BUENA VISTA, Va. – The VMI Keydet men's cross country team finished fourth at Saturday morning's Big South Championships, hosted by VMI at the Vista Links Golf Course in Buena Vista, Va. Sean Helmke was VMI's top finisher, placing 10th to earn his first All-Big South honor.

Helmke led the way for VMI in 26:38, with Cabell Willis serving as the Keydets' #2 runner, finishing 18th in 27:15. Patrick Spahn was 21st in 27:21, with freshman Luke Phillips stepping up to the #4 position, thanks to a 27:28 time that landed him 24th place. Avery Martin was 26th in 27:37, with Will Thompson 31st in 27:45. Brandon White crossed the line in 37th at 28:02, with Jacob Lysher (28:29/52nd), Zachary Chase (28:51/57th) and Matthew Pasier (30:48/76th) rounding out the Keydet competitors.

In the team standings, the Keydets finished with 99 points, 12 behind third-place Campbell. Liberty won the team title with 40 points, besting High Point's 48 markers, and Coastal Carolina was fifth with 104. It is worth noting that Coastal had two runners finish in the top-eight, but VMI stayed ahead of the Chanticleers by putting all five of their scoring runners in the top 26. Coastal, meanwhile, had its 4-5 runners finish 35th and 46th, respectively.

Continuing the team standings, UNC Asheville (189) was sixth, while Longwood finished seventh (195) and edged Radford by a point (196). Winthrop (237), Gardner-Webb (329), Charleston Southern (351) and Presbyterian (368) rounded out the team results.

"My goal going into the season was third, and for an hour, I thought we had it," said VMI head coach Jennifer Fazioli, referencing a timing issue that briefly showed VMI in third over Campbell. "I didn't know if High Point would have Patrick Crawford, although they obviously did, so I felt like we could have snuck in for second after what we did at the Blue Ridge Open a couple of weeks ago. I thought the team effort was a good one, because we had people step up when we needed them. Avery Martin wasn't quite himself, and Sean Helmke really put everything together today. He looked strong the entire way. Luke Phillips as well, running as a freshman, was our fourth runner today in a banner effort. I'm still trying to digest that we were third for a time, but all in all, it was a positive day."

Patrick Crawford of High Point took the lead about halfway through the opening lap and never relinquished it en route to the victory, his first Big South XC title and a win that led an HPU sweep of the top two spots. The difference in the team standings, however, came in the 4-5 spots, as all five of Liberty's scoring runners finished inside the top 13, while High Point saw its 4-5 finish 14th and 19th, respectively.
Willis was VMI's All-Academic team representative.

"I appreciate the opportunity to host this meet this season," said VMI's Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Darrin Webb. "I'd like to thank John Trudgeon for all his hard work as the Meet Director, and our coaching staff, particularly Coach Fazioli, for their tireless efforts in preparing for today. In terms of the results, I felt like they were a team effort. Some people stepped up to fill holes, and had big performances today when they were needed. I like the direction we are going as a program and look forward to continuing on."

VMI cross country will return to action Nov. 15, competing in the SE Regional Championships at Panaroma Farms in Charlottesville. Action gets underway at 11 a.m.

A full list of honorees appears below.

2013 Runner of the Year (Men)
Patrick Crawford, High Point

2013 Runner of the Year (Women)
Letitia Saayman, Coastal Carolina

2013 Freshman of the Year (Men)
Dan Riff, Coastal Carolina

2013 Freshman of the Year (Women)
Kyla Van Graan, Coastal Carolina

2013 Big South All-Conference Team (Men)
Patrick Crawford, High Point
Jeff LaCoste, High Point
Jeremie Bourget, Liberty
Josh MacDonald, Liberty
Chris Schulist, Campbell
Morgan Timiney, Campbell
Joseph Keitt, Coastal Carolina
Evan Niciphor, Coastal Carolina
Sam Hibbs, Liberty
Sean Helmke, VMI
Zach Barker, Liberty
Paddy Grandinali, High Point

2013 All –Conference Team (Women)
Letitia Saayman, Coastal Carolina
Kyla Van Graan, Coastal Carolina
Jacy Christiansen, Liberty
Teresa Williams, Radford
Ashley Matthews, Campbell
Erin Dalton, UNC Asheville
Jeanne Stoud, Winthrop
Kayleigh Perry, High Point
Jessie Proehl, Liberty
Emily Marchini, Coastal Carolina
Shelby Nicosia, Coastal Carolina
Sarah Heisner, UNC Asheville

2013 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Men)
Caleb Edmonds, Liberty

2013 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Women)
Jeanne Stroud, Winthrop

2013 Cross Country All-Academic Team (Women)
Jeanne Stroud, Winthrop
Teresa Williamson, Radford
Emily Marchini, Coastal Carolina
Jacy Christiansen, Liberty
Melanie Kulesz, UNC Asheville
Gabriele Lesieur, Presbyterian College
Hannah Dickinson, VMI
Katie Spiro, Gardner-Webb
Katie Farina, High Point
Michelle Kaufman, Campbell
Jessie Dotson, Charleston Southern
Emily Krause, Longwood

2013 Cross Country All-Academic Team (Men)
Caleb Edmonds, Liberty
Cabell Willis, VMI
Mike McClay, Gardner-Webb
Reece Ayers, High Point
Eric Baldwin, Campbell
Evan Niciphor, Coastal Carolina
Seth Warner, Presbyterian College
Russell Reed, Longwood
Colby Coulter, Winthrop
Scott Morrison, Charleston Southern
Chris Weeks, Radford
Patrick Osborne, UNC Asheville

Coach of the Year (Men)
Brant Tolsma, Liberty

Coach of the Year (Women)
Alan Connie, Coastal Carolina