2016 Big South Outdoor Track - Women's Preview
5/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
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For the first time since 2013 and the eighth time in meet history, Liberty will host the 2016 Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Tuesday through Thursday at the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex. Both the Flames and Lady Flames enter as the defending conference champions.
The Liberty men's squad will aim for its 10th consecutive team championship and its 21st overall title at this meet. The Flames have won 19 straight Big South indoor and outdoor men's track & field championships since 2007, including dominating performances at the most recent indoor (110-point victory) and outdoor (106-point victory) meets.
Meanwhile, the Lady Flames will attempt to win their first back-to-back titles at this meet since finishing on top at each of the first 10 Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships (1994 through 2003). Liberty, which edged Coastal Carolina by 11.5 points last season, has notched 14 women's team championships in the 22-year history of this meet.
This week's meet will mark the final Big South Conference battle between long-time rivals Liberty and Coastal Carolina, with the Chanticleers set to join the Sun Belt Conference next season.
The 2016 Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships will begin Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., with the women's discus. The three-day meet is scheduled to conclude at approximately 4:45 p.m. Thursday, with the men's 4 x 400 relay wrapping up the championship.
All events, with the exception of the men's and women's hammer, will be contested within the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex at Osborne Stadium. The hammer throw will take place on Liberty's Campus East.
Liberty has swept the men's and women's team titles each of the previous seven times it has hosted the Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including the inaugural event in 1994, as well as 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2013.
The Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in May for the second year in a row. The meet will provide athletes with a great chance to post qualifying marks for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet, set for May 26-28 in Jacksonville, Fla.
How to Follow the Action
For fans traveling to Liberty for the meet, admission to the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex will be free of charge.
All three days of the meet will be video streamed, free of charge, on the Big South Network.
Live results will be available throughout the meet, courtesy of Flash Results, Inc.
Periodic updates will also be posted to the Liberty Gameday Twitter account (@LUGameday) during the meet.
Weather Report
The preliminary forecast for Lynchburg appears warm but potentially unsettled.
Tuesday – High around 80, scattered thunderstorms, 60 percent chance of rain
Wednesday – High around 80, scattered thunderstorms, 50 percent chance of rain
Thursday – High around 80, isolated thunderstorms, 30 percent chance of rain
Women's Meet Preview
In 13 of the last 14 seasons, Liberty and Coastal Carolina have claimed the women's team championship and runner-up trophies at the Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships. So, it should be no surprise that the Lady Flames and Chanticleers are expected to battle it out for first place once again this week, in their final matchup as Big South rivals.
Coastal Carolina has won eight of the last 12 women's team crowns at this meet. However, the Lady Flames edged the Chanticleers, 210.5-199, a year ago. Liberty then dominated Coastal Carolina, 178.5-109, at the 2016 Big South Indoor Track & Field championships.
Like their male counterparts, the Lady Flames possess strong point potential in nearly every event. Liberty features three of the Big South's top six performers in the 400 (1-3-4), pole vault (4-5-6) and heptathlon (1-2-3) and has someone inside the top three of every event except the 100 hurdles, long jump, high jump and pole vault.
With two-time defending triple jump champion Janae Jones redshirting the 2016 season, Liberty has just two individual event winners back from 2015. Erika Jackson won the heptathlon, following teammate Riley Brandon's victory in 2014. Additionally, Mychelle Cumings claimed her third career outdoor shot put crown. If Cumings is victorious this week, she would become the first Big South female athlete ever to win four indoor and four outdoor titles in the same event.
Newcomers Erin Edmond and Delaney McDowell hope to replicate their success at the 2016 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships, where they won the 400 and 800 championships, respectively.
Ednah Kurgat, who ranks No. 6 nationally in the women's 5K at 15:48.63, will aim for her first Big South outdoor title. She is a three-time conference champion indoors, including this year's mile and 3K crowns. The two-time All-American will be competing on her home track for the first time in her collegiate career.
Coastal Carolina has been dominant in the relays in recent years, but Liberty enters as the defending 4 x 100 champion and the top seed in the 4 x 400 at 3:42.24.
