Liam McBride ’24, hurdler, again reset the school record for the third time this indoor season in the 60m hurdles with a new PR time of 7.96 seconds to earn All-SoCon honors.
VMI men’s and women’s track and field finished off the season with multiple Keydets receiving All-SoCon honors at the 2024 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at the VMI Corps Physical Training Facility Feb. 25–26. The men’s team capped off a strong indoor season by placing fourth overall, and the women’s team placed sixth overall.
The Keydets came in fourth with 109 points over the two-day event, just three points behind third-place Furman. Samford won the team title with 188 points, while Western Carolina placed second with 121.5 points.
Ben Hagerich ’26 came in fifth in the men’s 800m with a new PR time of 1:55.00.
Kevin Shank ’27 arrived in ninth in the 5K with a new PR time of 15:03.23
In the triple jump, Charles Male ’24 came in seventh overall in 13.48m for a new personal record.
Isaiah Blount ’25 placed fourth in the heptathlon, combining 4783 for the seven events. He came in first in the shot put at 13.19 meters, third in the 1000m (2:43), and third in the pole vault (4.30m) en route to the finish.
“We had a well-fought fourth-place finish for the Indoor Southern Conference Championship with another day of PRs and incredible individual performances. I am proud of our team competing to the best of our ability with the help of our family, Corps, and alums cheering us on. We will spend a couple days reviewing, recharging, and reloading for the outdoor season starting at the Fred Hardy Invitational in Richmond on March 22.”
Midgett and Clendenin earned SoCon specialty awards for their performances. Midgett was named the league’s Male Most Outstanding Field Performer for the second year in a row, and Clendenin was named the Male Freshman of the Year.
Midgett took first place in the long jump with a new personal record distance of 7.49 meters before turning around and placing first in the triple jump with a new PR distance of 15.57 meters, a new facility record.
Clendenin placed second in the shot put with a new PR distance of 15.18m and the next day turned in a new PR distance of 15.60m for second place behind teammate Granger in the weight throw Sunday.
“Keyandre has been battling nagging off-and-on injuries since his freshman year. He refused to quit, believing in himself, knowing in his heart he was a great jumper. Thanks to our trainer and coaching staff, Keyandre has been able to put it all together and become an exceptional jumper, setting new school and facility records.
“Rafe is every bit the hard worker and grinder his father, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jason Clendenin ’96, was when he threw for the “I” back in the ’90s. Rafe is a poster boy for everything a VMI cadet-athlete represents. He has a never-say-die attitude as a true student-athlete with a 3.6 cumulative GPA in his first semester as a biology major and Army ROTC four-year scholarship recipient. Rafe is lining everything up to do great things in the throws and beyond.”
Click here to see the complete results.
1st – Samford – 188 points
2nd – Western Carolina – 121.5
3rd – Furman – 112
4th – VMI – 109
5th – Wofford – 62.5
6th – The Citadel – 49
7th – UNCG – 11
The Keydets came in sixth with 68.5 points over the two-day event, just 1.5 points behind fifth-place ETSU. Samford won the team title with 160.5 points, and Wofford finished second with 117. Furman placed third with 92 combined points.
Taylor Hill ’26 won the pole vault individual title with a first-place height of 3.82 meters, a new PR, to earn All-SoCon recognition and take the podium at the 2024 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
“We competed to the best of our ability, and we never quit. The Keydets closed the indoor season with results we can be proud of this indoor season. It was nice to have family, friends, the Corps and track and field alums to witness and cheer us on. We will take a couple days to review, recharge, and prepare for the start of our outdoor season in Richmond at the Fred Hardy Invitational on March 22.”
Click here to see the complete results.
1st – Samford – 160.5
2nd – Wofford l- 117
3rd – Furman – 92
4th – Western Carolina – 83.6
5th – ETSU – 70
6th – VMI – 68.5
7th – Chattanooga – 37
8th – The Citadel – 30.3
9th – UNCG – 3
Editor’s Note: These articles were first published at vmikeydets.com.
