LEXINGTON, Va. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's indoor track and field teams competed on the first day of the VMI Winter Relays on Friday at the VMI Corps Physical Training Facility.
Senior Jahzara Hart broke her own school record in the women's 60 meters to lead three Pioneers into Saturday's finals, while freshman Ivan Garcia Rubio again broke his program mark in the men's 60-meter hurdles during Friday's preliminaries.
The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday at the scored meet, which sees USC Upstate ahead after four men's events and Wofford leading Elon by a half-point after seven women's events.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Hart posted the second-fastest time in Division II this season at 7.31 seconds in the 60 meters, breaking her record of 7.37 seconds set at the Commonwealth College Opener on Dec. 7, 2024. Hart will be top seed in Saturday's final, with sophomore Qitarah Castlin seeded second after running a career-best 7.49 seconds. Senior Shanice Cox also qualified for the finals in the 60 meters as she was fifth overall in 7.67 seconds, while junior Alonda Shelton took 11th place at 7.75 seconds.
In the 60 hurdles, sophomore Kori Moore advanced to the finals after running 8.56 seconds and qualifying second in Friday's heats. Senior Theresa Green-White placed fourth at 8.69 seconds and also advanced to the finals, with junior Kieley Smith at 9.61 seconds and junior Kialia Claiborne running 9.66 seconds.
Freshman Shamyra Reid placed 12th overall in the shot put with a best mark of 10.27 meters (33 feet, 8 1/2 inches).
MEN'S RECAP
Garcia Rubio qualified fourth in the finals of the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.19 seconds, breaking his record of 8.22 seconds set at the Tryon International Collegiate Opener on Jan. 10. Garcia Rubio now has the top seven times in program history in the event. Sophomore Justin Williams was 11th with a season-best time of 8.61 seconds, with grad student Jamal Cash placing 14th at 8.73 seconds.
In the 60 meters, junior Chazz Alexander was the Pioneers' top runner in 15th place at 7.01 seconds, followed by junior Kayvon Pickett in 18th at 7.09 seconds and freshman Cedric Stewart II in 25th place at 7.15 seconds.
Senior Jaden Gary took 15th overall in the shot put, with a top throw of 13.09 meters (42 feet, 11 1/2 inches).
Junior Nour Nabi is the first Pioneer to compete in the indoor heptathlon, and is currently in fifth place with 2,408 points after four events. Nabi's best event was the 60 meters, where he accumulated 785 points by running 7.28 seconds. His mark of 1.76 meters (5 feet, 9 1/4 inches) in the high jump is eighth-best in program history.
VMI Winter Relays (Day 1 of 2)
Tusculum results
MEN
60 prelims: 15. Chazz Alexander, 7.01; 18. Kayvon Pickett, 7.09; 25. Cedric Stewart II, 7.15.
60 hurdles prelims: 4. Ivan Garcia Rubio, 8.19 (advances/school record); 11. Justin Williams, 8.61; 14. Jamal Cash, 8.73.
Heptathlon (4 of 7 events): 5. Nour Nabi, 2,408 points.
Shot put: 15. Jaden Gary, 13.09m (42-11 1/2).
WOMEN
60 prelims: 1. Jahzara Hart, 7.31 (advances/school record); 2. Qitarah Castlin, 7.49 (advances); 5. Shanice Cox, 7.67 (advances); 11. Alonda Shelton, 7.75.
60 hurdles prelims: 2. Kori Moore, 8.56 (advances); 4. Theresa Green-White, 8.69 (advances); 24. Kieley Smith, 9.61; 27. Kialia Claiborne, 9.66.
Shot put: 12. Shamyra Reid, 10.27m (33-8 1/2).
