VMI track and field will return to action Saturday, when the Keydets open competition at this year's SoCon Outdoor Championships in Birmingham, Ala. Action gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday and resumes Sunday at 9 a.m.
How to Follow
Fans can follow along with the action via live results. Note that there will be no video streaming available for the meet.
A Look Back
This will be VMI's first outdoor SoCon Championship since, of course, 2003. That year the Keydets finished fourth overall, and were helped by a 1-2 finish in the high jump from Chris Walker and current Associate Head Coach Garrett Brickner.
Event by Event Preview
Men's 100-Meters
Conference Leader: Brenden Caldwell, WCU - 10.53
Just as was the case indoors, Western Carolina controlls the top of the leaderboard in the sprints, and the 100-meters is no exception. Freshman Caldwell leads the way with a 10.53, over three-tenths clear of the rest of the conference with a mark that ranks him in the top 100 in Division 1. Both Aron Long and Pete Reed rank in the top eight and have a strong chance to score points.
Men's 200-Meters
Conference Leader: Demari Boswell, WCU - 21.54
In the 200, it's Boswell that's well clear of several Western teammates. His 21.54 is two-tenths better than teammate Dakota Lamont. Western holds eight of the top nine spots, but it is Aron Long that breaks up that string. Long ranks sixth in the conference so far this season.
Men's 400-Meters
Conference Leader: Henry Kiedy, WCU - 47.68
Kiedy went into the indoor championships in the proverbial catbird seat, in position to possibly pull of a 200-400 double. Instead, he finished fifth in the 200 and was DQ'd in this event, only to see teammate Aaron Tribble win. He ran a 47.68 two weekends ago, but will be chased by teammates Dakota Lamont and Tribble. The Keydets' top hopes lie with Julian Jackson, who was third indoors, and Brandon Hartman, who ran a 49.91 last weekend at Charlotte that was the second-best time of his career.
Men's 800-Meters
Conference Leader: Brandon Hazouri, Samford - 1:48.12
After running 1-2 at the conference indoor meet, Hazouri and Avery Martin should go head to head here once again. Martin will also have to deal with Hazouri's teammates, Adam Jones and Nathan Hendershot, who rank second and third in the conference respectively, just in front of Martin's fourth-place ranking. Jacob Lysher has returned from a year off to rank seventh in the conference performance list.
Men's 1,500-Meters
Conference Leader: Adam Jones, Samford - 3:44.79
Adam Jones of Samford, who was 18th nationally in this event last season, leads the conference by some three seconds this year. Jones redshirted the indoor season, when Furman's Troy Reeder won the mile and Samford's Brandon Hazouri was second. Avery Martin finished third in the mile indoors and ranks fifth in the conference in the 1,500 so far this season.
Men's 5,000-Meters
Conference Leader: Arse'ne Guillorel, Samford - 14:06.51
Guillorel finished second in the 5K indoors and his top rival, Tripp Hurt of Furman, has focused on the 3K steeple during this outdoor season. That has left Guillorel and Tanner Hinkel of the Paladins atop the 5K leaderboard, where they are well clear of the field. Daniel DeNijs should be the Keydets' top hope in this event, a distance he ranks 13th in the conference in at this point in the year. It will also be worth watching whether Brandon White completes the 5K/10K double.
Men's 10,000-Meters
Conference Leader: Tanner Hinkel, Furman - 29:16.77
Only eight SoCon runners have logged 10K times so far this outdoor season, with Brandon White of the Keydets being among them. White ran a 32:29.12 at the HPU Vertklasse Meet in early April. The top time in the conference, Hinkel's 29:16.77, was logged at one of the faster distance tracks in America, Stanford.
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles
Conference Leader: Abraham Faison, WCU - 14.29
The Keydets' final results will likely hinge on this event, where they hold three of the top five times in the league this year. Quincy Murphy leads the two talented freshmen, Davon Guerrier and Lee Warren, in the 3-5 spots that will try to overcome the Western Carolina standouts Faison and Marquis Bailey. Warren will also be looking to join Guerrier and Murphy as an IC4A qualifier.
