Liberty University
WildCat Invitational
Liberty Posts 13 Victories at WildCat Invitational
4/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Liberty made the most of its opportunity to compete in its home city on a warm, sunny Saturday at the WildCat Invitational. A partial Flames squad racked up 13 event victories at WildCat Stadium, highlighted by first-place finishes in all four women's jumping events and Alexis Wilson's sweep of the women's 100 and 200 dash crowns.
Women's Meet Recap
Both of Wilson's winning times were hampered by significant headwinds, as the freshman clocked 12.38 in the 100 and 25.49 in the 200. In each race, a Lady Flame followed Wilson across the line in second place, including classmate Nikayla Hoyte in the 100 (12.39) and Samantha Yamasaki at 200 meters (season-best 26.76).
Hoyte produced one of the day's most impressive performances in the long jump, adding two feet to her previous best collegiate mark. Hoyte's winning leap of 18-5 was the top long jump effort by a Lady Flame in 2018, indoors or outdoors, and currently ranks No. 2 on the 2018 Big South list.
Jessie Glynn claimed the women's pole vault victory with a 12-5.5 clearance, while Miranda Moss' personal-best 34-10.5 triple jump was good for first place.
Both of the Lady Flames' high jumpers were making their first appearances in a Liberty uniform on Saturday, but they were able to complete the Lady Flames' sweep of the jumping event titles. Izzy Landis took top honors at 4-9.75, while former volleyball player Meegan Williams placed third with a 4-7.75 clearance.
Natalee Cole (personal-best 2:18.27) and Heidi Smith (2:21.01) made it a 1-2 Liberty finish in the women's 800.
Erin Hansel was victorious in the women's 1,500 with her time of 4:55.66.
One of Liberty's busiest athletes on Saturday, Kemi Moore's day was highlighted by a javelin runner-up finish (116-2) and a third-place showing in the shot put (outdoor personal-best 34-5).
Men's Meet Recap
Reigning Big South Men's Field Athlete of the Week Carson Waters led a 1-2-3 Liberty finish in the men's pole vault for the second straight week. The senior from Florida cleared 16-6.75 on Saturday, claiming victory for the third time in four competitions this season.
Ryan McCann matched his season-best clearance of 14-11 for second place, while Dean Palmer vaulted 13-11.25 to claim third in his season debut.
Jahquez Durham's winning 400 clocking of 47.91 equaled the fastest time of the sophomore's collegiate career and ranks No. 3 in the Big South this season.
Fellow sprinter Jonathan Doss clocked a personal-best 200 time of 22.17 into a headwind for first place, following his third-place showing at 100 meters (11.16).
Racing in the afternoon's final event, Jack Tidball made a successful steeplechase debut. The redshirt sophomore clocked 10:11.56 to win the race.
Decathlete Jeremy Davis' day included a victory in the men's triple jump competition (season-best 45-8) and a third-place javelin effort (152-6).
Fellow decathlete Chukwuma Maduka long jumped 20-5.25 to claim third place.
Up Next
Liberty will split up its team next weekend for the final time this season. Some Flames will compete in the Virginia Challenge, Friday and Saturday at Lannigan Field in Charlottesville, Va. Others will head to Morris Williams Stadium in Durham, N.C., for the Duke Invitational, also slated for Friday and Saturday.
