner. Anyone other than Peake or Houston winning this event would be considered an upset of monumental proportions.

Women's 400-Meter Dash

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 4:45 p.m.; Final – Friday at 11:40 a.m.
Defending Champion: Manika Gamble (High Point) – 56.23
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Sharmaine Barnes (Coastal Carolina) – 3rd place
2013 Leader: Jessica Gelibert (Coastal Carolina) – 55.68 (Converted)

Preview: The Keydets will not run anyone here, in a field that has been dominated by a freshman. Jessica Gelibert of Coastal Carolina ran a 55.68 (converted) on Feb. 8, and no one else in the Big South has gone under a 56.67 so far this year. Gardner-Webb's Ivana Hughes ranks fourth in the league at 57.10, and could have a shot at podium finishes in both the 400 and 800, as could Gelibert. 

Women's 800-Meter Run

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 5:15 p.m.; Final – Friday at 12:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Sarah Gentry (UNC Asheville) – 2:11.40
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Gentry
2013 Leader: Sarah Gentry (UNC Asheville) – 2:12.00

Preview: Sarah Gentry of UNC Asheville is the prohibitive favorite in the women's 800, having won last year's indoor and outdoor titles and holding this season's top time as well. Gentry has finished on the podium in four straight Big South 800-meter finals, dating back to the 2011 indoor championship. Names such as Amanda Wimbush of Liberty (#3), Ivana Hughes of Gardner-Webb (#2) and Emily Marchini of Coastal Carolina (#5) would hope to unseat Gentry, while two freshman, Jessica Gelibert of Coastal Carolina (#4) and VMI's own Kelsey Newcomb (#6) will hope to force their way into the picture as well. Newcomb has had a strong first collegiate track season, with her top time coming at the Liberty Quad, 2:18.53 (2:16.95 converted). Newcomb was fifth in that race and 11th at the Wake Forest Invitational in January, both 800's in which she saw some of the women she will compete against this week.

Women's Mile

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Defending Champion: Jennifer Klugh (Liberty) – 5:02.41 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Jacy Christiansen (Liberty) – 4th place
2013 Leader: Jenna Moye (VMI) – 4:55.62 (Converted)

Preview: With the graduation of Liberty star Jennifer Klugh, this event opens up and becomes one of the more interesting on the women's side, with the question being: Is this Jenna Moye's time? After a cross country season that saw her put her in the record book with a flourish, Moye ran a (converted) 4:55.62 mile on this very JDL Fast Track in January. That time is over seven seconds faster than the next best effort so far this season. That was, however, the last race Moye completed as she recovers from an injury. Her ability to rebound from that will determine if she adds a conference title to her VMI legacy.

The primary threats to Moye will include some of her cross country rivals, including Adrienne Cuff of CSU and Emily Marchini of Coastal Carolina. Perhaps the two main threats, however, could be dark horses Jacy Christiansen of Liberty, the top returner from last season, and Melanie Kulesz of UNC Asheville. Kulesz enters with the fifth-quickest time so far this year, but is a former runner-up in this event at the conference championships.
 
Women's 3,000-Meter Run

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 3:25 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jennifer Klugh (Liberty) – 10:03.29 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Jacy Christiansen (Liberty) – 2nd place
2013 Leader: Khristina Kanagy (Liberty) – 10:01.66

Preview: VMI's Jenna Moye led this event's performance list for nearly two full months before Khristina Kanagy of Liberty ran a 10:01.66 on Feb. 2. Kanagy remains the Big South leader and is the favorite here, with her teammate Jacy Christiansen ranking third and three Coastal Carolina runners directly behind them. The Keydets will enter Leah Schubel, Hannah Dickinson, and Dalton Kuhar, who ran as a freshman and recently returned to the squad.

Women's 5,000-Meter Run

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 1:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Khristina Kanagy (Liberty) – 17:43.09
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Kanagy
2013 Leader: Jeanne Stroud (Winthrop) – 16:51.61

Preview: This could be a very, very interesting race if each of the big names enters. The Keydets put veteran Leah Schubel on the line, but do not have any of the favorites entered in the event, with Jenna Moye being entered in just the mile at this week's proceedings. Jeanne Stroud of Winthrop has run some 40 seconds faster than anyone else in the Big South, clocking in at 16:51.61 two weeks ago, but senior Khristina Kanagy of Liberty ranks second and is the defending champion. Kanagy, however, may have her attention focused on the 3K. 

