LEXINGTON, Va. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's indoor track & field teams began competition Friday at the two-day VMI Winter Relays.

Junior Zackary Nelson won the men's 400 meters and earned an NCAA Division II qualifying time with a school-record mark of 48.31 seconds, while senior Widchard Guervil was the top qualifier as one of three Pioneers to advance to the finals of the men's 60 meters. In women's competition, graduate student Kenisha Stubbs qualified for the finals of the 60 hurdles, and sophomore Judy Chellah set a school record in the 1,000-meter run.

The Pioneers will conclude action at VMI on Saturday, starting at 10:00 a.m.

MEN'S RECAP
Nelson, who set a school record in the 400 with a time of 49.63 seconds at the Flat Is Fast Invitational on Sunday, won on Friday by 1.71 seconds over runner-up Richard Edwards of VMI, who ran in the same heat with Nelson. His time of 48.31 is the ninth-fastest in Division II this season.

Guervil extended his streak of race wins to nine as he placed first in his heat and second in prelims in the 60 meters with a time of 6.84 seconds, then grabbed the top seed in Saturday's final by matching his season-best time of 6.71 seconds. Joining Guervil in the finals are Jarvis Barber Jr., whose time of 6.89 in the semifinals moved him to third on the program's performance list, along with Devan Hart who ran 6.90 in the semis. Gerard Hearst just missed the finals with a time of 6.98 in the semis, while Pierre Dupuy ran a career-best 7.00 and moved to seventh on the Tusculum performance list in the 60.

In the 1000 meters, Antonio Aparicio ran 2:31.86 to break his own school record of 2:35.67 he set in last year's VMI Winter Relays. Kyler Hodges took fifth place in 2:35.48, with Carson Walls in 17th at 2:48.55.

Caleb Archer placed 12th in the 5000 meters at 15:48.27, the 10th-fastest time in school history in the event, and Ray Richardson was 15th in 15:58.06 to move into fifth on the TU performance list.

WOMEN'S RECAP
Stubbs qualified for the finals in the 60 hurdles with a time of 9.27 seconds, good for fifth place in the field and the fourth-fastest time in program history. Faith Robinette just missed a spot in the finals with a time of 9.62 seconds, third-best on the program performance list in the event.

Chellah ran 3:20.76 in the 1000 meters to finish 13th overall while breaking the school record of 3:27.07 set by Yoland Boyce last year at the VMI Winter Classic. Nicole Griffith finished 17th in 3:24.55 to also surpass the old record, with Emily Coddington close behind in 19th at 3:28.81.

In the 5000 meters, Javiera Ortiz claimed fourth place with a run of 18:57.61, putting her third on the program's performance list with the ninth-fastest time in school history. Celine McNally was sixth in 19:46.29 and moved into fourth on the TU list in the event.

Aliyah Adderley was Tusculum's top finisher in the 60 meters, running 8.15 in the semifinals after qualifying 16th with a time of 8.10 seconds, the ninth fastest in school history.

VMI Winter Relays - at Lexington, Va. (Day 1 of 2)
Tusculum results
MEN'S RESULTS
60 prelims: 2. Widchard Guervil, 6.84; 5. Jarvis Barber Jr., 6.97; 8. Gerard Hearst, 6.99; 9. Devan Hart, 7.01; 12. Pierre Dupuy, 7.03.
60 semifinals: 1. Widchard Guervil, 6.71 (qualifies); 4. Jarvis Barber Jr., 6.89 (qualifies); 6. Devan Hart, 6.90 (qualifies); 10. Gerard Hearst, 6.98; 11. Pierre Dupuy, 7.00.
400: 1. Zackary Nelson, 48.31 (school record/NCAA qualifier); 14. Stephen Brewer, 51.90; 28. Joshua Stephens, 53.57.
1000: 3. Antonio Aparicio, 2:31.86 (school record); 5. Kyler Hodges, 2:35.48; 17. Carson Walls, 2:48.55.
5000: 12. Caleb Archer, 15:48.27; 15. Ray Richardson, 15:58.06.

WOMEN'S RESULTS
60 prelims: 16. Aliyah Adderley, 8.10; 25. Silvia Bah, 8.28; 32. Faith Robinette, 8.36; 41. Shanee Angol, 8.63; 46. Emerald Jones, 9.70.
60 semifinals: 19. Aliyah Adderley, 8.15.
60 hurdle prelims: 5. Kenisha Stubbs, 9.27 (qualifies); 9. Faith Robinette, 9.62
400: 25. Kayneshia Carter, 1:07.18; 30. Silvia Bah, 1:09.38.
1000: 13. Judy Chellah, 3:20.76 (school record); 17. Nicole Griffith, 3:24.55; 19. Emily Coddington, 3:28.81.
5000: 4. Javiera Ortiz, 18:57.61; 6. Celine McNally, 19:46.29.
Weight throw: 32. Amber Hogan, 10.80m (35-5 1/4).