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Women's Cross Country

VMI Women place seventh at SoCon Championship

Keydets earn best placement since rejoining league in 2014

MILL SPRING, N.C. – The VMI women's cross country team earned its best finish in 11 years at the Southern Conference Championship race Saturday morning at the Tryon Equestrian Park in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
 
The Keydets came in seventh place with 206 points at the race, its best finish since VMI rejoined the Southern Conference in 2014. VMI had placed eighth on a few occasions the past 11 years, but had never hit the No. 7 spot in the final team rankings at the event.
 
Complete Results
 
Furman won its 13th straight team title with 23 points while Mercer came in second with 68 points.  The Keydets defeated UNCG (212), Wofford (244) and The Citadel (300) in the team standings.
 
Junior Jillian Sisk led the team with a 20th-place finish in a 5K time of 18:32.80, her best ever personal placement at the event. It was also VMI's best finish at the SoCon race since Anna Armfield placed 15th in 2020. Sophomore Reagan Gilman was close behind in 22nd place in 18:38.90 while Zoffia Gonzalez was the third Keydet to finish in 53rd overall in 19:53.
 
Samantha Layton (60th, 20:01) and Evelyn Anderson (70th, 21:45) also earned team points for the Keydets. Sophomore Natalia Dias competed for VMI and finished the race in 71st overall in 22:12.
 
VMI Women - 7th place - 206 points - 5K
20th - Jillian Sisk - 18:32.80
22nd - Reagan Gilman - 18:38.90
53rd - Zoffia Gonzalez - 19:53.10
60th - Samantha Layton - 20:01.20
70th - Evelyn Anderson - 21:45.40
71st - Natalia Dias - 22:12.80
 
Furman's Tessa Walter won the individual title in 17:03 to spur the Paladins to the win.
 
VMI Head Cross Country Coach Tony Skiles
"Jillian finished her best place in her career as a cadet.  Zoffia and Reagan their personal-best cross country times for a 5K. The women finished seventh overall and were the preseason eighth selection. They came out and performed at their best and against the best."
 
VMI Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Zack Scott
"Our women's team made great strides this year, proudly representing the "I" today. I'm especially proud of Coach Skiles, who joined us just a week before our first meet and has been building something special ever since. The consistent improvement shown by this small but determined group of women is a true testament to what's yet to come."
 
 
 
WOMEN'S TEAM POINTS  
1. Furman - 23  
2.Mercer - 68 
3.Chattanooga - 82 
4.Western Carolina - 123 
5. Samford - 129  
6. ETSU - 140  
7. VMI - 206 
8. UNCG - 212 
9.Wofford - 244 
10. The Citadel – 300
 
2025 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year  
Tessa Walter, Furman 
 
2025 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year 
Tessa Walter, Furman 
 
2025 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year 
Rita Gary, Furman 
 
2025 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Pinnacle Award Winner 
Emma Jones, Furman 
 
First Team All-Conference 
Tessa Walter, Furman  
Nysa Males, Furman  
Mary Grace Parker, Mercer 
Maddie Wheatcroft, Chattanooga  
Rory Sullivan, Furman  
Felicity Hamilton, Samford  
Zoie Lamanna, Furman 
 
Second Team All-Conference 
Jais Ward, Furman  
Annie Miller, Furman  
Nichole Harris, Mercer 
Katherine Bannigan, Furman  
Emma Jones, Furman  
Leah Boyd, Chattanooga 
Sophie Beach, ETSU  
 
All-Freshman Team 
Tessa Walter, Furman  
Nysa Males, Furman 
Mary Grace Parker, Mercer 
Rory Sullivan, Furman  
Zoie Lamanna, Furman  
Jais Ward, Furman  
Annie Miller, Furman 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jillian Sisk

Jillian Sisk

Sophomore
Reagan Gilman

Reagan Gilman

Freshman
Natalia Dias

Natalia Dias

Freshman
Samantha Layton

Samantha Layton

Freshman
Zoffia Gonzalez

Zoffia Gonzalez

Sophomore
Evelyn Anderson

Evelyn Anderson

Junior

Players Mentioned

Jillian Sisk

Jillian Sisk

Sophomore
Reagan Gilman

Reagan Gilman

Freshman
Natalia Dias

Natalia Dias

Freshman
Samantha Layton

Samantha Layton

Freshman
Zoffia Gonzalez

Zoffia Gonzalez

Sophomore
Evelyn Anderson

Evelyn Anderson

Junior