BLACKSBURG, Va. – Several VMI track and field athletes competed Friday, on the first day of the Virginia Tech Challenge, hosted by the Hokies at Rector Field House in Blacksburg.

Three Keydets competed in the women's pole vault, led by freshman Kate Collins. Collins recorded a season-best 3.50 M (11'5 3/4") in VMI's final tune-up before next weekend's Big South Indoor Championships, and in the process, equaled VMI's school record for the indoor version of the women's pole vault. Carrie Wortham and Jennifer Sing were unable to record a height on the evening, but Collins' third-place finish in the unseeded division sets up a potential four-way duel for the conference title between herself, Shelley Parker of Liberty, Mary Lawrence of Coastal Carolina and Carrie Long of Gardner-Webb. Although several other athletes could be competitive, those four women have the top four marks in the Big South so far this season.

Also competing Friday was Dean Gonsalves, who saw action in the 1,000-meters. Gonsalves, who is currently in the Big South's top-10 in both the 800-meters and the mile, completed today's race in 2:31.61 to finish 17th.

VMI track and field will return to action tomorrow, as a handful of other VMI athletes take in part in the final day of the Virginia Tech Invitational. Action is set to begin at 11 a.m., while the first Keydets will see action in the men's 800-meters, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Note: This story originally listed Collins' jump as being 3.35 M. This was an error in the results, which has since been corrected. We apologize for any confusion.