KENT, OHIO - The VMI track and field teams competed Saturday at the Doug Raymond Invitational, hosted by Kent State. James Alexander and Jenna Moye paced the squads, as each collected third-place finishes in their respective events.
Alexander crossed the line in a time of 22.05 to earn his result. The time was an IC4A qualification mark, as was Chad Lawson's 17.47 M (57'3 ¾") toss in the weight throw. The effort by the defending Big South champion in that event earned him a 10th place finish, as he punched his ticket to the IC4A championships for the second consecutive indoor season.
On the women's side, freshman Moye continued her impressive opening collegiate season, placing third in the mile with a time of 5:06.05. The 2009 Big South Cross Country Freshman of the Year finished behind two upperclassmen, and was the only freshman in the top five at the finish line.
Moye also factored in the other major women's event of the day, as she ran one leg of the winning Distance Medley Relay (DMR). The squad, consisting of Moye, Hannah Granger, Corinne Lariviere and Chandale Williams, won the event in a time of 12:37.74. The effort was a school record and was nearly 30 seconds faster than the runner-up, Buffalo.
Two other freshmen from the VMI women's program had solid days, as Leah Schubel and Lindsey Carty were the top finishing freshmen in the 5,000-meter run. Schubel was the fifth-place runner, coming home in a time of 19:09.39, while Carty posted a sixth-place effort, thanks to her 19:21.89 clocking. The men's side of that event saw Matt Satterwhite finish sixth with a 15:32.62 clocking.
The field events were also kind to the Keydets, as Terrance Green was second in the long jump with a 6.81 M leap (22'4 ¼"). In fact, the Keydets had four of the top nine finishers in that event, as Nate Gant, Ademola Titcombe and Antonio Wood all joined Green by placing in the top nine. Wood also set a personal best in the high jump, clearing 1.95 M to tie for fourth. Wood tied with three other competitors, including teammate Dennis James.
Finally, Williams was fourth in the 400-meters, as the school record holder crossed the line in 58.60, and Cody Davis joined Lawson in the weight throw, as Davis hurled the implement 15.75 M (51'8 ¼") to finish 15th.
"As a whole, we saw about the results I expected," offered VMI head coach Darrin Webb. "There were some great efforts, despite sore bodies after three straight days of work following the return from break. Trae (James) Alexander in the 200, and Chad Lawson in the weight throw were particularly exceptional for early in the season. On the women's side, the effort of Jenna Moye in the mile, as well as the DMR's school record effort, were particularly exciting.
We have work to do after such a long break, but we saw a lot of good things today, both from a technique standpoint and from a conditioning standpoint."
The Keydet track and field teams will return to action Friday, as the squads compete at the Great Dane Classic in New York City. The event, hosted by the University of Albany, will take place at the historic Armory, the home of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
