Big South Championship Preview: Men's 800-Meters

Men's Track and Field VMIKeydets.com

Kitur's Win, Alexander's IC4A Marks Lead Track and Field at Liberty

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Led by two school records, an event win and a pair of IC4A qualifying marks, VMI track and field took part in Saturday's action at the Liberty Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Liberty University in Lynchburg.

Felix Kitur captured VMI's event win Saturday, as the junior captured the win in the 400-meters. Stepping down in distance from his regular event, the 800-meters, Kitur won just the third individual 400-meter race of his collegiate career. The time of 49.05 seconds was .8 clear of the second-place runner.

James Alexander had a strong day as well, posting an IC4A qualifying mark in each of his two races. He crossed the line in 21.44 seconds in the 200-meters, which was good for second place, and finished the 100-meters in 10.71 seconds to earn a third-place finish.

A pair of school records fell for the VMI women, as Chandale Williams and Kate Collins set new Institute marks. Collins set a new mark in the pole vault, as her third-place effort came on a 3.40 M (11'1 ¾”) clearance, while Williams nipped her previous 400-meter mark. The senior finished second in that event with a 56.95 clocking, and came back in the 200-meters for a fourth-place result (25.41).

Meanwhile, the Keydets also had another strong finisher in the pole vault, as sophomore Jennifer Sing set a new personal best for the second consecutive week. Her clearance of 3.25 M (10'8”) was good enough for fourth place.

On the men's side, the 1,500-meter run was kind to the Keydets, as they had five of the top seven finishers. Ermin Mujezinovic paced the five VMI competitors, as he finished third with a personal best time of 4:01.26. Matt Sagar finished fourth, with a 4:02.79 time, while Ian McGinn was fifth in 4:04.32. Jason Thorpe (4:04.82) and Matt Satterwhite (4:06.47) rounded out the solid Keydet finishes.

The jumpers got into the action as well, as Terrance Green was fifth in the long jump with a 6.90 meter leap (22'7 ¾”). He came back to join Alexander in the 100-meters, and place 10th in that race with an 11.20 time. Dennis James was fourth in the high jump (1.94 M, 6'4 ¼”) and for the Keydet women, Zipporah McCann had a strong effort in the long jump, finishing fourth with a 5.36 meter effort (17'7”).

The throwers also took part in Saturday's proceedings, paced by Cody Davis' efforts in three events. The junior was third in the shot put with a 15.45 M heave (50'8 ¼”), seventh in the hammer (50.69 M, 166'4”) and ninth in the discus throw (39.88 M, 130'10”). Chad Lawson was second in the discus (45.22 M, 148'4”), and James Handler was sixth in the shot put (13.82 M, 45'4 ¼”). On the women's side, Aquisi Harris was fifth in the hammer, setting a new personal best with her 46.55 M (152'9”) toss.

The remaining throwing event, the javelin, saw good finishes for VMI in both the men's and women's sections. For the women, Kaitlin Harrison was fourth with a personal best toss of 37.04 M (121'6”). The effort was nearly eight meters better than her previous career best, and she was joined by Michelle Feole and Hope Hackemeyer. Hackemeyer was sixth with a 34.92 M effort (114'7”), while Feole was just an inch better for fifth place (34.95 M, 114'8”).

In the men's javelin, Tyler Brown and Justin McCarthy earned top-10 finishes. McCarthy was ninth with a 46.55 M (152'9”) throw and Brown, competing in just his second meet for the Keydets, was seventh (50.81 M, 166'8”).

Finally, Lindsey Carty was third in the women's 5K, completing the distance race in 18:46.71, while Dean Gonsalves was sixth in the 800-meters (1:58.80). VMI track and field will return to action Friday, as the Keydets travel to Charlottesville for the Lou Onesty Invitational. The first day of the two-day event is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

James Alexander

James Alexander

Sprints
Junior
Tyler Brown

Tyler Brown

Throws
Sophomore
Cody Davis

Cody Davis

Throws
Junior
Dean Gonsalves

Dean Gonsalves

Mid-Distance
Junior
Terrance Green

Terrance Green

Jumps/Sprints
Junior
James Handler

James Handler

Throws
Junior
Dennis James

Dennis James

High Jump
Junior
Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Mid-Distance
Junior
Chad Lawson

Chad Lawson

Throws
Junior
Justin McCarthy

Justin McCarthy

Javelin
Sophomore
Ian McGinn

Ian McGinn

Mid-Distance
Freshman
Ermin Mujezinovic

Ermin Mujezinovic

Distance
Junior

Players Mentioned

James Alexander

James Alexander

Junior
Sprints
Tyler Brown

Tyler Brown

Sophomore
Throws
Cody Davis

Cody Davis

Junior
Throws
Dean Gonsalves

Dean Gonsalves

Junior
Mid-Distance
Terrance Green

Terrance Green

Junior
Jumps/Sprints
James Handler

James Handler

Junior
Throws
Dennis James

Dennis James

Junior
High Jump
Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Junior
Mid-Distance
Chad Lawson

Chad Lawson

Junior
Throws
Justin McCarthy

Justin McCarthy

Sophomore
Javelin
Ian McGinn

Ian McGinn

Freshman
Mid-Distance
Ermin Mujezinovic

Ermin Mujezinovic

Junior
Distance