10 Lady Flames, Tolsma Included on Big South Women's Indoor Track All-Decade Team
6/9/2020 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Ten former Liberty standouts and Head Coach Brant Tolsma were voted to the 2010-19 Big South Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field All-Decade Team presented by Hercules Tires, it was announced today.
The Lady Flames' honorees included one sprinter (Tanner Ealum), four distance runners (Meghan Burggraf, Jennifer Klugh, Ednah Kurgat, Delaney McDowell), two jumpers (Mia Aghaji, Janae Jones), two throwers (Mychelle Cumings, Jocelyn Williams) and one pentathlete (Kylie Polsgrove).
Throughout the month of June, the Big South will be recognizing each sport's top student-athletes and coaches from the recently completed decade. Liberty wrapped up its 27-year Big South Conference membership on June 30, 2018, departing for the ASUN Conference.
The Flames excelled during their final years of Big South competition, earning seven Sasser Cups and 62 Big South team championships between 2010-18.
A 15-person committee of Big South Conference administrators served as the official voting panel to determine the All-Decade Team, with fan voting comprising 20 percent of the overall total. The 2010-19 Women's Indoor Track & Field All-Decade Team features eight sprinters/hurdlers, eight distance/mid-distance runners, eight jumpers, four throwers, two pentathletes and one head coach. In case of ties, additional honorees have been added.
A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Ealum spent her first two seasons (2017 and 2018) competing in the Big South. She was named Big South Women's Freshman of the Year at the 2017 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships after winning the 400 and 4 x 400 relay titles while placing third in the 200. The following year, she again won two events at the Big South indoor meet (4 x 400 and distance medley relay) and added a runner-up finish at 800 meters.
Twice during her career (2011 and 2014), Burggraf won both the 800 and distance medley relay at the same Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships. As a redshirt senior in 2014, the Lynchburg, Va., native set meet records in both events, clocking 2:09.26 in the 800 and 12:04.07 in the distance medley relay.
Klugh was voted Big South Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer at both the 2011 and 2012 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships. Both times, the Centerburg, Ohio native won the mile and 3K titles while finishing second to a teammate in the 5K. In total, Klugh earned eight All-Big South medals indoors.
Kurgat made a major impact during her two years with the Lady Flames. An Eldoret, Kenya native, Kurgat was tabbed Big South Women's Freshman of the Year in 2015 after winning the Big South 3K and placing third in the mile. In 2016, Kurgat swept the Big South mile and 3K titles before going on to earn second team All-America honors in the 5K.
McDowell opened her collegiate career with Big South Women's Freshman of the Year honors in 2016, thanks to victories in the 800 and distance medley relay. The Mason, Ohio native added subsequent 800 titles at the 2017 and 2018 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships, going along with first-place relay finishes in the 4 x 400 (2017) and distance medley (2018).
A versatile competitor, Aghaji posted first-place finishes in three different Big South indoor events during her career. She won the high jump and 4 x 400 relay as a freshman in 2008. Three years later, the native of Chester, Va., took top honors in the Big South triple jump final.
A native of Matoaca, Va., Jones was a regular contender in the Big South long jump and triple jump competitions throughout her four years as a Lady Flame. She was a four-time All-Big South performer indoors, headlined by her victory in the triple jump at the 2017 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Cumings was voted Big South Women's Outstanding Field Performer in 2013 and 2014 after winning the middle two of her four Big South indoor shot put crowns (also 2012 and 2016). The Madison, Tenn., native's winning shot put mark of 53-5.5 at the 2014 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships set Big South all-time, meet and Liberty records.
Williams' weight throw title at the 2014 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Lady Flames' first-ever conference title in the event, headlined her five indoor All-Big South performances. The native of Hamilton, N.J., heaved the weight 67-5.5 at the 2014 Big South indoor meet, a mark which still stands as the program record.
A native of Newland, N.C., Polsgrove captured back-to-back Big South pentathlon titles in 2017 and 2018. Her 2018 victory was part of a 36-point performance, which also included a high jump victory and runner-up finishes in the 60 hurdles and long jump. Five of Polsgrove's 11 career All-Big South honors came indoors.
Tolsma coached the Lady Flames to a conference-high six Big South indoor team titles during the decade, claiming the trophy in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2018. He earned a trio of Big South Coach of the Year honors during the decade (2012, 2017 and 2018).
The Big South Conference previously announced additional all-decade teams as part of its 30th anniversary celebration during the 2013-14 academic year. The following Lady Flames were included on those squads.
1997-99 Women's Indoor Track & Field All-Decade Team
Sprints/Hurdles – Holly Deem, Wendy Heath, Jaquay Reid
Mid-Distance/Distance – Amy Teer
Jumps – Wendy Heath, Liz Robertson, Amy Sturgill
Throws – Amy Rodriguez
Head Coach – Brant Tolsma
2000-09 Women's Indoor Track & Field All-Decade Team
Sprints/Hurdles – Danielle McNaney, Kodi Pollard, Arlene Zelinskas
Mid-Distance/Distance – Carol Jefferson, Heather Sagan, Jaime Watson
Jumps – Kena Butts, Andrea Wildrick
Pentathlon – Marie Williams, Arlene Zelinskas