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles
Conference Leader; Michael Williams, ETSU - 52.45
Conference leader Williams is well clear of the rest of the field, some eight-tenths ahead of the Western Carolina standouts Abraham Faison and Marquis Bailey. Davon Guerrier hopes to score in this event as well as the 110 hurdles, and comes in ranked sixth, while Ben Greene is ninth in the conference.
Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Conference Leader: Tripp Hurt, Furman - 8:47.76
This would seem to be Hurt's race to lose, as he is 20 seconds faster than the rest of the conference. The race for second includes Michael Cornwell (WCU) and Adam Chase (ETSU), while Sean Helmke and Daniel DeNijs of the Keydets also rank in the top-10 in the conference.
Men's 4X100-Meter Relay
Conference Leader: Western Carolina - 40.92
WCU, as one should expect, is the leader in this event - it is the Keydets who rank second by a wide margin. VMI ran a 41.79 at the Charlotte Invite last weekend.
Men's 4X400-Meter Relay
Conference Leader: Western Carolina - 3:11.06
The Keydets rank fifth in the conference in this event, an event that should be wide-open behind WCU's 3:11.06 that is seven seconds faster than anyone else in the conference.
Men's High Jump
Conference Leader: Keyth Fightmaster, Samford - 2.15 M/7'0 1/2"
Fightmaster of Samford is tied for 18th in Division 1 in this event, as is the overwhelming favorite here. 12 athletes behind Fightmaster are within 6 3/4 inches of each other, including VMI's Quincy Murphy, who ranks eighth in the conference.
Men's Pole Vault
Conference Leader: Tray Oates, Samford - 5.30 M/17'4 1/2"
The host team leads the way in this event as well, with two freshmen pacing the conference entering the championships. Oates is at the top of the leaderboard with teammate Gavin Gauteau close behind. Grant Holmes ranks 11th in the conference and looks to rebound from back to back no-heights the last two weekends.
Men's Long Jump
Conference Leader: Marquis Barnes, Samford - 6.99 M/22'11 1/4"
Barnes approached seven meters at the Hilltop Twilight Classic in early April, but the most recent entrant to the SoCon's top five was Quincy Murphy, who ranks third in the league at 6.82 M (22'4 1/2"). Pete Reed is also very much in the mix to score, as he ranks ninth in the conference after finishing fourth at the indoor meet.
Men's Triple Jump
Conference Leader: Javion Lee, Samford - 15.29 M/50'2"
If the two favorites, Lee of Samford and David Johnson of Western Carolina, stumble, Pete Reed is part of a group that could look to take advantage. Reed's best effort this outdoor season - 13.73 M/45'0 1/2" - came on April 11 at George Mason.
Men's Shot Put
Conference Leader: Jordan White, VMI - 15.38 M/50'5 1/2"
White entered VMI's all-time top-10 list last weekend at the Charlotte Invite and with that, took over the conference lead as well. This event is shaping up to be a battle between White, Jared Johnson of Western Carolina and Brian Smith of Samford, much like the indoor meet.
Men's Discus Throw
Conference Leader: Sidney Jordan, Samford - 50.35 M/165'2"
Jordan of Samford has dominated this event so far this season, leading the conference by 11 feet. It is Grant Sanchez who has had the breakthrough season for the Keydets, ranking sixth in the SoCon with a best effort of 44.61 meters (146'4").
Men's Hammer Throw
Conference Leader: Sidney Jordan, Samford - 57.16 M/187'6"
Jordan will look to pull the hammer/discus double here, in another event that he has dominated so far this season. Jordan leads the conference by 16 feet over Jared Johnson of Western. Jordan White of VMI will look to tally additional points here as well.