Women's 100-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Wednesday at 5:25 p.m.; Final – Thursday at 2:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Abigail Flower (Liberty) – 11.59
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Lilla Juhasz (Campbell) – 3rd place
2016 Indoor Champion (60 Meters): Juhasz – 7.58
2016 Leader: Jasmine Pilgrim (Charleston Southern) and Kate Flower (Liberty) – 11.76
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 6 (Abigail Flower - 2015)
Liberty Entrants: Kate Flower and Dana Mercer
Outlook: Campell's Lilla Juhasz won the 2016 indoor 60 dash title and is the top returnee from last year's 100 final (third place). However, the talented hurdler has only clocked a time of 12.68 thus far in 2016. Charleston Southern's Jasmine Pilgrim and Liberty's Kate Flower are the Big South co-leaders at 11.76 seconds. Flower placed fourth last season in a race won by her twin sister, Abigail Flower. Liberty has seen sisters win back-to-back Big South 100 titles before. Fadhila Samuel was the inaugural Big South women's 100 champion in 1994, before younger sister Ardra Samuel won the next three titles (1995-97).
Women's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Tuesday at 7 p.m.; Final – Thursday at 3:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Abigail Flower (Liberty) – 23.81
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Latesha Simpson (Coastal Carolina) – 2nd place
2016 Indoor Champion: Jasmine Pilgrim (Charleston Southern) – 24.45
2016 Leader: Kolisha Coleman (Charleston Southern) – 24.23
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 6 (Abigail Flower - 2015)
Liberty Entrants: Nicole Leonzo, Erin Edmond, Kate Flower and Dana Mercer
Outlook: Charleston Southern scored 22 points in this year's Big South indoor 200 final and owns four of the top seven spots on the Big South outdoor list this season. Leading the way are Kolisha Coleman (No. 1 seed, 24.23) and indoor 200 champion Jasmine Pilgrim (No. 2, 24.24). Liberty freshman Nicole Leonzo climbed to third in the conference with her 24.50 effort at last week's Liberty Twilight Qualifier. Teammate Erin Edmond placed second indoors but has yet to crack 25 seconds outdoors this season. The last five Big South women's 100 champions have gone on to win the 200 later the same day.
Women's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Wednesday at 4:50 p.m.; Final – Thursday at 2:05 p.m.
Defending Champion: Lynette Akai (Campbell) – 54.34
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Jocelyn Culbreath (Campbell) – 4th place
2016 Indoor Champion: Erin Edmond (Liberty) – 54.84
2016 Leader: Edmond – 54.26
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 8 (Jaime Watson - 2010)
Liberty Entrants: Erin Edmond, Olivia Behymer, Nicole Leonzo and Corinn Bedell
Outlook: Coastal Carolina has enjoyed the upper hand on Liberty in the women's 400 in recent years, but the Lady Flames have flipped the script in 2016. Led by champion Erin Edmond, Liberty outscored the Chanticleers in the indoor 400 final, 18-0. The Lady Flames hope for a similar result this week, as they are entering Edmond (No. 1 seed, 54.26), Olivia Behymer (No. 3, 55.42), Nicole Leonzo (No. 4, 55.50) and Corinn Bedell (No. 7, 56.21). Meanwhile, no Chanticleers rank inside the conference's top 10. With a season best of 55.19, Charleston Southern's Danielle Burnett could be the biggest obstacle to Liberty winning its first Big South outdoor 400-meter championship since Jaime Watson in 2010.
Women's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.; Final – Thursday at 2:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Teresa Williamson (Radford) – 2:12.95
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Imani Boatwright (Coastal Carolina) – 2nd place
2016 Indoor Champion: Delaney McDowell (Liberty) – 2:09.98
2016 Leader: McDowell – 2:08.59
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 11 (Meghan Burggraf - 2014)
Liberty Entrants: Delaney McDowell, Ansley Gebben and Jasmin Sutton
Outlook: Coastal Carolina boasts the top two returnees from 2015 in Imani Boatwright (runner-up) and Aynslee Van Graan (third place). However, Liberty's duo of freshman Delaney McDowell and redshirt senior Ansley Gebben finished 1-2 ahead of Van Graan in this year's indoor final. McDowell (2:08.59) and Gebben (2:09.33) top the Big South outdoor performance list as well. McDowell will try to become the first freshman champion in this event since Liberty's Meghan Burggraf in 2010. Meanwhile, Gebben has made a successful transition in events following All-Big South performances in the 400 and 400 hurdles in previous seasons. Jasmin Sutton, a surprise sixth-place finisher in this event a year ago, will also compete for the Lady Flames, who have won exactly half (11 of 22) of the all-time Big South outdoor women's 800 titles all-time. The 800 has been an improved event in the Big South this season, with eight women clocking sub-2:15 times.
