Jones Claims One-Mile at Virginia Tech Invitational for Women's Track & Field

Friday, January 13

Blacksburg, VA

Army West Point

Virginia Tech Invitational

Jones Claims One-Mile at Virginia Tech Invitational for Women's Track & Field

January 15, 2023 | Women's Track and Field

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Army West Point women's track and field competed on the road for the first time this indoor season at the Virginia Tech Invitational. Competing across two days, the weekend was highlighted by a one-two finish from Georgia Jones and Joanna Halfhill in the one-mile run.

The Black Knights competed amongst a stacked field comprised of Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Virginia, Charlotte, Liberty, VCU, Richmond and High Point.

Carrying over from the cross-country season, Georgia Jones posted a 4:50.87 in the one-mile to win the event. Joanna Halfhill followed close behind for a second-place finish (4:55.11).

Kayley Ragazzini continued her strong performance in the throwing events, landing fifth in the shot put (14.59m) and sixth in the weight throw (18.06m). The Black Knights added top-five finishes in both the 500m with Shayla Bonzelet (1:18.72, 5th) and the high jump with Isabella Palchak (1.60m, 4th).

Army Top Finishers

Friday

200m: Jazmine Alderman (25.37) - 7th

400m: Shayla Bonzelet (58.54) - 6th

1 Mile: Georgia Jones (4:50.87) - 1st

3000m: Abigail McIlvain (10:36.43) -12th

High Jump: Isabella Palchak (1.60m) - 4th

Long Jump: Zoe Eggleston (5.17m) - 16th

Shot Put: Kayley Ragazzini (14.59m) - 5th

Weight Throw: Kayley Ragazzini (18.06m) - 6th

Saturday

1000m: Melissa Jachim (2:58.21) - 7th

300m: Ever Elegon (40.58) - 10th

500m: Shayla Bonzelet (1:18.72) - 5th

Pole Vault: Samantha Sheppard-Moore (3.60m) - 9th

For a full list of results click HERE.

Coach's Corner
"Virginia Tech has a great facility for track and field competition. There is a separate throws building attached to the indoor track complex, there are elevated runways for the horizontal jumps and pole vault and the oval is a fast banked 200m. We came to this meet to put our team into a competitive environment and to compete over two days. The meet did not disappoint. Virginia, NC State, Wake Forest, Liberty and Charlotte brought the largest teams and made the meet competitive. We didn't win very many events but given the level of competition, that was not entirely unexpected. We did raise our level of competition and that resulted in some good performances.

Yesterday Georgia Jones was the headliner for our women's team. This was her first race on a track in quite some time but you wouldn't know it watching her run. She has always been a great competitor and is willing to go deep into the well in order to win. She looked strong and fast as the race got going and then she took over and blasted to the lead and win going away. Joanna Halfhill had a breakthrough performance in finishing second and looked equally impressive in how she finished. Emma Taylor ran well yesterday in the 60m prelims but even better today in our relay. She had a good fall training block and clearly she did some good work over the winter break. She will be a key performer for us in a variety of events so it was good to see her show her fitness this weekend. We didn't win any events today on the womens side but we did have some other outstanding marks. The throwers were impressive. Kayley Ragazzini picked up where she left off last week and had a nice series in the shot put. Barbara Antwi had a strong series behind Kayley and got a personal best in the shot that now ranks second in the conference and is #9 on our all time list. We also had quite a few personal bests from other event areas which is why we came. We got a lot of work done down here and we are ready to get going again next weekend. We will practice here tomorrow and then head back to the Academy." - Director of Track & Field Mike Smith

Up Next
Army will send athletes to the Eagle Invitation on Friday, Jan. 20 hosted by Boston College.