Eleyah Armstrong ’25 places first in the long jump and breaks VMI’s record of 19’6” feet with a distance of 19’7” at the Southern Conference championships.—Photos courtesy Todd Drexler, SoCon Photos.
Eleyah Armstrong ’25, VMI sprinter and jumper, led the women’s track and field team with impressive performances that concluded with Armstrong being awarded Southern Conference Female Most Outstanding Athlete at the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Western Carolina University’s Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, North Carolina, May 8–9, 2023.
Armstrong led the women’s track and field team on day one of the SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Western Carolina University’s Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, North Carolina, May 8–9, 2023.
The Hampton, Virginia, native logged a distance of 5.98 (19’7”) meters to earn first place in the long jump. The mark breaks the program’s all-time record of 19’6” by VMI great Bria Anderson ’18 in the 2015 outdoor season.
Armstrong also competed in the 200-meter prelims and came in second in 24.65 seconds to qualify for the day two final. She also placed third in the 100-meter preliminary in 11.93 seconds to qualify for the final round.
“Eleyah Armstrong, on her last long jump attempt, took the individual title while also breaking the school record. While she led our women’s team on the scoreboard, we had a couple of our team members qualify for the finals on day two. Our seven women are doing what it takes to represent VMI. Day two is a new day and a chance to move up the team rankings.”
Hammer throw Hannah Daffin, Samford (54.15 meters); long jump Eleyah Armstrong ’25, VMI (5.98 meters); pole vault Brittany Bishop, Samford (4.06 meters*); javelin Erin Long, Samford, (50.68 meters); 3,000-meter steeplechase Chanelle Kruger, ETSU (10:53.54); 10,000-meter run Lesley Green, Chattanooga (35:09.66).
* meet record
Women’s Hammer Throw
Claire Harrison, Samford
Toria Roundtree, Western Carolina
Hannah Kunkle, Wofford
Women’s Long Jump
Jasmine Greene, Western Carolina
Brooklyn Kirksey, Samford
Anaya Young, ETSU
Women’s Pole Vault
Lindsey Havens, Samford
Hannah Pettyjohn, Samford
Taylor Hill ’26, VMI
Women’s Javelin
Sadie Grove, The Citadel
Taylor Stingel, Wofford
Sam Barnes, The Citadel
Women’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Chanelle Kruger, ETSU
Izelle Kruger, ETSU
10,000-Meter Run
Emma Jones, Furman
Sophie Beach, ETSU
After winning the individual title in the long jump on day one and two All-Conference performances on day two, Armstrong was crowned the Southern Conference Female Most Outstanding Athlete.
Armstrong led the Keydets to a seventh-place finish with 39 points at the SoCon Outdoor Championships over the two-day event. Samford’s men and women swept the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the third straight year.
On day two, Armstrong finished second in the 100-meter dash in 11.84 seconds to earn All-Conference honors and then placed second in the 200-meter dash in 24.21 seconds to again earn All-SoCon recognition.
After winning the individual title in the long jump and two All-Conference performances, Eleyah Armstrong ’25 (left) was awarded the Southern Conference Female Most Outstanding Athlete by Jim Schaus, SoCon commissioner, at the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Western Carolina University’s Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, North Carolina, May 8–9, 2023.
“It was another very competitive outdoor Southern Conference Championship in the books. Our staff has a much better grasp of what it is going to take to be successful. We have a lot of work over the summer to prepare for the new team we will have next year and will be ready for the challenge.”
Women’s Most Outstanding Athlete: Eleyah Armstrong, VMI
Women’s Pinnacle Award (Highest GPA on Championship-Winning Team): Savannah Schmidt, Samford
Heptathlon Netanya Linares, Wofford (4,585 points); shot put Hannah Daffin, Samford (13.77 meters); 4×100-meter relay Kerrington Johnson, Ella Tennant, Rylee Jorgensen, Madeline McNinch, Wofford (45.91); 1,500-meter run Abigail Robertson, Furman (4:19.18); 100-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (13.64); high jump Dorsey Parker, Samford (1.71 meters); 400-meter dash Nytrinitey Jenkins, Western Carolina (55.11); 100-meter dash Mecca Jackson, The Citadel (11.52); 800-meter run Jessica Lord, ETSU (2:08.68); 400-meter hurdles Kerrington Johnson, Wofford (1:01.13); triple jump Jasmine Greene, Western Carolina (12.11 meters); 200-meter dash Mecca Jackson, The Citadel (23.68); discus Mary Brown, ETSU (42.69 meters); 5,000-meter run Kaylie Armitage, Furman (17:09.54); 4×400-meter relay Imani Boyd, Brianna Gayle, Nytrinitey Jenkins, Shaneil Lysight, Western Carolina (3:46.25).
Heptathlon
Hannah Pettyjohn, Samford
Presley Worf, Wofford
Shea Hart ’26, VMI
Shot Put
Ellie Sawicki, Wofford
Hannah Pettyjohn, Samford
Toria Roundtree, Western Carolina
1,500-Meter Run
Carly Wilkes, Furman
Maddie Wheatcroft, Chattanooga
Leah Boyd, Chattanooga
100-Meter Hurdles
Shaneil Lysight, Western Carolina
Meg Coleman, Samford
High Jump
Dorsey Parker, Samford
Maya Murchison, ETSU
Hannah Pettyjohn, Samford
400-Meter Dash
Grace Lueders, Samford
Heaven Hall ’26, VMI
McKenna Boykin, ETSU
100-Meter Dash
Ella Tenant, Wofford
Brooklyn Kirksey, Samford
Jasmine Greene, Western Carolina
800-Meter Run
Reagan O’Quinn, UNCG
Clair Garrett, Furman
Meg Lance, ETSU
400-Meter Hurdles
Shaneil Lysight, Western Carolina
Meg Coleman, Samford
Presley Worf, Wofford
Triple Jump
Jasmine Greene, Western Carolina
Anaya Young, ETSU
Pria Pullin, Mercer
200-Meter Dash
Ella Tennant, Wofford
Heaven Hall ’26, VMI
Grace Lueders, Samford
Discus
Claire Harrison, Samford
Ellie Sawicki, Wofford
Toria Roundtree, Western Carolina
5,000-Meter Run
Carly Wilkes, Furman
Gabbie Hoots, Samford
Chanelle Kruger, ETSU
Editor’s Note: This story first appeared on vmikeydets.com.
