Liberty University
Tyson Invitational
Charnuski, Smith Shine at Tyson Invitational
2/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Liberty's Olivia Charnuski and Ryan Smith both enjoyed standout performances on Saturday, the final day of action at the Tyson Invitational. Charnuski's 25.01 effort broke Liberty's long-standing women's 200-meter dash record, while Smith took runner-up honors in the men's shot put.
Charnuski's previous 200-meter dash personal best of 25.31 seconds had been established one year ago, at the same Randal Tyson Track Center facility. The junior cut her time to 25.01 on Saturday, improving upon Christina Henry's school record. Henry ran 25.02 seconds on Feb. 23, 2002 at Virginia Tech.
Charnuski's time also met the ECAC standard of 25.04. She had already qualified for the ECAC Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 60-meter hurdles earlier this season.
Smith waited until his sixth and final shot put attempt to unleash a personal-best 58-6.5 heave. It was the redshirt sophomore's first time ever throwing over 58 feet, either indoors or out, and ranks him No. 27 nationally in the event. Florida State's Michael Putnam won Saturday's competition with a 59-5 effort.
Smith now trails only his coach, Clendon Henderson, in program history for the men's shot put. At the start of the season, Smith's indoor shot put personal best stood at 55-9.75. He has now added almost three feet to that mark in 2010-11.
The Flames and Lady Flames will return to action Feb. 24-25, when they travel to Clemson, S.C. for the 2011 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships. Both the Liberty men's and women's teams enter the meet as defending conference champions.
