The VMI cross country programs will return to action Saturday, as the teams travel to nearby Blacksburg, Va. to take part in the Big South Preview meet, hosted by Radford at Blacksburg Middle School, the site of Oct. 30's Big South Championships. The women's race will open the competition at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's race shortly after the conclusion of the women's event.
VMI has not competed since the season-opening VMI Relays on Sept. 3, an event that the Keydets dominated. The women's side saw defending Big South Champion Hannah Granger take the top overall time, while sophomore Leah Schubel and freshman Rebecca Sweeney were second and third. All three are expected to compete this weekend, as is freshman Tammy Cheung. Cheung missed the Relays due to injury, but the six-time All-State honoree should make her collegiate debut in Blacksburg to run alongside Granger, Sweeney, Schubel and 2009 BSC Freshman of the Year Jenna Moye.
In terms of the Keydets' competition, the field will be a bit thinner than normal. Coastal Carolina is not entered in the event, while VMI's arch-rivals, the defending Big South Champions, Liberty are sending just four runners, and thus, are not eligible for the team title.
The Lady Flames will not run Hailey Neal or Jennifer Klugh, the two harriers who could be Granger's chief competition for the conference title on Oct. 30, while the Chanticleers' absence will also mean Jaime Brusa, a talented transfer from the University of Illinois, will not be running. High Point, who finished fourth at last year's Championships, will send a team that could include Emily Webb, a senior who was eighth at last year's Big South meet.
On the men's side, the field should be wide-open as Liberty, who won the title handily last year, will not compete at the meet. The Keydets will be led by Ermin Mujezinovic, who was the top individual finisher at the VMI Relays. Freshman Cabell Willis, who was the third-place finisher at that event, is expected to run and help pace a team that includes fellow freshmen Jordan White and Andy Eddleton, along with sophomore Ian McGinn.
VMI's main battle will come from the men's teams of Coastal Carolina and High Point. The Panthers are ranked #12 in the Southeast Region, and boast a team that includes Neal Darmody, who was seventh in the Big South last year, as well as talented distance runner Dakota Peachee. Peachee was 14th in the Big South as a freshman in 2009, but his true success came on the track, where he won the steeplechase at the USATF Junior National Championships.