Men's Javelin Throw
Conference Leader: Capers Williamson, The Citadel - 65.22 M/214'0"
Williamson and his teammate, Clay Allen, will battle it out for the javelin title. They are 25 feet clear of third-ranked Adam Parker of Western Carolina, and 42 feet ahead of Joseph Lee of Samford, who sits fourth on the performance list. Donovan Walton, a first-year javelin thrower, is the top hope for the Keydets - Walton ranks seventh with a PR of 47.75 M (156'8").
Men's Decathlon
With entries not yet finalized at press time, the decathlon is virtually impossible to predict. Only two SoCon athletes have completed a full decathlon this year, with Nathan Rivera of ETSU's 6330 points standing as the top score.
Women's 100-Meters
Conference Leader: Keturah Williams, ETSU - 11.60
This could be an epic battle between Williams and Tayla Carter of Western Carolina, who are separated by just .01 so far this year. The Keydets have taken a huge step forward in this event this season, with Kerisha Goode and Yaa Agyepong-Wiafe ranked in the league's top-11 and on the doorstep of scoring.
Women's 200-Meters
Conference Leader: Tayla Carter, WCU - 23.60
Three Western Carolina runners, led by Carter, go 1-2-3 in the conference so far this year, but it's a young Keydet who sits fourth. Kerisha Goode ran a 25.04 at George Mason earlier this year and could make a legitimate run at the podium.
Women's 400-Meters
Conference Leader: Genevieve Emrick, WCU - 54.24
Emrick of Western is a second and a half ahead of teammate Corina Archie-McMillan, the #2 runner in the conference. Emrick also ranks 76th in Division I so far this season in the event. Christina Hill leads the Keydets with a 58.94 clocking, the second-fastest time in school history and the #10 time in the conference so far this season.
Women's 800-Meters
Conference Leader: Marie DeMedicis, Samford - 2:07.48
DeMedicis, the conference indoor champion, leads the field into the outdoor meet as well. The Keydets will look to freshman Kennedy Flynn as their top hope - Flynn enters the outdoor championship 11th in the conference with a best time of 2:19.11.
Women's 1,500-Meters
Conference Leader: Allie Buchalski, Furman - 4:27.01
Buchalski leads a group of three freshmen at the top of the standings in this event. She'll be chased by teammate Jacquelyn Crow and Samford's Karisa Nelson, while VMI's Hannah Dickinson is ninth after posting nearly a three-second PR last weekend at Charlotte.
Women's 5,000-Meters
Conference Leader: Sinead Haughey, Furman - 16:26.04
Four Furman Paladins rank in the top-eight in this event, paced by Haughey's 16:26 from the Raleigh Relays. Teghan Henderson of UTC, one of the top cross country threats in the conference, will hope to break up the Paladin domination, while Hannah Dickinson is VMI's top hope in the event.
Women's 10,000-Meters
Conference Leader: Sinead Haughey, Furman - 33:53.34
Haughey of Furman is a candidate to pull the 5K/10K double, as she leads the seven runners who have completed a 10K this season.
Women's 100-Meter Hurdles
Conference Leader: Demeteria Edgecombe, ETSU - 13.35
Edgecomb of ETSU is nearly five-tenths quicker than anyone else in the conference. Behind her, it should be a battle between Xaviera Bass of Western Carolina, Sarah Sanford of Samford and Kayla Williams of Western. Yaa Agyepong-Wiafe is VMI's top hope, as she ranks seventh fresh off her SoCon Track Athlete of the Week honor.
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles
Conference Leader: Michaela Birek, WCU - 59.32
Birek of Western is ranked 41st in Division I in this event and is the overwhelming favorite. Sarah Sanford of Samford is a threat for a podium finish in both the 100 and 400, while Julia Logan and Deborah Allison rank in the top-15 in the conference.
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Conference Leader: Allie Buchalski, Furman - 10:13.10
Buchalski leads both this and the 1,500-meters, giving her a shot at a very rare double. No Keydet has completed a steeplechase this year.
