VMI Track and Field Preview: Mid-Distance

Men's Track and Field VMIKeydets.com

VMI Track and Field Preview: Mid-Distance

With the graduation of Felix Kitur, VMI no longer has perhaps the best mid-distance runner in its history, but the cupboard in that event group is far from bare.
 
VMI returns Andrey Dmitriev, who comes off a very impressive cross country season during which he earned his second career All-Big South honor. Dmitriev also posted a 31:07 10K at the NCAA Regional meet, and on the track, he is a four-time IC4A qualifier and a five-time all-Big South honoree. Those All-Big South laurels include a victory in the mile at last year's indoor meet. Dmitriev has also posted a fourth-place finish in a conference 5K (2012 outdoors) in the past, and has the ability to run virtually any distance at or over the 800 meter mark.
 
Junior Jacob Lysher also returns after missing the cross country season with an injury. Lysher qualified for the indoor IC4A Championships in the 800 just last season, and was also a part of VMI's world-leading 4X800 team at that event in 2010.
 
Freshman Avery Martin, who also missed the cross country campaign, is very highly regarded after ranking third in the state in the 800 last year (PR of 1:53.54). Martin also holds a 1,600-meter PR of 4:16.58, clocked at the VISAA Track and Field Championships, where he finished first.
 
Meanwhile, senior Jason Thorpe has provided quality depth and shown improvement throughout his career. Thorpe's improvement showed in his efforts at last year's Big South indoor meet, where he finished ninth in the mile and set a new personal best time (4:24.30).
 
Sophomore Gabe Fisher and freshman Alex Sweatman will provide depth, while redshirt junior Booth Hornsby could contribute as well after a very strong cross country season.
 
On the women's side, senior Jenna Moye will look to punctuate one of, if not the, most successful female athletic career ever at VMI. Moye comes off an All-Big South season in cross country, one that saw her set the school record in the 5K, and also earn the Keydet Club's three-legged stool award. On the track, Moye holds a quartet of VMI school records, including both the indoor and outdoor 800-meter marks she set last season.
 
Along with Moye, the Keydets will debut Kelsey Newcomb, the freshman out of Dinwiddie HS. Newcomb served as VMI's #4-#5 runner for much of the cross country season and performed well, but is considerably more accustomed to a track setting, where she is a former district champion in both the mile and the 1K. Junior Michelle Church is also expected to see action in the middle distances races, although she will take part in longer events as well. Finally, junior Molly Western will also return after not competing in this year's cross country season.
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Players Mentioned

Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Mid-Distance
Redshirt Senior
Michelle Church

Michelle Church

Distance
Sophomore
Jenna Moye

Jenna Moye

Distance
Senior
Kelsey Newcomb

Kelsey Newcomb

Mid-Distance
Freshman
Molly Western

Molly Western

Mid-Distance
Junior
Andrey Dmitriev

Andrey Dmitriev

Mid-Distance
Redshirt Junior
Gabe Fisher

Gabe Fisher

Mid-Distance
Sophomore
Booth Hornsby

Booth Hornsby

Distance
Redshirt Junior
Jacob Lysher

Jacob Lysher

Mid-Distance
Junior
Avery Martin

Avery Martin

Mid-Distance
Freshman
Alex Sweatman

Alex Sweatman

Distance
Freshman
Jason Thorpe

Jason Thorpe

Distance
Senior

Players Mentioned

Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Redshirt Senior
Mid-Distance
Michelle Church

Michelle Church

Sophomore
Distance
Jenna Moye

Jenna Moye

Senior
Distance
Kelsey Newcomb

Kelsey Newcomb

Freshman
Mid-Distance
Molly Western

Molly Western

Junior
Mid-Distance
Andrey Dmitriev

Andrey Dmitriev

Redshirt Junior
Mid-Distance
Gabe Fisher

Gabe Fisher

Sophomore
Mid-Distance
Booth Hornsby

Booth Hornsby

Redshirt Junior
Distance
Jacob Lysher

Jacob Lysher

Junior
Mid-Distance
Avery Martin

Avery Martin

Freshman
Mid-Distance
Alex Sweatman

Alex Sweatman

Freshman
Distance
Jason Thorpe

Jason Thorpe

Senior
Distance