Women's 1,500-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.; Final – Thursday at 1:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Teresa Williamson (Radford) – 4:28.32 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Joan Maritim (Campbell) – 2nd place
2016 Indoor Champion (Mile): Ednah Kurgat (Liberty) – 4:50.82
2016 Leader: Aynslee Van Graan (Coastal Carolina) – 4:22.11
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 8 (Jennifer Klugh - 2012)
Liberty Entrants: Torree Scull, Hannah Scherlacher and Alexis Taylor
Outlook: The 1,500 could see a battle between last year's runner-up (Campbell's Joan Maritim) and third-place finisher (Coastal Carolina's Aynslee Van Graan). Van Graan has clocked a conference-leading time of 4:22.11 this season, while Maritim ranks second at 4:28.44. Behind them, Liberty looks for good things from freshman Torree Scull (No. 3 seed, 4:32.19) and junior Hannah Scherlacher (No. 4, 4:34.91). Scull placed fourth in this year's Big South indoor mile, while Scherlacher has shaved 10 seconds off of her personal-best 1,500 time this spring. The Lady Flames' Ednah Kurgat was this year's Big South indoor mile champion but will not compete in the outdoor 1,500.
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Event Schedule: Final – Wednesday at 6:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Natalia Ocasio (High Point) – 10:36.91
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Ocasio
2016 Leader: Ocasio – 10:29.27
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Hailey Neal – 2010)
Liberty Entrants: Kat Bouton and Alyssa Karle
Outlook: High Point junior Natalia Ocasio is an overwhelming favorite to become the first-ever back-to-back champion in this event Wednesday evening. Her time of 10:29.27 at the Virginia Challenge ranks No. 2 in Big South history and puts her 30 seconds clear of any conference rival. Winthrop's Tristan Langley is the only other Big South athlete who has broken 11 minutes in 2016, at 10:59.17. Liberty's Kat Bouton (No. 3 seed, 11:18.58) and Alyssa Karle (No. 4, 11:24.30) have each made solid improvements this season. They will try to produce the Lady Flames' first top three finish in this event since Betel Yosef came in third in 2012.
Women's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 3:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Letitia Saayman (Coastal Carolina) – 16:51.56
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Ednah Kurgat (Liberty) – 2nd place
2016 Indoor Champion: Kyla Van Graan (Coastal Carolina) – 17:10.38
2016 Leader: Kurgat – 15:48.63
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 7 (Jacy Christiansen - 2014)
Liberty Entrants: Ednah Kurgat, Torree Scull, Kat Bouton and Terrill Zentmeyer
Outlook: The women's 5K could feature a showdown between Liberty's Ednah Kurgat, Campbell's Joan Maritim and Coastal Carolina's Kyla Van Graan. Kurgat set a school and Big South 5K record of 15:48.63 at the Mt. SAC Relays, after placing ninth in the event at this year's NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Maritim (16:40.95) and Van Graan (16:42.87) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in conference history. Van Graan won the 2016 indoor 5K title with Maritim second, in Kurgat's absence. Steeplechase standout Natalia Ocasio of High Point could be a factor as well.
Women's 10,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Defending Champion: Letitia Saayman (Coastal Carolina) – 34:54.43 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Ednah Kurgat (Liberty) – 2nd place
2016 Leader: Joan Maritim (Campbell) – 34:55.85
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 6 (Dacia Bushman - 2011)
Liberty Entrants: Ednah Kurgat and Terrill Zentmeyer
Outlook: Liberty's Ednah Kurgat has not contested a 10K this year but ran 34:38.75 as a freshman in 2015, finished as the Big South runner-up and advanced to the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round. She has never competed in a race at home during her collegiate career before this week. Kurgat's top two potential competitors, conference-leading Joan Maritim of Campbell and Kyla Van Graan of Coastal Carolina, will focus on other events this week. Liberty's Terrill Zentmeyer, who has lowered her 5K personal best to 18:06.18 this season, will make her 10K debut on Tuesday. High Point's Julia Zautcke, who placed third in the 2014 Big South women's 10K and sixth a year ago, has run the fastest time of any of Tuesday's competitors this season, 38:06.10.