Women's 4X100-Meter Relay
Conference Leader: Western Carolina, 45.67
Western is the favorite, but the Keydets are the team that is in best position to capitalize on any errors by the Catamounts. VMI has set school records in back to back weeks and last week, posted the team's first ECAC qualifier in this event in school history.
Women's 4X400-Meter Relay
Conference Leader: Western Carolina, 3:40.49
WCU is 60th in Division I in this event and is 10 seconds faster than anyone else in the conference - the Keydets will be looking for their second school record in this event during the outdoor season.
Women's High Jump
Conference Leader: Anisia Starege/Molly Fagan, WCU - 1.68 M (5'6")
Julia Logan, who is tied for sixth in the conference, is part of a field that is separated by just nine inches on the performance list.
Women's Pole Vault
Conference Leader: Claire Goodson, Samford - 4.07 M (13'4 1/4")
Goodson of Samford has cleared at least 3.85 meters in three of her four meets this outdoor season, a mark that has been hit just one other time in the conference this year. Should she stumble, Ashley Kessler of ETSU is one of the favorites to take advantage.
Women's Long Jump
Conference Leader: Chenell Bryan, WCU - 5.72 M (18'9 1/4")
Bryan of Western Carolina leads a tight-knit field that sees the top seven separated by just seven inches. Among that listing is fourth-place Bria Anderson, VMI's breakthrough performer of the outdoor season, who enters off her SoCon Field Athlete of the Week performance. Anderson will also be a contender in the next event, the triple jump, while senior Thireyona Legg and Anderson's classmate, Kennedy Smith, should be in the mix to score.
Women's Triple Jump
Conference Leader: Tiana Pisoni, Samford - 11.98 M (39'3 3/4")
Pisoni, Chenell Bryan (WCU) and Tiffani Lewis (Samford) are the top three jumpers here - all three rank in the top six in the long jump as well. Pisoni popped an 11.98 meter effort earlier this season to make her the favorite. VMI's Bria Anderson ranks seventh, while Kerisha Goode is 10th on the pre-meet listings.
Women's Shot Put
Conference Leader: Hailey Cook, WCU - 14.99 M (49'2 1/4")
Cook of Western Carolina is the favorite here after coming up just shy of 15-meters earlier this season. Only her teammate, Alisha Bradshaw, has joined her in going over the 14-meter mark, while VMI's Renee Reives ranks fourth in the SoCon in this event. Elizaebth Johnston is 10th, and with a strong PR performance, could be in the mix to score.
Women's Discus Throw
Conference Leader: Alisha Bradshaw, WCU - 49.81 M (163'5")
Bradshaw of WCU leads the conference, but although her 49.81 throw is five meters in front of both teammate Hailey Cook and teammate Renee Reives, a closer look suggests a tighter competition. Bradshaw has thrown the discus three other times this season and has not exceeded 44.31 meters the remainder of the year, a throw that would put her just in front of third-place Reives.
Women's Hammer Throw
Conference Leader: Kristin Brining, Samford - 52.72 M (172'11")
Brining of Samford leads a trio at the front of the performance list that should battle for a conference title - right in the middle of that trio is Mary Grace Lemon. Lemon is just .02 meters behind Brining's conference-leading throw, less than one inch, and could battle for her first conference title since winning the Big South discus crown as a true freshman.
Women's Javelin Throw
Conference Leader: Verena Tobis, ETSU - 44.73 M (146'9")
Just like on the men's side, the women's side has a heavy favorite. Tobis of ETSU has a lead of over 16 feet over everyone else in the conference.
Women's Heptathlon
As always, the question is who will enter this event. The Keydets have focused on running their multi-event athletes, Emily Fulton and Deborah Allison, in single events so far this outdoor season - in fact, only three athletes have completed a heptathlon, with Holly Gaines of Western Carolina leading the way with 4,390.