Women's 60-Meter Hurdles

Event Schedule: Prelims – Thursday at 2:55 p.m.; Final – Friday at 11:10 a.m.
Defending Champion: Mulern Jean (Charleston Southern) – 8.44
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Jean
2013 Leader: Mulern Jean (Charleston Southern) – 8.34 (Tied for No. 28 nationally)

Preview: The Keydets will not run anyone in the 60-hurdles, an event in which Mulern Jean is the heavy favorite. Jean of Charleston Southern is both the defending champion and current leader. The three athletes that immediately trail her on the performance list, however, are all from Coastal Carolina, meaning that this event may have a major influence on the outcome of this meet's team results.
 
Women's 4 x 400 Relay

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 2:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Charleston Southern – 3:51.97
2013 Leader: Coastal Carolina – 3:45.76

Women's Distance Medley Relay

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 6:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Campbell – 12:07.81
2013 Leader: UNC Asheville – 12:06.06 (Converted)

Women's Long Jump

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Patria Norman (Charleston Southern) – 19-3.5 (5.88m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Erica Peake (Coastal Carolina) – 5th place
2013 Leader: Erica Peake (Coastal Carolina) – 18-10.75 (5.76m)

Preview: Erica Peake of Coastal Carolina is the favorite here, having jumped over six and a half inches further than any other competitor this season. The Keydets, meanwhile, enter sophomore Thireyona Legg, who has a seasonal best of 5.29 M (17'4 1/4") and sits 12th on the league's performance list. It is worth noting that while Peake has a significant margin over second place, the seventh through 12th-ranked jumpers are separated by just four inches.

Women's Triple Jump

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 10:50 a.m.
Defending Champion: Kierra Gabe (Coastal Carolina) – 40-2.75 (12.26m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Tamisha Foster (Charleston Southern) – 3rd place
2013 Leader: Janae Jones (Liberty) – 39-11.5 (12.18m)

Preview: Thireyona Legg will be in the field here for the Keydets, having posted a 10.90 M (35'9 1/4") effort earlier in the year. That is good for 11th-best in the conference, led by Janae Jones of Liberty at 12.18 meters (39'11 1/2"). Freshman Amanda Okani is also on the entry list.

With the graduation of several long-time stalwarts in this event, including defending champion Kierra Gabe of Coastal and her rival, Mia Aghaji of Liberty, the field could be ripe for a new face to step in.

Women's High Jump

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 11 a.m.
Defending Champion: Kierra Gabe (Coastal Carolina) – 5-7 (1.70m) (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Meredith Foster (UNC Asheville) – 5th place
2013 Leader: Meredith Foster (UNC Asheville) and Kristen Willeford (Liberty) – 5-5.75 (1.67m)

Preview: VMI is not currently scheduled to enter anyone in this event, and with the top four finishers from last year's meet having since graduated, the title will be up for grabs. Meredith Foster of UNC Asheville enters as the top returnee and conference co-leader at 1.67 M (5'5 3/4").

Women's Pole Vault

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jennifer Sing (VMI) – 12-10 (3.91m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Mary Lawrence (Coastal Carolina) – T-4th place
2013 Leader: Taylor Cook (Gardner-Webb) – 12-0.5 (3.67m)

Preview: For the past several years, this has been an event VMI could plan on contending for a title in. In fact, VMI has won two of the past three Big South Indoor Championships, with Kate Collins taking the crown in 2010 and Jennifer Sing doing so last year. Sing, the #2 pole vaulter in Big South history, has since graduated, and Collins is redshirting this indoor season. The Keydets will enter the #14 seed, junior Nicole Harding.

Looking at the rest of the conference, only one woman has cleared the 12-foot mark this season, Taylor Cook of Gardner-Webb. Cook is an interesting story, as she is a five-time Big South scorer (indoor and outdoor combined), but has never finished higher than fifth on any of those occasions. While Cook will be hoping to emerge from the shadow of former teammate and three-time conference podium finisher Carrie Long, the #2-seeded vaulter, Mary Lawrence of Coastal Carolina, hopes to regain the form that took her to an NCAA Preliminary Round berth last season and a 2010 Big South outdoor title.

