CLEMSON, S.C. – A school record and runner-up finish in the distance medley relay paced the VMI women's track and field team Saturday, as the Keydets took part in day one of the 2010 Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships.
The DMR team of Hannah Granger, Jenna Moye, Chandale Williams and Lindsey Carty completed the distance in 12:13.46, 24 seconds faster than the previous VMI school record, set earlier this season. Granger ran the 1,200-meter leg in 3:46, Williams ran the 400 in 56.8, Carty traversed the 800-meter portion in 2:22.1 and Moye completed the mile in 5:08. As a team, the effort was good enough for second place, and came in 3.5 seconds under the previous meet record, set last year by High Point.
Granger also took part in the day's first final, the 3,000-meters, and earned her seventh career All-Big South honor on the strength of a third place finish in that event. Her time of 10:10.86 was less than three seconds off the winning pace, and earned six team points for the Keydets.
All told, VMI currently sits in fourth place with 21 points, two points ahead of High Point and owning three more points than the Keydets did at this meet last year. Winthrop is sixth with 15 markers, while Gardner-Webb is seventh with 12 points. Charleston Southern (7) and UNC Asheville (6) round out the standings, and Liberty (59), Coastal Carolina (52) and Radford (43) all are in front of the Keydets.
"I was very pleased with our efforts," said VMI head coach Darrin Webb. "We had many great outings today, but the DMR performance was outstanding. We are on pace to score more points than we have in school history."
VMI earned four points in the weight throw, as Aquisi Harris hurled the implement 14.89 meters (48'10 ¼”) to earn fifth place. The finish was the best career effort for the junior at the indoor conference meet, surpassing her sixth-place finish last season.
Zipporah McCann wrapped up the scoring for the Keydet women, as she finished sixth in the pentathlon with 2910 points. Finally, Chandale Williams moved on to tomorrow's final of the 400-meters, as she qualified seventh with a time of 58.94 seconds.
VMI track and field will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets compete on the final day of the 2010 Big South Indoor Championships. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. at Clemson University's indoor facility in Clemson, S.C.
