Cross Country Opens Season Strong in Richmond

Men’s Cross Country

The VMI men’s cross country team got off to a strong start in the 2024 season by placing fifth overall at the Spider Alumni Open hosted by the University of Richmond at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia, Aug. 31, 2024.

The Keydets came in fifth with 170 points on the day to beat out Christopher Newport (200), George Mason (205), VCU (207), and a handful of other schools. The University of Virginia placed first with 15 points, followed by American (67), William & Mary (80), and Richmond (83).

Kevin Shank ’27 and Patrick Lowry ’27 led the way for VMI with respective 23rd (18:52) and 30th-place (19:06) finishes for the 6K race. Benjamin Hagerich ’26 was the third VMI finisher in 32nd place (19:08), while Luke Gaylor ’28 (58th, 19:44) and Brian Tavenner ’25 (81st, 20:18) also scored team points for the Keydets.

Shank continues as VMI’s top runner following an outstanding freshman campaign in 2023 and opened up this race with a personal-best 6K time of almost 10 seconds. Every runner in VMI’s top seven finishers also earned respective personal-best times.

Patrick Kiernan ’25 arrived in 84th overall in 20:20 and was pursued closely by Peter Fiorillo ’28 in 91st in 20:41. Jack Geisendaffer ’28 and Colin Crenshaw ’27 and Michael Kelley ’27 rounded out the top 10 runners for VMI.

Nine other Keydet men competed to represent the Institute well with their finishes reflected below.

Mathew Scott, VMI Head Cross Country Coach:

“It was a great season opener. Our men beat three Division 1 teams in George Mason, VCU, and Longwood. We have some great potential with good performances on the men’s side. We improved from ninth place last year to fifth place this year, only being bested by teams that are regionally and nationally ranked. It’s a great foundation for future competition. The men’s 1-5 gap is in the range of 1:23, which is just shy of our team goal of 60 seconds.”

Men’s Team Finishes

1 – Virginia – 15
2 – American – 67
3 – William & Mary – 80
4 – Richmond – 83
5 – VMI – 170
6 – Christopher Newport – 200
7 – George Mason – 205
8 – VCU – 207
9 – Longwood – 229
10 – Mary Washington – 288
+ 4 others

VMI Men’s Finishes

23 – Kevin Shank ’27 – 18:52
30 – Patrick Lowry ’27 – 19:06
32 – Benjamin Hagerich ’26 – 19:08
58 – Luke Gaylor ’28 – 19:44
81 – Brian Tavenner ’25 – 20:18
84 – Patrick Kiernan ’25 – 20:20
91 – Peter Fiorillo ’28 – 20:41
95 – Jack Geisendaffer ’28- 20:44
99 – Colin Crenshaw ’27 – 21:03
104 – Michael Kelley ’27 – 21:12
107 – Sullivan McGreevy ’28 – 21:28
120 – James Gao ’28 – 22:04
129 – Rye Jackson ’28 – 22:41
130 – Schuyler Nitzsche ’28 – 22:42
136 – Aidan Zagorski ’28 – 22:51
138 – Camden Gonzales ’28 – 22:55
141 – Nicholas Ligday ’26 – 23:01
147 – Matthew Sterbenz ’28 – 23:57
148 – Ethan Sharkey ’28 – 23:57

Women’s Cross Country

The VMI women’s cross country team is also starting the 2024 season strong by placing 10th overall at the Spider Alumni Open Aug. 31.

The Keydets came in 10th with 272 points to beat opponents Christopher Newport (295), St. Mary’s (Md.) (375), Mary Washington (392), and Virginia Wesleyan (429). The University of Virginia earned first place with 19 points, followed by William & Mary (57) and Richmond (102).

Reagan Gilman ’28 led the way for the Keydets with a 34th-place finish in 14:56, followed by Jillian Sisk ’27 in 49th overall in 15:11 in the 4K race. Gretal Shank ’25 was the third VMI finisher in 80th place in 15:52, while Nathalie Lavender ’26 (114th, 16:49) and Olivia Hurd ’27 (122nd, 17:04) also scored team points for the Keydets.

VMI women’s cross country team placed 10th overall at the Spider Alumni Open Aug. 31.

Natalie Dias ’28 finished in 133rd place in 17:23, while Caroline Fiorillo ’25, Hayden Talbott ’27, and Alex Black ’28 also competed for VMI.

Mathew Scott, VMI Head Cross Country Coach:

“Our women improved from 11th last year to 10th this year, and the gap from runner 1 to runner 5 has closed from what it was last year to just right around 2 minutes, which was a team goal going into it this year. Our freshman women helped contribute to the improvement and freshman Reagan Gilman was our No. 1 runner and ran beyond her own expectations.”

Women’s Team Finishes

1 – Virginia – 19
2 – William & Mary – 57
3 – Richmond – 102
4 – George Mason – 152
5 – James Madison – 175
6 – American – 176
7 – Longwood – 194
8 – Hampton – 202
9 – VCU – 225
10 – VMI – 272
11 – Christopher Newport – 295
12 – St. Mary’s (Md.) – 375
13 – Mary Washington – 392
14 – Virginia Wesleyan – 429

VMI Women’s Finishes

34 – Reagan Gilman ’28 – 14:56
49 – Jillian Sisk ’27 – 15:11
80 – Gretal Shank ’25 – 15:52
114 – Nathalie Lavender ’26 – 16:49
122 – Olivia Hurd ’27 – 17:04
133 – Natalie Dias ’28 – 17:23
151 – Caroline Fiorillo ’25 – 18:17
154 – Hayden Talbott ’27 – 18:24
161 – Alex Black ’28 – 19:10

Editor’s Note: These articles were first published at vmikeydets.com.