PRINCETON, N.J. - VMI's Felix Kitur and Dennis James earned top-four finishes in their respective events Sunday afternoon, the 800-meters and the high jump, as competition concluded at the IC4A Championship, held at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J.
Kitur, coming off a 1:47.62 clocking in the preliminary round, was second in the 800-meters with a time of 1:48.07. His race opened up quickly, and as he did Saturday, Kitur sat third after one lap. With 200 meters to go, he started to surge towards the front. He was able to pass the second place runner, and to kick past Alex Hudak of Manhattan and edge to the front with 100 meters remaining. At that point, it appeared to be a dual between Hudak and Kitur, but Brian Gagnon of UConn made a tremendous run in the final 75 meters to claim the victory in 1:47.96, with the VMI standout finishing just behind him.
Meanwhile, James came home tied for fourth in the high jump. As is customary in the field events at the IC4A Championships, the athletes had difficulties with the opening height of 2.02 meters (6'7 ½"). James, however, sailed over the bar at that height on his second attempt. He failed to clear the next standard, but that single clearance made him one of only seven athletes to post a mark at all.
The performances enabled VMI to finish in the top half of the teams competing at the meet, as the Keydets finished 29th overall with twelve points. UConn captured the team title, edging out Liberty by nine points, 64-55.
"I'm proud of all of our efforts this week," said VMI head coach Darrin Webb. "Felix had a phenomenal effort Saturday, and came back and ran well today to take second. Dennis really performed well today too, as he posted that clearance with the entire field missing around him."
Other VMI results saw Cody Davis post the top mark in the first flight of the shot put, helping him finish 17th overall (15.63 M/51'3 ½"). Ademola Titcombe also saw action Sunday, as the sophomore finished fifth in the opening flight of the triple jump. Titcombe's best leap was 14.04 M (46'0 ¾").
VMI track and field will return to action in two weeks, as qualified Keydets will take part in the NCAA Preliminary Rounds, formerly known as the East Regional Championships. The meet will be held in Greensboro, N.C., and it will get underway on May 27.
