Liberty University
Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup
Flames, Lady Flames Both Finish 4th at Sykes-Sabock Cup
2/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
The Liberty men's and women's squads both finished fourth at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup, which wrapped up Saturday at Penn State's Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. A successful day for the Flames and Lady Flames featured Darrel Jones' second event victory (men's triple jump) in as many days, seven new IC4A qualifications and six new ECAC marks.
The Flames ended up with 82 points, which was good for fourth place out of seven men's teams, Liberty's best men's finish at this meet since a fourth-place showing in 2011. Host Penn State took the men's title with 178 points, outdistancing runner-up UConn's total of 151.
On the women's side, the Lady Flames shared fourth place with James Madison in the eight-member field, totaling 60 points. Liberty has now finished fourth at three consecutive Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cups. Penn State's 211 points gave the Nittany Lions an 89-point victory over Cornell (122 points) in the women's team race.
Men's Day 2 Recap
After winning Friday's men's long jump competition, Jones dominated the triple jump on Saturday. His top mark of 49-5.75 outdistanced runner-up Malik Snead of UConn by more than two feet and made Jones the first Flame ever to win two events at the same Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup. Jones qualified for the IC4A meet in a second event while matching his indoor personal best triple jump distance.
Teammate Jonny Saintil made a successful Liberty debut in the men's triple jump, claiming fourth place at 47-0.75.
Junior Stephen Racanelli fared well during a busy day in the sprints, beginning with a third-place finish in the 400 dash. His indoor personal-best time of 48.04 ranks No. 3 in program history and was the fastest indoor 400 by a Flame since Mike Decker's program-record 46.33 effort at the 2001 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Racanelli later punched his IC4A ticket in the 200 dash with his time of 21.85 which was good for seventh place in the one-lapper.
Finally, Racanelli anchored the Flames' 4 x 400 relay squad to fourth place in an IC4A-qualifying time of 3:17.21. He was joined by Ryan Davis, Michael Todd and Jeff Jacobs.
Todd headlined an impressive performance by Liberty's mid-distance runners. All four Flames who raced at 800 meters on Saturday broke 1:55 and three of them dipped under the IC4A standard. Todd led the way in sixth place in a lifetime-best 1:52.92 (No. 6 in Liberty history).
Colin Schultz followed in ninth place in an indoor-best 1:53.84 (No. 8 in Liberty history), while Andrew Crowell wrapped up the Flames' trio of IC4A qualifiers in 11th place at 1:54.36. Freshman Bradley Prentice just missed the IC4A standard but did end up 14th in a lifetime-best effort of 1:54.86.
Fellow mid-distance runner Andrew Garrett notched a fourth-place finish at 600 meters, clocking 1:21.44 in his debut effort at the distance.
The Flames scored 13 points in the men's vertical jumps, led by Zach Davis' third-place showing in the high jump at 6-8.25. Ken Ritchey pole vaulted a season-best 16-1.75, coming in fourth and exceeding the IC4A standard. Teammate Carson Waters shared sixth place with a 15-9.75 pole vault clearance.
Cameron Francis posted a time of 8:30.37 in his track 3K debut for seventh place, while David Scouten hurled the shot put a season-best 49-8.5 for the eighth spot.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Redshirt senior Mychelle Cumings improved upon her shot put season best by more than two and a half feet on Saturday, reaching 51-5.75 for third place. The Tennessee native now ranks No. 34 nationally this season.
The Lady Flames grabbed four of the top 10 spots in the women's 400 dash, with their top three finishers earning ECAC qualifiers. Erin Edmond came in third in 55.52 seconds, moving up to No. 3 in program history. Fellow senior Corinn Bedell followed in fourth place in an indoor personal-best time of 56.35, good for fifth on Liberty's all-time list.
Nicole Leonzo's time of 56.65 seconds was good for sixth place in the race, seventh place in program history and a new Liberty freshman record in the event. Sophomore Olivia Behymer lowered her indoor best to 57.71 for 10th place.
Edmond later sped to a 200 time of 24.86 for sixth place in the race and No. 4 in program history. Nicole Leonzo was ninth with a season-best 200 time of 25.18.
Despite a fall during the first exchange, the Lady Flames' 4 x 400 team of Behymer, Bedell, Edmond and Ansley Gebben came in third with an ECAC-qualifying time of 3:51.19. Edmond's impressive 55.3 split on the third leg helped the quartet claim the No. 9 spot in program history.
Delaney McDowell made it two freshman records for the Lady Flames on the day, with her 800 time of 2:13.54. The Ohio native placed fourth in the event, notched an ECAC qualifier and now ranks No. 3 in program history.
Gebben sits just behind McDowell in fourth place on Liberty's women's 800 list after running a 2:13.88 for sixth place in the event and an ECAC qualification. Alexis Taylor followed in 13th place, lowering her collegiate best to 2:16.13.
Kylie Polsgrove and Erin Zappia were each part of a three-way tie for third place in the women's high jump, as both Lady Flames made it over 5-4.25.
Hannah Scherlacher made a big breakthrough in the women's mile, slicing 16 seconds off of her previous best. Her time of 5:04.48 earned a 14th-place finish.
Liberty's athletes will be divided between three meets on Friday, including the Liberty Quad. The one-day event will serve as the Flames' final home meet at the Tolsma Indoor Track Center before Liberty moves into its new indoor track & field facility for the 2016-17 season.
Other Flames and Lady Flames will travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the Samford Invitational. The meet will take place at the Birmingham CrossPlex, which will play host to the 2016 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships next month.
Finally, Ednah Kurgat will run her first 5K of the season at Friday's Husky Classic, at Washington's Dempsey Indoor in Seattle, Wash.
