Women’s Cross Country heads to NCAA Regional

LEXINGTON, Va. – After a strong performance at the SoCon Championship race two weeks ago, the VMI women's cross country team is preparing to compete at the NCAA Southeast Regional slated for Friday hosted by Winthrop in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The women will run a 6K race at 10:30 a.m. before the men run a 10K course at 11:30 a.m. at Winthrop Farm.

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With a solid foundation built throughout the season, the team is ready to compete at the regional level, where they aim to continue building on their individual and collective progress.

VMI Runners competing
Jillian Sisk
Gretal Shank
Reagan Gilman
Natalia Dias
Samantha Layton
Nathalie Lavender

Key Performers Leading the Charge
Jillian Sisk was the team's top runner at the Southern Conference Championships, leading VMI with a strong performance that set the pace for the rest of the squad. Senior Gretal Shank followed closely behind, finishing with a lifetime best of 18:43.7—shaving 20 seconds off her previous 5k time. Her performance in her final conference meet was a standout moment for the team.

The team's depth was on full display with strong showings from Reagan Gilman, Nathalie Lavender, and Samantha Layton, whose efforts helped to solidify the team's competitive position. Gilman crossed the finish line in 19:02.3, while Lavender and Layton completed the race in 20:27.4 and 20:50.6, respectively. With a gap of just over two minutes separating the first and fifth runners, the team's improved pack running strategy was evident and will be critical as they approach the regional competition.

Coach Scott outlines NCAA Regional goals and building for the future

Maintaining Pack Cohesion: The team's ability to close the gap between their top and fifth runners, now just over two minutes, was a key strength at the conference meet. Maintaining this close-knit pack will be essential at the regional championships, where every second counts.
Carrying Momentum from Personal Bests: Shank's personal best and the solid performances from Gilman, Lavender, and Layton show that the team is trending upward. These achievements provide the team with confidence and momentum as they head into the regional competition, giving them a strong foundation for further success.
Building for the Future: The performances this season, led by Sisk's consistency and supported by the improvements of Shank, Gilman, Lavender, and Layton, have laid the groundwork for continued growth. Each athlete is gaining valuable experience that will help shape VMI cross country for years to come.

As VMI enters the Southeast Regional Championships, the team is poised to continue its growth, with each race contributing to their overall development. With a focus on maintaining their pack strength and building on individual breakthroughs, the Keydets are ready to challenge the region's top teams and set the stage for future success.

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Players Mentioned

Nathalie Lavender: Junior

Gretal Shank: Senior

Jillian Sisk: Sophomore

Reagan Gilman: Freshman

Natalia Dias: Freshman

Samantha Layton: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nathalie Lavender
: Junior

Gretal Shank
: Senior

Jillian Sisk
: Sophomore

Reagan Gilman
: Freshman

Natalia Dias
: Freshman

Samantha Layton
: Freshman

VMI Athletics

Scoreboard

Women’s Cross Country heads to NCAA Regional

Players Mentioned

Nathalie Lavender

Gretal Shank

Jillian Sisk

Reagan Gilman

Natalia Dias

Samantha Layton

Players Mentioned

Nathalie Lavender

Gretal Shank

Jillian Sisk

Reagan Gilman

Natalia Dias

Samantha Layton