BLACKSBURG, Va. - The VMI women's cross country team dominated Saturday's Big South Preview Meet, as the squad placed four finishers in the top five, leading to a team victory at the meet hosted by Radford in Blacksburg, Va.
Hannah Granger led the way for the Keydets, winning the meet in a time of 18:57. Granger, the defending Big South Champion, took the lead in the opening mile and never looked back en route to the win. Freshman Tammy Cheung, making her collegiate debut, placed second in 19:00, while last year's conference Freshman of the Year Jenna Moye was third (19:05).
Freshman Rebecca Sweeney rounded out the quartet, placing fifth with a 19:29 clocking and helping the Keydets post 19 team points. That mark bested High Point, the runner-up team, by 41 markers and fell just four points short of a perfect score.
"The ladies did a great job today, including our top three girls," said VMI head coach Paul Spangler. "Tammy Cheung was strong in her first collegiate race, and Jenna Moye and Corinne Lariviere both ran very well after battling injuries over the last year. Even though we ran very well, it was disappointing that multiple teams did not run their top competitors."
The strong finishes continued for VMI, as Lariviere was eighth (19:43) and Molly Western came home in ninth (19:45). Leah Schubel (11th/19:48), Hannah Best (15th/20:12) and Dalton Kuhar (16th/20:13) rounded out the top 20 finishers, while freshmen Nicole Augins and Katie Purpura were also in action, placing 29th and 32nd respectively.
"I'm very pleased with how the women ran today," said VMI's Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Darrin Webb. "Our team has continued to progress, and our freshmen ran very well today, in addition to Hannah and Jenna."
With VMI and High Point placing 1-2 in the team standings, Gardner-Webb was third with 97 points. UNC Asheville and Winthrop tied for fourth (101 pts.), and Presbyterian rounded out the scoring with 168 markers. Liberty also competed, but did not record a team score due to only having four runners participate.
VMI cross country will return to action Friday, Oct. 1, taking part in the Charlotte Invitational in Charlotte, N.C.
