VMI track and field will return to action Saturday, taking part in the Patriot Open at George Mason in Fairfax, Va. Action gets underway at 10 a.m., which is an earlier start time than previously announced due to the size of the event's fields. Over 1,200 athletes from 37 different schools will compete at the one-day events.

How to Follow

Live results are available at the link to the left of this article.

Looking Ahead

This is VMI's final tuneup for the Big South Championships, which begin Thursday at Liberty in Lynchburg. A preview of each event, as well as how to follow the meet, will be published next week.

Four Events to Watch

Men's 200: Aron Long is seeded in the top 12 Saturday, but will have to contend with a jam-packed field. Among the projected front-runners is David Verburg of host George Mason, who finished fourth in 400 at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Women's 1,500: Jenna Moye, who could run the 800, the 1,500 or both at next week's Big South meet, will run the 1,500 Saturday. Like most every other event, this one is crowded. Among the projected contenders is Erin Gillingham of Columbia, runner-up in the mile at the Ivy League Indoor Championships, as well as a contingent of Georgetown runners, including Katrina Coogan - who was seventh in the 3K at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Women's Pole Vault: Kate Collins looks to round into form before another Big South title dual with current conference leader Mary Lawrence of Coastal Carolina. She'll be facing a field that includes former CAA champion Mandisa Marshall, competing unattached.

Men's High Jump: Before his sixth head to head meeting with defending conference champion Kyle Wheeler, Avion Jones is first in action Saturday, where he'll battle a field that includes Edward Dudley of Lake Erie, fifth at the Raleigh Relays in March.