Women's Shot Put

Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Mychelle Cumings (Liberty) – 47-9.25 (14.56m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Cumings
2013 Leader: Mychelle Cumings (Liberty) – 49-1 (14.96m)

Preview: Defending champion and conference leader Mychelle Cumings of Liberty has a nearly two-foot lead over Keydet Renee Reives, who is in second place in the Big South, so the question for VMI fans may be - How close can Reives get to Mildred Cooper's school record? Her nearly two-foot PR at the VMI Winter Relays last weekend got Reives within a foot of the 47'11 3/4" mark, set in 2005. Cumings is the heavy favorite in this event, with Reives potentially battling Ashlei Alexander of Gardner-Webb and Joshlyn Noga of CSU for second.

Women's Weight Throw

Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 10 a.m.
Defending Champion: Aimee Veatch (Radford) – 60-3 (18.36m)
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Ashlei Alexander (Gardner-Webb) – 5th place
2013 Leader: Daisy Whitaker (Charleston Southern) – 58-8.75 (17.90m)

Preview: In contrast to the triple jump, where many of the faces at the top of the board are new, this is an event loaded with veterans. The top five names on the Big South's chart, in fact, are either juniors or seniors, and are led by Daisy Whitaker of Coastal, who has recorded a Big South-leading 58'8 3/4" (17.90 M) effort this season. VMI will enter three competitors, led by Mary Grace Lemon, who comes off a seasonal best at the VMI Winter Relays and is currently tied for ninth on the conference performance list.

Women's Pentathlon

Event Schedule: Begins Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
Defending Champion: Kristen Hurley (Gardner-Webb) – 3,318
Top Returnee from 2012 Meet: Hurley
2013 Leader: Christina Mitchell (Liberty) – 3,475

Preview: For the first time in multiple seasons, the Keydets will have an entrant in a women's multi event at a Big South Championship. Amanda Okani, the freshman, had the 10th-best pentathlon performance in the conference during the regular season, but is expected to go into the meet seeded eighth. Okani won three of the five events at her first pentathlon, Jan. 25 at the Liberty Open, and scored 2806 points that day.

Christina Mitchell of Liberty is the season's leader, with defending champion Kristen Hurley of Gardner-Webb sitting fourth. Liberty is ranked 1-2-3 in this event, and this could be a swing event for the overall team title.
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Players Mentioned

Jennifer Sing

Jennifer Sing

Pole Vault
Senior
Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Mid-Distance
Redshirt Senior
Ademola Titcombe

Ademola Titcombe

Jumps/Sprints
Senior
Kate Collins

Kate Collins

Pole Vault
Senior
Hannah Dickinson

Hannah Dickinson

Mid-Distance
Sophomore
Nicole Harding

Nicole Harding

Pole Vault
Junior
Dalton Kuhar

Dalton Kuhar

Distance
Junior
Thireyona Legg

Thireyona Legg

Jump/Sprint/Rela
Sophomore
Mary Grace Lemon

Mary Grace Lemon

Throws
Junior
Jenna Moye

Jenna Moye

Distance
Senior
Kelsey Newcomb

Kelsey Newcomb

Mid-Distance
Freshman
Amanda Okani

Amanda Okani

Multi
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jennifer Sing

Jennifer Sing

Senior
Pole Vault
Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Redshirt Senior
Mid-Distance
Ademola Titcombe

Ademola Titcombe

Senior
Jumps/Sprints
Kate Collins

Kate Collins

Senior
Pole Vault
Hannah Dickinson

Hannah Dickinson

Sophomore
Mid-Distance
Nicole Harding

Nicole Harding

Junior
Pole Vault
Dalton Kuhar

Dalton Kuhar

Junior
Distance
Thireyona Legg

Thireyona Legg

Sophomore
Jump/Sprint/Rela
Mary Grace Lemon

Mary Grace Lemon

Junior
Throws
Jenna Moye

Jenna Moye

Senior
Distance
Kelsey Newcomb

Kelsey Newcomb

Freshman
Mid-Distance
Amanda Okani

Amanda Okani

Freshman
Multi