CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Looking for a strong performance in their only regular season meet of the Covid-19 shortened season, the VMI cross country teams accomplished the task at the Tom Scott Open Friday evening in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In the men's 7.4k race, the Keydets defeated UNC Pembroke and King College with 20 points while Pembroke (45) and King (73) followed suit. In the women's 5.6k race, VMI placed third with 63 points and was preceded by UNC Pembroke (35) and Lenoir-Rhyne (38). The Keydets defeated King College which placed fourth with 95 points.
Senior
Jahanzib Shahbaz led the men's team with a second-place finish in 23:04 and was followed by junior
Andre Jordan's 3
rd-place mark of 24:34.
Gavin Jenkins arrived in fourth in 24:34 while sophomore
Trent Whittaker placed fifth in 25:00 even. Senior
Carlos Fernandes also scored team points with a sixth-place mark of 25:07.
On the women's side, senior
Anna Armfield finished fourth overall in 22:17 while
Sara Belamarich came in eighth in 22:45. Freshman
Naomi Hahn arrived third for VMI in ninth place overall in 22:59 and sophomore
Taylor Rice came in 23
rd in 25:14. Freshman
Elizabeth Morris scored team points with her 27
th-place finish in 31:20.
Full results can be found at:
https://www.tfrrs.org/results/xc/17288/Tom_Scott_Open
Coaches Quotes:
Dr. Drew Ludtke on the women's race:
"I was happy with the ladies today as they competed well. Anna and Sara had strong races as they led the Keydets in 4th and 8th places. Rat
Naomi Hahn had a strong finish to come in 9th place. Even though we only traveled half of the team, we competed very well today, particularly with three athletes in the top 10!"
Dr. Drew Ludtke on the men's race:
"Our men dominated today, led by Shahbaz. Of the first 16 college athletes, 14 were from VMI. Scoring 20 points today will give the team some confidence going forward. The results show our upper class have progressed and a promising group of younger athletes coming in closely behind our upper class. The way the team has developed each year demonstrates how well these athletes work together. We are all excited for the SoCon Championship in three weeks!"
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Darrin Webb:
"Both teams ran outstanding. I could not be prouder. After seven months of no competition, it gave our athletes an opportunity to race again and that was the win of the day. Across the board they competed hard, and the men coming away with the win was great. Just watching them race was outstanding!"
Men – 7.4k Race
Team Results:
VMI – 20
UNC Pembroke – 45
King - 73
Jahanzib Shahbaz – 2nd – 23:04
Andre Jordan – 3rd – 24:34
Gavin Jenkins – 4th – 24:34
Trent Whittaker – 5th – 25:00
Carlos Fernandes – 6th – 25:07
Walt Kitson – 7th – 25:13
Zach Lauster – 9th – 25:23
Ian Irizarry-Negron – 10th – 25:27
Dennison Kelly – 11th – 25:33
Cade Compton – 12th – 25:36
Andrew Himeisen – 13th – 25:38
Zach Sturm – 16th – 25:43
Kellen Reeves – 17th – 26:07
Stephen Kelley – 18th – 26:15
Zach Diller – 22nd – 26:35
Women – 5.6k Race
Team Scores
UNC Pembroke – 35
Lenoir-Rhyne - 38
VMI – 63
King – 95
Anna Armfield – 4th – 22:17
Sara Belamarich – 8th – 22:45
Naomi Hahn – 9th – 22:59
Taylor Rice – 23rd – 25:14
Elizabeth Morris – 27th – 31:20
