LEXINGTON, Va. – The USC Upstate track and field team traveled to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to resume the indoor season, competing in the two-day VMI Invitational. Competing against 29 other teams, 33 Spartans set new personal bests, along with 27 top-ten finishes.

Day One:
Friday was highlighted by the throwers, which included Jessa Beach securing a first-place finish in the women's weight throw with a distance of 17.81m, ranking her second all-time in school history. Close behind was Rachel Davis, finishing in second place with a distance of 17.76m. On the men's side, Gabriel Walker earned first place in the weight throw with a distance of 17.95m, moving him to third all-time in school history.

Day Two:
Sam Shimanskiy led the way for the Spartans on Saturday, earning a first-place finish in the men's mile with a time of 4:16.46, ranking him third all-time in school history. In women's shot put, Rachel Davis finished second with her throw of 13.93m, setting a school record. The men's 4x400m relay team of Jonathan Hairston, Adrian Wilmot,Khalif  Walston, and Shriyaan Krishnaraj earned second place.

Top-Performances - Women
Jessa Beach –  Weight Throw – 17.81m – First (second all-time in school history)
Rachel Davis –Weight Throw – 17.76m – Second; Shot Put – 13.93m – Second (school record)
Taylor Thomas – Shot Put – 13.49m – Third
Destiny Pryor – Long Jump – 5.53m – Fourth (fifth all-time in school history)
Grace Glassmeyer, Adalie Harrison, Maureen Ortiz, Jordan Thorton – 4x800m – Fourth (school record)
Carleigh Vaughn – 300m – 42.31 (third all-time in school history)
Jenelda Aristhil – Weight Throw – 15.43m – Seventh
Kyonna Nixon – 60m Hurdles – 9.05 – Seventh
Jordan Thornton – 3000m – 10:23.26 – (seventh all-time in school history)

Personal Bests – Women
Destiny Pryor- 60m, Long Jump                                                                             
Maleah Cornelius – 60m
Mya Jackson- 60m 
Naizja Redding- 60m Hurdles
Jessa Beach- Weight 
Grace Glassmeyer- Mile 
Sofia Strom- 3000m
Jordan Thornton- 3000m 
Rachel Davis- Shot Put
Jenelda Aristhil- Shot Put
 
Top-Performances – Men
Gabe Walker –  Weight Throw – 17.95m – First (third all-time in school history)
Sam Shimanskiy – Mile – 4:16.46 – First (third all-time in school history)
Elias Harrison, Mason Parish, Landon Barron, Sam Shimanskiy – 4x800m – 8:06.92 – Third (school record)
Jonathan Hairston, Adrian Wilmot,Khalif  Walston, Shriyaan Krishnaraj – 4x400m – 3:21.72 – Second
Jeremiah Harris, Andre Green, Cam Phillips, Andrew Aun – 4x400m – 3:24.83 – Sixth
Jamarcus Askew – High Jump – 2.00m – Second;
Triple Jump – 14.44m – Fifth (third all-time in school history)
Quintavius James – 60m – 6.88 – Third;
60m Prelims – 6.81 (third all-time in school history)
Jeremiah Harris – 300m – 34.81 – Third (second all-time in school history)
Xavier Stone – Triple Jump – 14.69m – Fourth (second all-time in school history)
Addison Stone – Weight Throw – 16.24m – Fifth (eight all-time in school history)
Brycen Means – High Jump – Sixth
Demetrius Reeves – Weight Throw – 15.85m – Seventh
Shot Put – 13.92m – (seventh all-time in school history)
Shriyaan Krishnaraj – 400m – 50.46 – Seventh (ninth all-time in school history)
Antonio Bryan – 60m Hurdles – 8.60 – Sixth; 60m Hurdle Prelims – 8.45
Ian Kelbert – 5000m – 15:48.74 – Fifth
Michael Moody – Long Jump – 6.93m – Seventh
Triple Jump – 13.74m – (tenth all-time in school history)
Pierce Mosley – Shot Put – 13.76m – (ninth all-time in school history)

Personal Bests – Men
Quintavius James- 60m
JerVaris Rice- 60m
Jeremiah Harris- 60m, 300m
Shriyaan Krishnaraj- 300m, 400m
Sam Shimanskiy- Mile
Jonathan Hairston- 300m
Cameron Moors- 3000m
Jason Heusinger- 3000m
Eric Perry- 3000m
Gabe Parks- 200m
Cam Phillips- 300m
Connor Herold- 5000m
Landon Barren- 800m
Nick Brooks- 5000m
Jamarcus Askew- Long Jump, Triple Jump
Gabe Walker- Weight, Shot Put
Addison Stone- Weight
Demetrius Reeves- Weight, Shot Put
Josh Sterling- Weight, Shot Put
Pierce Mosley- Shot Put
Tavaris Taylor- Shot Put
Xavier Stone- Triple Jump
Michael Moody- Triple Jump

UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans will head to Columbia, S.C., for the Carolina Challenge on January 31st.

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