PRINCETON, N.J. – Jenna Moye closed her career with a bang, recording the fastest 1,500-meter time in the Big South this year, a new VMI school record of 4:32.56 to lead VMI track and field at the IC4A/ECAC Championships, held in Princeton, N.J.
Moye's time was a near-three second personal best, and was just faster than the time that won the Big South title this season, posted by Sarah Gentry of UNC Asheville. It bested the previous Keydet school record by some two seconds. Moye finished 18th overall in the event.
Moye was not only the only Keydet to wrap up a career Saturday, as Antonio Wood did so as well. Wood had posted a first day personal best in the decathlon on Friday, but after no heighting in the pole vault and finishing 13th in the javelin, was not recorded with a time in the 1,500 meters. Officially, Wood was scored with a DNF in the decathlon for undisclosed reasons. He was, however, a part of VMI's 4X100-meter relay team as well, joining Brandyn Laury, Aron Long and fellow senior Nate Gant to clock in at 43.78, good for 26th place.
Wood was not the only Keydet entrant in the decathlon, as Quincy Murphy wound up in 11th place overall, notching 6,406 points. Murphy's effort was just two points shy of his personal best, set at this year's Big South meet. To put that in perspective, had he run .32 quicker in the 1,500-meters, Murphy would have notched those two points and matched his PR.
The final Keydet in the IC4A side of the meet was Andrey Dmitriev, who advanced to Saturday's 1,500-meter final by finishing seventh in the prelims. Dmitriev clocked in at 3:48.96 to move on.
The Keydets had two other women, in addition to Moye, competing Saturday as well. Mary Grace Lemon wrapped up her junior year with a 17th-place finish in the hammer throw, posting a mark of 50.60 meters (166'0”), while Kate Collins no-heighted in the pole vault. Only nine ECAC vaulters in the field of 23 cleared the opening height of 3.66 meters (12'0”).
“I'm very proud of what these three seniors have given to our program – Jenna Moye, Antonio Wood and Nate Gant,” said VMI head coach Darrin Webb. “Each of them has contributed to our teams in a valuable way and left a mark on our program. We thank them for all of their efforts for VMI track and field these past four seasons. It was also good to see the other competitors – Quincy Murphy, Mary Grace Lemon and, even though she no-heighted, Kate Collins be able to qualify for this meet and battle against strong competition.”
VMI track and field will return to action Sunday, when the IC4A/ECAC Championships wrap up in Princeton. Action gets underway at 9 a.m.