Women's 100-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Wednesday at 4 p.m.; Final – Thursday at 1:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Lilla Juhasz (Campbell) – 13.32
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Juhasz
2016 Indoor Champion (60 Hurdles): Juhasz – 8.40
2016 Leader: Juhasz – 13.47
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 9 (Olivia Charnuski - 2011)
Liberty Entrants: Erika Jackson, Kylie Polsgrove and Audrey Bamford
Outlook: Campbell could finish 1-2 in the women's 100 hurdles, as defending champion Lilla Juhasz (13.47) and Tatiana Wolfe (13.82) are the only two conference hurdlers to break 14 seconds this season. Liberty has not scored a point in this event since 2013, but hopes to get something out of multi-event athletes Erika Jackson, Kylie Polsgrove and Audrey Bamford. Jackson is seeded sixth at 14.62, with Polsgrove seventh at 14.78.
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.; Final – Thursday at 2:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jessica Gelibert (Coastal Carolina) – 58.15 (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Mary Witmer (Liberty) – 4th place
2016 Leader: Tatiana Wolfe (Campbell) – 59.43
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 9 (Arlene Zelinskas - 2007)
Liberty Entrant: Mary Witmer
Outlook: Only two of last year's women's 400 hurdles finalists are back in 2016, including Liberty's Mary Witmer (fourth place) and Campbell's Tatiana Wolfe (eighth). Wolfe is this year's top seed at 59.43, with Witmer second at 1:01.88. Witmer hopes to recapture the form which saw her clock a program-record 59.92 in last year's final. The Lady Flames have not won this event since Arlene Zelinskas did so in Lynchburg in 2007. Liberty's Ansley Gebben came in third in both 2013 and 2014, but will focus on the 800 this week.
Women's 4 x 100 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 12:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Liberty – 45.68
2016 Leader: Coastal Carolina – 45.79
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 9 (2015)
Outlook: Liberty is the defending Big South 4 x 100 relay champion, after snapping Coastal Carolina's four-year winning streak with a school-record 45.68 clocking. Coastal (45.79), Liberty (45.81) and Charleston Southern (45.98) have all broken 46 seconds this season, and those three programs have combined for the last 10 Big South titles in this event.
Women's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 4:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Coastal Carolina – 3:38.66
2016 Indoor Champion: Liberty – 3:42.64
2016 Leader: Liberty – 3:42.24
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 8 (2004)
Outlook: Coastal Carolina captured its fourth Big South 4 x 400 title in five seasons a year ago. However, it is Liberty which won this year's indoor championship and owns the No. 1 seed outdoors at 3:42.24. The Lady Flames are seeking their first outdoor victory in this event since 2004. They figure to be challenged by Charleston Southern, which owns a season best of 3:42.36.
Women's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Latesha Simpson (Coastal Carolina) – 19-6.75 (5.96m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Simpson
2016 Indoor Champion: Sabina Allen (Campbell) – 19-0 (5.79m)
2016 Leader: Allen – 20-3.5 (6.18m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 7 (Danielle McNaney - 2003)
Liberty Entrants: Oasis Hernandez, Dana Mercer and Audrey Bamford
Outlook: Coastal Carolina has won four straight Big South outdoor women's long jump titles, including the last two in a row by Latesha Simpson. However, Campbell's Sabina Allen won the indoor title and then jumped a conference-record 20-3.5 at the Campbell Invitational. Liberty has not won this event since 2003, but will enter indoor runner-up Dana Mercer and 2014 outdoor third-place finisher Oasis Hernandez. Campbell's Lilla Juhasz (2014) and Coastal Carolina's Amirah Al-Bayyinah (2015) are past indoor conference champions in this event, but neither one has long jumped thus far this season.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at Noon
Defending Champion: Janae Jones (Liberty) – 41-2.25 (12.55m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Sabina Allen (Campbell) – 2nd place
2016 Indoor Champion: Allen – 42-8.25 (13.01m)
2016 Leader: Allen – 42-11.5 (13.09m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 11 (Janae Jones - 2015)
Liberty Entrant: Oasis Hernandez
Outlook: Liberty's Janae Jones has won back-to-back Big South outdoor women's triple jump titles, but is redshirting this year. In her absence, Sabina Allen of Campbell has stepped up as the athlete to beat. She was the 2015 outdoor runner-up and 2016 indoor conference champion before coming just one centimeter shy of the Big South all-time record with a 42-11.5 leap earlier this season. No. 2 seed Amirah Al-Bayyinah of Coastal Carolina is seeded No. 2 at 41-2.25. She has won three career Big South women's triple jump titles (2013 outdoor, 2014 indoor, 2015 indoor). Liberty's Oasis Hernandez has made a timely return from injury, claiming the No. 3 seed with her 40-6.25 effort at the Highlander Invitational. Hernandez would likely need to improve upon that mark to reach the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet.
