NEW MARKET, Va. – Coming off strong performances last week at Tech, the VMI cross country teams continued to excel this weekend at the JMU Invite where the men placed second and the women third Saturday morning in New Market, Virginia.
The men earned 62 points behind only Saint Francis' 18 points to top W&L (66), Howard (123), Longwood (130), Shenandoah (184), Southern Virginia (186), Eastern Mennonite (229) and Randolph (229).
The women placed third with 84 points to trail host JMU (21) and Saint Francis (36) but garnered a low enough amount to defeat Howard (147), Shenandoah (158), Eastern Mennonite (160), Longwood (173) and Southern Virginia (192).
Like last week, the women were paced by Logan Luckett and Anna Armfield, who finished the 5.2k race in 10th and 11th, respectively, in 20:34 and 20:35. Sara Belamarich (18th, 21:17), Emily Hattman (25th, 21:55) and Kathleen Yates (27th, 22:08) also contributed to the team total with their respective finishes.
Savanna Shupe, Olivia Smott, Skylar Pierce, Isabela Melendez and Brittany Szczepanik also ran for the Keydets at the meet.
Davone Hernandez again led the way for the men's team as he placed third individually in 26:22 for the 8k race. He was trailed by Carlos Fernandes, Gavin Jenkins, Justin Adams and Walt Kitson, who finished in the top five for the team to earn team points.
A host of others competed for the Keydets on the men's side including Jake Maziotta and Andre Jordan, which came in 29th and 30th, respectively. A total of 12 other male harriers competed at the event to represent VMI.
The Keydets have a few weeks off from competition but will use the time to prepare for the George Mason Invite slated for Sept. 29 in Leesburg, Virginia.
JMU Invitational
Men – 8k
Saint Francis ... 18
VMI ... 62
W&L ... 66
Howard ... 123
Longwood ... 130
Shenandoah .. 184
Southern Virginia ... 186
Eastern Mennonite ... 229
Randolph ... 229
3rd ... Davone Hernandez ... 26:22 ... 3
10th ... Carlos Fernandes ... 27:29 ... 9
13th ... Gavin Jenkins ... 27:35 ... 12
21st ... Justin Adams ... 28:00 ... 18
24th ... Walt Kitson ... 28:13 ... 20
29th ... Jake Mazziotta ... 28:27 ... 25
30th ... Andre Jordan ... 28:30 ... 26
36th ... Zach Lauster ... 28:38
42nd ... Ian Irizarry Negron ... 29:03
44th ... Kellen Reeves ... 29:33
45th ... Dylan Haines ... 39:37
51st ... Adam Waite ... 29:56
52nd ... Jack Ryan ... 29:58
53rd ... Jeremiah Gaulding ... 29:59
55th ... Ashton Ashley ... 30:08
58th ... Stephen Wolf ... 30:26
62nd ... Samuel Estes ... 31:09
70th ... Aaron Kepmt ... 31:58
73rd ... Cole Viavettene ... 32:22
Women – 5200 meter run
JMU – 21
Saint Francis – 36
VMI – 84
Howard – 147
Shenandoah – 158
Eastern Mennonite – 160
Longwood – 173
Southern Virginia - 192
10th … Logan Luckett … 20:34 … 10
11th … Anna Armfield … 20:35 … 11
18th … Sara Belamarich … 21:17 … 18
25th … Emily Hattman … 21:55 … 22
27th … Kathleen Yates … 22:08 … 23
33rd … Savanna Shupe … 22:23 … 28
42nd … Olivia Smoot … 23:04 .. 36
51st … Skylar Pierce … 23:51
56th … Isabela Melendez … 24:20
68th … Brittany Szczepanik … 27:02
