Southern Virginia Track and Field: A Legacy of Champions
By Koby Parry
The Southern Virginia University track and field teams dominated at the USA South conference over the weekend to claim their sixth consecutive conference title. With record breaking performances and several individual conference champions, it would be a sin not to give them any recognition. The efforts of these athletes often goes unnoticed (I know because I am one), so today we will bask in the glory that is the Southern Virginia’s track team.
All of this success wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing coaches; Kyle Chandler, Jamie Chandler, Jeremie Murray, MJ Nelson, Ike Beck, John Tucker, and Victor Weirich. To each of you, thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts. Thank you for the time and dedication you give to each of us individually and collectively as a team. We love you, and we hope to continue our winning streak in the following years!
Your Southern Virginia Conference Champions
Men’s Team
- Aaron Leavitt — 400m, 200m, High Jump, 4×400 Relay
- Derek Lionberberger — Discus, Hammer
- Daniel De La Cruz — 400m Hurdles, 4×400 Relay
- Cole Oldham — Shot Put
- Parker Arnold — Pole Vault
- Koby Parry — Javelin
- Ben Landheim — 4x400m Relay
- Tommy Skidmore — 4x400m Relay
Women’s Team
- Shandrey Allman — 100m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles
- Jilane Pedersen — Javelin
- Rory Hanchett — Pole Vault
- Ainsley Lau — Triple Jump
- Savanna Chapin — 4x400m Relay
- Liz Morgan — 4x400m Relay
- Folole Torres — 4x400m Relay
- Addie Parker — 4x400m Relay
Your Southern Virginia Podium Finishers
Men’s 2nd Place
- Dylan May — 10k, 5k
- Cold Oldham — Discus, Hammer
- Jayton Hall — High Jump
- Joseph Short — 1500m
- Nick DelPontone — 400m Hurdles
- Kedryn Chandler — Steeplechase
- Parker Arnold — Javelin
- Elvis Nwaneri — 4x100m Relay
- Aaron Leavitt — 4x100m Relay
- Tommy Skidmore — 4x100m Relay
- Daniel De La Cruz — 4x100m Relay
Men’s 3rd Place
- Inoke Kaufusi — Discus, Shot Put
- Nick DelPontone — 110m Hurdles
- Joseph Short — 800m
- Brock Nye — Javelin
- Parker Kam — Pole Vault
- CJ Davidson — Hammer
Women’s 2nd Place
- Riley Heward — 100m Hurdles
- Savanna Chapin — Pole Vault
- Folole Torres — 400m Hurdles
- Kyandra Chandler — 1500m
- Presley Heggie — Javelin
Women’s 3rd Place
- Katelyn Warner — Steeplechase
- Jilane Pedersen — High Jump
- Kyandra Chandler — 800m
- Sasha Willie — 10k
- Ashlyn Stone-Awong — Javelin
- Ainsley Lau — Long Jump, Pole Vault
- Allison Rehl — Pole Vault
- Riley Heward — 4x100m Relay
- Shandrey Allman — 4x100m Relay
- Emily Sterling — 4x100m Relay
- Addie Parker — 4x100m Relay
Your Southern Virginia Top 6 Finishers
Men’s Team
- Inoke Kaufusi, Carter Johnson, Daniel De La Cruz, Kenyon Kemp, Shayden Castle, Brock Nye, Isaac Armstrong, Brayden Burrill, Will Collett, Kedryn Chandler, Derek Lionberger, Tommy Skidmore, Koby Parry, Aden James, Matthew Africa, Ben Landheim, Elvis Nwaneri, Joseph Short
Women’s Team
- Emmalee Hale, Ainsley Lau, Jilane Pedersen, Liz Morgan, Savanna Chapin, Sasha Willie, Mikki Prows, Abigail Snyder, Addie Parker, Kyandra Chandler, McKenzie Landon, Heidi Barton, Allison Rehl, Ashlyn Stone-Awong, Brianna Knight
Your Southern Virginia Seniors
Cole Oldham
Placed first to claim the gold medal in the men’s shot put, and claimed silver in the discus and hammer throws. Named Field Athlete of the Meet.
Kyandra Chandler
Placed second in the women’s 1500m, earning a silver medal as well as a bronze medal in the 800m. She also placed fifth in the 5k.
Daniel De La Cruz
Placed first in the 400m hurdles and the men’s 4x400m relay, earning two gold medals. He also earned a silver medal in the 4x100m relay, and placed fourth in the 110m hurdles. New meet record holder in the 4x400m relay.
Emma Nelson
Placed 14th overall in the women’s 200m and 11th overall in the 100m.
Aaron Leavitt
Placed first in the men’s 400m, 200m, high jump, and 4x400m relay, earning four gold medals. He also earned a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay. New meet record holder in the 400m, 4x400m relay, and high jump.
It’s been an amazing year, and it’s sad to see the seniors go. But, we’re excited to see what your next season of life will have in store for you. We hope your future is bright and full of adventures, and we hope that your time with the Southern Virginia track and field team was full of happy memories. We love you, and we’ll miss you. Go Knights!
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