Doan Named ASUN Women’s XC Runner of the Week
10/19/2021 2:42:32 PM | Cross Country
For the first time this season and the third time in her career, Liberty’s Calli Doan has been named ASUN Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week.
Doan previously earned this honor on Jan. 26 and Feb. 9, 2021. She becomes the third current member of the Lady Flames with three or more ASUN Runner of the Week awards to her credit. Adelyn Ackley has won the award six times and Noel Palmer is a three-time ASUN Runner of the Week.
A native of Apex, N.C., Doan crossed the finish line nearly simultaneously with Ackley at Friday’s FSU XC Invite/Pre-Nationals. Doan placed seventh overall in a time of 20:05.0 which was superior to the previous Liberty 6K record (20:06.7) that had stood for six years.
Doan finished ahead of some accomplished runners, including 2021 NCAA indoor 5K national champion Joyce Kimeli of Auburn and 2021 NCAA indoor mile runner-up Krissy Gear of Arkansas.
Doan’s performance helped the Lady Flames place eighth of 33 teams on Friday. Liberty defeated nationally ranked opponents Georgetown, Kentucky and Toledo. As a result, the Lady Flames earned the first national ranking in program history (No. 24) on Tuesday.
Next up, No. 24 Liberty will attempt to defend its title at the 2021 ASUN Cross Country Championships, set for Oct. 30 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The women’s 5K is slated to begin at 8:15 a.m., as the Lady Flames seek their first back-to-back conference crowns since capturing consecutive Big South titles in 2009 and 2010.
The men’s 8K will get the morning started in Orlando, beginning at 7:40 a.m. The Flames will aim for their first ASUN team title following three consecutive runner-up showings at this meet.
