Liberty University
Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
Doan, Igberaese Set Meet Records on Darius Dixon Day 1
2/12/2021 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Host Liberty won four events on the opening day of the seventh annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, Friday at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. Headlining the victories were meet records by Calli Doan (women's mile – 4:51.24) and Chelsea Igberaese (women's weight throw – 65-6.75).
Liberty's other two victories came in the men's 60 (Christian Lyon – 6.77) and men's weight throw (John Hicks – 60-11.5).
One week after placing an impressive 13th at the FSU Winter Cross Country Classic, Doan excelled in her 2021 indoor track debut. The junior overtook North Carolina's Taryn Parks on the final straightaway to successfully defend her Darius Dixon women's mile title and eclipse her own meet record. Doan's winning time of 4:51.24 broke her own meet record of 4:51.71 from 2020, set a new personal best and kick-started a successful night for the Lady Flames' distance runners.
Igberaese won the women's weight throw by more than five feet with a round-three effort of 65-6.75. The best mark of the redshirt junior's career took down the meet record of 65-0.5, which had been set by William & Mary's Leia Mistowski in 2018. Igberaese has now captured back-to-back first-place finishes in the event, following her victory at last Saturday's Brant Tolsma Invitational.
Five Lady Flames placed among the women's weight throw's top six on Friday. Of note, Grace Artis' fourth-place mark of 55-3.75 moved her into the Lady Flames' all-time top 10 list for the event.
Like Igberaese, Lyon repeated his victory from the Brant Tolsma Invitational on Friday. Similarly to that race, Lyon sped down an outer lane to nab a narrow victory. His season-best 6.77 clocking nipped the 6.80 posted by runner-up Samuel Adams of Campbell.
Hicks dominated the men's weight throw competition, as the sophomore's personal-best 60-11.5 put him nearly seven feet clear of runner-up Jay Stanley from Western Carolina. Hicks now ranks No. 5 all-time in ASUN Conference history.
Liberty would have recorded a fifth event victory if not for assistant coach Rachel Johnson claiming top honors in the women's 5K with a meet-record 16:04.99 clocking. Behind Johnson, four of her runners also came in under the previous meet standard of 17:15.27.
Leading the way was redshirt freshman Adelyn Ackley, making her long-awaited collegiate track debut. She placed second in 16:30.47, narrowly missing the Liberty freshman record of 16:28.29, set by Ednah Kurgat in 2015. Ackley now ranks No. 2 to Kurgat on the Lady Flames' all-time list and sits No. 3 in ASUN Conference history.
Grace Dwyer, who is out of indoor eligibility but is competing in cross country and outdoor track for Liberty this semester, placed third in a personal-best 16:53.74.
Dwyer just edged out teammates Marie Hostetler (fourth, 16:53.80) and Noel Palmer (fifth, 16:54.96). Another freshman, Hostetler claimed the No. 5 spot all-time at Liberty during her first collegiate track race.
Competing in an event which featured the fastest mile in facility history (4:01.50), Ryan Drew won his heat in 4:10.77 to place fourth overall and first among collegiate entrants.
A pair of Flames showcased their versatility on Friday, including Naomi Armstrong. After clearing a season-best 11-5.75 for third place in the open women's pole vault, she came back to win place fourth with a personal-best mile time of 5:04.49.
Reigning ASUN Men's Freshman of the Week took part in three events on Friday. He pole vaulted a personal-best 15-1 for second place, long jumped 22-0.75 for sixth place and qualified for the 60 hurdles final with a personal-best 8.19 effort, which is tied for seventh in program history.
Bryan will join teammates Felix Lawrence (8.10) and Juan Pablo Germain Ronco (season-best 8.18) in Saturday's men's 60 hurdles final.
Women's Event Winners (2)
Calli Doan – Mile – 4:51.24
Chelsea Igberaese – Weight Throw – 65-6.75
Men's Event Winners (2)
John Hicks – Weight Throw – 60-11.5
Christian Lyon – 60 – 6.77
Other Women's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Adelyn Ackley – 5K – 16:30.47
3rd – Naomi Armstrong – Pole Vault – 11-5.75
3rd – Naomi Mojica – Weight Throw – 55-8.25
Other Men's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Anthony Bryan – Pole Vault – 15-1
Women's Record Breakers
Meet Record – Mile – Calli Doan – 4:51.24
Previous Record: 4:51.71 by Doan in 2020
Meet Record – Weight Throw – Chelsea Igberaese – 65-6.75
Previous Record: 65-0.5 by William & Mary's Leia Mistowski in 2018
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
5K – No. 2 – Adelyn Ackley – 16:30.47
Weight Throw – No. 3 – Chelsea Igberaese – 65-6.75
Mile – No. 4 – Calli Doan – 4:51.24
5K – No. 5 – Marie Hostetler – 16:53.80
Weight Throw – No. 10 – Grace Artis – 55-3.75
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 7 – John Hicks – 60-11.5
60 Hurdles – Tie for No. 7 – Anthony Bryan – 8.19
Up Next
The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational will wrap up on Saturday. Due to forecasted freezing rain in the morning, all events will be delayed by one hour.
The day's action at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex will now begin at noon with the men's high jump, women's shot put and women's triple jump. Running events will get started with the men's 60 hurdles final at 1 p.m.