Women's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Latesha Simpson (Coastal Carolina) – 5-6 (1.68m)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Simpson
2016 Indoor Champion: Shenelle McKay (Campbell) – 5-8 (1.73m)}
2016 Leader: McKay – 5-8.5 (1.74m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 8 (Mia Aghaji - 2008)
Liberty Entrants: Erin Zappia, Kylie Polsgrove, Erika Jackson and Audrey Bamford
Outlook: Entries in this event have combined for five Big South high jump titles, including three by Coastal Carolina's Latesha Simpson (2013 outdoor, 2015 indoor, 2015 outdoor) and one apiece for Gardner-Webb's Kayin Mujahid (2014 outdoor) and Campbell's Shenelle McKay (2016 indoor). Simpson will try to become the first back-to-back champion since Liberty's Kena Butts in 2005 and 2006, but she has only cleared 5-3 this season. McKay owns the conference lead at 5-8.5, followed by Winthrop heptathlete Taryn DeLeon at 5-7. Liberty sophomore Erin Zappia, coming off of an outdoor-best 5-5.25 clearance at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier, was this year's indoor runner-up. The Lady Flames are seeking their first top-three finish at this meet since Kristen Willeford and Sadalia Ellis were part of a four-way tie for second place in 2013.
Women's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Wednesday at 5:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Elise Moffatt (Gardner-Webb) – 12-7.5 (3.85m)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Emma Kroger (Coastal Carolina) and Jill Marois (High Point) – T-2nd place
2016 Indoor Champion: Kroger – 12-9.5 (3.90m)
2016 Leader: Marois – 13-3.75 (4.06m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 7 (Shelley Parker – 2011)
Liberty Entrants: Mariel Finger, Rachael Fasana and Audrey Rabe
Outlook: High Point's Jill Marois (13-3.75) and Alyssa Palenchar (13-1.5) have both joined pole vaulting's 13-foot club this season. Marois, who notched her best clearance of the season at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier, is a two-time Big South women's pole vault champion (2014 outdoor, 2015 indoor). Coastal Carolina's Emma Kroger, who tied Marois for second place a year ago and won the 2016 Big South indoor title, is seeded third at 12-5.5. Sophomore Mariel Finger is Liberty's top hope. The No. 4 seed at 12-3.5 tied for fourth place indoors. The Lady Flames' last podium finish in this event came in 2012, when Rachel Houseknecht shared third place.
Women's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Thursday at 2:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Mychelle Cumings (Liberty) – 48-4 (14.73m)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Cumings
2016 Indoor Champion: Cumings – 51-1 (15.57m)
2016 Leader: Cumings – 49-5 (15.06m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 6 (Mychelle Cumings - 2015)
Liberty Entrants: Mychelle Cumings, Dasiana Larson and Holly Arey
Outlook: Liberty's Mychelle Cumings has a chance to make history on Thursday afternoon. If she is victorious in the shot put competition, she would become the first Big South women's athlete ever to win four conference championships in the same event, both indoors and outdoors. Her senior-best mark of 49-5 is more than three feet better than No. 2 seed Sarah Mitchell of Gardner-Webb (46-2.75). Mitchell was this year's indoor runner-up behind Cumings. Dasiana Larson has made steady progress during her sophomore season, placing fifth indoors and entering the outdoor championship as the No. 4 seed at 44-9.
