Liberty University
Liberty Flames Invite
Mitchell, Mizera, Strohman Break Records at Liberty Flames Invite
2/1/2020 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
The host team won 14 Liberty Flames Invite events, Saturday at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. Leading the way were three record setters, including Kyle Mitchell (ASUN all-time men's shot put record – 61-3), Makenzy Mizera (Liberty women's long jump record – 19-4.75) and Cortney Strohman (Liberty women's 300 record – 38.94).
For the second straight week, Mitchell won the men's shot put competition with an ASUN-record mark. After reaching 60-1.75 at last week's Liberty Kickoff, the Jamaican junior threw 60-10.5 in round four and 61-3 on Saturday's sixth and final attempt.
Mizera has now broken two school records during the season's first three meets. The sophomore opened her year with a record-breaking 41-3.75 triple jump at the Virginia Tech Invitational (Jan. 17). On Saturday, she improved her own program long jump record from 19-1.5 to 19-4.75, winning the competition by 10 inches.
Prior to Saturday, Chenoa Freeman had owned the Liberty women's 300 record of 39.55 since 2008. Strohman shattered the mark with her winning time of 38.94, putting her name on the Liberty record board in a sixth different event.
Christian Lyon scared the Liberty men's 200 record of 21.04 for the second straight meet, winning the one-lapper with a season-best 21.08 clocking.
Like Lyon, Jovaine Atkinson won his event (men's 60 hurdles) for the second Saturday in a row, as the All-American crossed the finish line in 7.89 seconds. Chilean Juan Pablo Germain Ronco followed in second place with an 8.08 clocking in his Liberty debut, tying Ken Howell for No. 2 on the Flames' all-time list.
Sophomore Jamie Anderson (18:31.86) became the third Lady Flame to win a 5K race this season, following victories by Emma Bower at the Virginia Tech Invitational and Noel Palmer at the Liberty Kickoff. Benjamin Klemmeck (15:22.02) made it a Liberty sweep of the 5K titles during the first race of the morning.
Three freshmen claimed their first collegiate victories on Saturday, including Abby Pantlitz in the women's 60 (7.74), Abby Phillips in the women's high jump (5-5.75) and John Hicks in the men's weight throw (57-0.25). Phillips, who also plays volleyball at Liberty, joined the Lady Flames' all-time top 10 for the event.
Pantlitz (24.80) later finished second to teammate Alexis Rolan (24.44) in the women's 200, while Heidi Smith (2:17.25), Jessica Rogers (2:21.79) and Ava Perez Erickson (2:21.81) went 1-2-3 in the women's 800.
Jeremy Davis (22-4.5) and Jeremiah McCants (46-2) took top honors in the men's long jump and triple jump, respectively.
Women's Event Winners
Jamie Anderson – 5K – 18:31.86
Makenzy Mizera – Long Jump – 19-4.75
Abby Pantlitz – 60 – 7.74
Abby Phillips – High Jump – 5-5.75
Alexis Rolan – 200 – 24.44
Heidi Smith – 800 – 2:17.25
Cortney Strohman – 300 – 38.94
Men's Event Winners
Jovaine Atkinson – 60 Hurdles – 7.89
Jeremy Davis – Long Jump – 22-4.5
John Hicks – Weight Throw – 57-0.25
Benjamin Klemmeck – 5K – 15:22.02
Christian Lyon – 200 – 21.08
Jeremiah McCants – Triple Jump – 46-2
Kyle Mitchell – Shot Put – 61-3
Women's Record Breakers
School Record – 300 – Cortney Strohman – 38.94
Old Record: 39.55 by Chenoa Freeman in 2008 at Virginia Tech
School Record – Long Jump – Makenzy Mizera – 19-4.75
Old Record: 19-1.5 by Mizera at the 2019 ASUN Championship
Men's Record Breakers
ASUN Record – Shot Put – Kyle Mitchell – 61-3
Old Record: 60-1.75 by Mitchell at last Saturday's Liberty Kickoff
Other Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
200 – No. 4 – Alexis Rolan – 24.44
High Jump – Tie for No. 8 – Abby Phillips – 5-5.75
200 – No. 9 – Abby Pantlitz – 24.80
300 – No. 10 – Deonna Davis – 42.05
Other Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
200 – No. 2 – Christian Lyon – 21.08
60 Hurdles – Tie for No. 2 – Juan Pablo Germain Ronco – 8.08
Weight Throw – No. 9 – John Hicks – 57-0.25
Up Next
Liberty will split its athletes between two road meets next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 7-8), including the South Carolina Invitational (Columbia, S.C.) and the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet (Blacksburg, Va.)
