VMI Athletics

A Leader by Example - Keydet Athlete Feature 

2007-08: Ran a 9:05.63 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Penn Relays, qualifying him for the IC4A Championships...won the 1,500-meters at April's UVA meet, running a 3:57.96...finished fourth in the 800-meters at the Big South Indoor Championships...ran a season-best 1,500-meters at the Big South Outdoor Championships, posting a 3:57.78...did not compete in the 2007 Cross Country season.

2006: Team's top finisher in five of the six meets he competed in...Led the team with a 24th place showing at the Tennessee Invitational (28:06-8.4K)...Placed 105th overall at the Paul Short Invitational with a time of 25:49 (8K)...Named VMI Athlete of the Week after placing fourth overall at the VMI Invitational (26:19-8K)...Also named VMI Athlete of the Week after leading the Keydets with a 14th place showing at the Big South Championships (25:47-8K)...One of two Keydets to compete at the NCAA Regionals, placing 77th overall with a time of 32:46 (10K).

2005: Placed seventh at the Big South Championships by running the 8K course in 25:52, earning him All-Conference honors as a sophomore...Led the Keydets in all six meets of the year...Won the Winthrop Invitational with a time fo 18:54 on the 6K course...Placed 41st at the Paul Short Invitational and 63rd at the 10K NCAA Regional event, running a 31:59.

2004: Finished 18th at the Big South Championships with a time of 26:30, third-best among Keydet finishers...Placed 29th at the Blue Ridge Mountain Open, 36th at the Furman Invitational and the Winthrop Invitational and placed second in his first collegiate meet, a dual race against Radford with a time of 16:23 on the 5K course.

High School: Named 2003 and 2004 Virginia AA State Champion in the mile and runner-up in the two mile...Four-year letterwinner in cross country and indoor track, and a three-time letterwinner in outdoor track...Holds school record in mile, two-mile, 1,000 yard, and 4x400m indoor events, as well as the 4x6,400 and mile outdoor events...Also a course record-holder in cross country.

Personal: Son of Valerie Cowart...Full name is Donald Ray Cowart...Changed name from Donnie Mikels III prior to the 2006 season...Civil Engineering major.