Women's Discus
Event Schedule: Final – Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jennifer Smith (Liberty) – 158-6 (48.31m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Mychelle Cumings (Liberty) – 2nd place
2016 Leader: Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine (High Point) – 167-7 (51.08m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 4 (Jennifer Smith - 2015)
Liberty Entrants: Mychelle Cumings, Holly Arey and Catherine Oyarzun
Outlook: Liberty had never won a Big South women's discus title until Mychelle Cumings did so as a freshman in 2012. Now, the Lady Flames are seeking their fifth championship in a row. Cumings won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, before Jennifer Smith did the same in 2014 and 2015. However, Liberty will have to defeat High Point sophomore Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine to extend its championship streak. The transfer from Auburn moved into second place in conference history with her 167-7 toss at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier. Cumings (152-6 season best) and teammate Holly Arey (151-11) are second and third, respectively, on the conference list this season. Arey has improved by over 16 feet from her freshman season, when she placed eighth in this event.
Women's Javelin
Event Schedule: Final – Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Defending Champion: Christine Rickert (High Point) – 162-6 (49.53m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Rickert
2016 Leader: Rickert – 172-2 (52.47m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 7 (Christina Mitchell - 2013)
Liberty Entrants: Brenna Smith, Riley Brandon and Holly Arey
Outlook: High Point's Christine Rickert is certainly the athlete to watch in Tuesday's women's javelin competition. She owns the school, conference and meet records and currently ranks No. 14 nationally. At 172-2, Rickert has thrown more than 30 feet longer than anyone else in the Big South this season. She will try to join Coastal Carolina's Deborah Mattern (2009-11) as the only Big South throwers to win three javelin titles in a row. Coastal Carolina's Chloe White and Liberty's Brenna Smith were second and third, respectively, behind Rickert last season as freshmen and currently rank second and third on this year's Big South list. Lady Flame Riley Brandon owns a career best of 131-11 but will have to throw during the heptathlon competition.
Women's Hammer
Event Schedule: Final – Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Defending Champion: Marthaline Cooper (Winthrop) – 209-6 (63.85m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Cooper
2016 Indoor Champion (Weight): Cooper – 69-6.25 (21.19m)
2016 Leader: Cooper – 211-3 (64.38m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Melinda Bendik - 2012)
Liberty Entrants: Dasiana Larson, Catherine Oyarzun and Holly Arey
Outlook: Three Big South women's hammer throwers reached the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships last season. Winthrop junior Marthaline Cooper, who placed 10th in that meet, is the only returnee among them. The two-time defending Big South champion ranks No. 10 nationally in the event this season at 211-3 and set the facility record at Liberty (205-10) last week. Gardner-Webb's Natasha Akbarizadeh, who placed fifth in this event a year ago, defeated Cooper head-to-head at the April 22 Duke Invitational and then threw a school-record 195-8 in her next meet. Liberty's entrants are paced by Dasiana Larson, who posted a personal-best 185-5 at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier. She is seeded third in the Big South and is on the bubble for qualification to the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet. Lady Flames Melinda Bendik (2012) and Jocelyn Williams (2015) have both thrown the hammer at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in recent years, but neither of them reached 185-5 during their sophomore season as Larson has.
Women's Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Tuesday at 2:45 p.m.; Day Two – Begins Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Erika Jackson (Liberty) – 4,869
Top Returnee from 2015 Meet: Jackson
2016 Indoor Champion (Pentathlon): Jackson – 3,595
2016 Leader: Jackson – 5,056
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 11 (Erika Jackson - 2015)
Liberty Entrants: Erika Jackson, Kylie Polsgrove, Riley Brandon and Jessica Harrison
Outlook: Liberty has won the Big South heptathlon title 11 times in the 15 years the event has been contested, including the last five in a row. The Lady Flames rank 1-2-3 in the Big South entering this week's meet, including defending champion Erika Jackson (5,056 points), freshman Kylie Polsgrove (4,734) and 2014 champion Riley Brandon (4,704). Radford's Jessica Shelton is perhaps the biggest threat to a potential podium sweep for the Lady Flames. She finished fourth a year ago and was the indoor pentathlon runner-up behind Jackson.