VMI Athletics

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David Sinclair

Women's Cross Country 9/11/2026 11:19:00 PM

VMI Women’s XC wins Shenandoah Twilight Open

WINCHESTER, Va. – The VMI women's cross country team gave an all-out effort to win the 2026 Shenandoah Twilight Open hosted Friday evening at Kernstown Battlefied in Winchester, Virginia.

Senior Jillian Sisk led the way for the Keydets by winning the 5K race individually with a time of 18:12.5 and was pursued closely by junior Reagan Gilman's third place time of 18:51.5.

The Keydets won with 31 team points followed by Batten College with 39. Roanoke College placed third with 53 points while Shepherd University finished fourth with 127. Host Shenandoah came in fifth with 146 points. A total of nine schools ran the race.

Fellow junior Samantha Layton arrived in eighth place in 20:27 followed by freshman Caroline Swinson's ninth-place time of 20:28. Lukah Sandine rounded out the scoring for the Keydets with a 10th-place finishof 20:33.

Senior Evelyn Anderson competed well and finished 17th overall in 22:01, while freshman Alexis Blue and junior Natalia Dias also performed well for the Keydets.

VMI Director of Track and Field and Cross Country LaRon Bennett
"Wow! 1st and 2nd for women and men! I couldn't be more excited for both groups. With the women, Jillian led the group and didn't let it go. She ended up winning the race and ran a personal best; all to lead the program to their first win in a while. With the guys not to be outdone, Patrick led the guys to a second-place program finish. They believe they can win and with the leadership of Coach Elisabeth, she is positioning them to continue to have a special season."

Up Next
The Keydets compete again in two weeks at the JMU Invitational on Friday, September 25, at the New Market Battlefield.

Women's 5K Team Scores

VMI – 31
Batten – 39
Roanoke – 53
Shepherd – 127
Shenandoah – 146
Christendom – 171
Stevenson – 176
Hollins – 208
Gallaudet – 257

Individual VMI Runners
1st – Jillian Sisk – 18:12.5
3rd – Reagan Gilman – 18:51.5
8th – Samantha Layton – 20:27.2
9th – Caroline Swinson – 20:28.5
10th – Lukah Sandine – 20:33.1
17th – Evelyn Anderson – 22:01.9
20th – Alexis Blue – 22:11.7
23rd – Natalia Dias – 22:26.6

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Players Mentioned

Evelyn Anderson: Senior

Natalia Dias: Junior

Reagan Gilman: Junior

Samantha Layton: Junior

Jillian Sisk: Senior

Alexis Blue: Freshman

Lukah Sandine: Freshman

Caroline Swinson: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Evelyn Anderson
: Senior

Natalia Dias
: Junior

Reagan Gilman
: Junior

Samantha Layton
: Junior

Jillian Sisk
: Senior

Alexis Blue
: Freshman

Lukah Sandine
: Freshman

Caroline Swinson
: Freshman