Liberty University
Brant Tolsma Invitational
Lyon, Igberaese, Mojica Lead Way at Saturday's Brant Tolsma Invitational
2/6/2021 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Liberty's Christian Lyon (men's 60) and Chelsea Igberaese (women's weight throw) each won event titles at Saturday's inaugural Brant Tolsma Invitational. Meanwhile, Naomi Mojica equaled her own ASUN women's shot put record of 50-4 during an action-packed day at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
The meet, which featured a portion of Liberty's team squaring off against NCAA Division I and post-collegiate opposition, was named for former Flames head coach Brant Tolsma. He retired in 2020 following a distinguished 34-year career at Liberty which included 116 conference titles in track & field and cross country.
Competing in the 60 dash for the first time since winning the 2020 ASUN title in the event, Lyon clocked a winning time of 6.78. He later finished as the men's 200 runner-up in 21.56.
After collecting three runner-up finishes during the season's first two meets, Igberaese posted her first victory of 2021. She left no doubt, with her personal-best weight throw effort of 64-9.25 winning the competition by more than six feet. Igberaese now ranks No. 29 nationally in the event.
Mojica, who took fifth in that weight throw competition at 55-8.25, later posted a fourth-place shot put finish. Her season-best 50-4 effort matched Mojica's own ASUN all-time record, set at the 2020 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships.
The Flames finished second in each of the men's throwing events, thanks to Jose Ballivian in the shot put (55-11) and John Hicks in the weight throw (personal-best 60-6). Hicks became the seventh Flame ever to hurl the weight more than 60 feet. Teammate Stuart Folkerts joined Liberty's men's weight throw all-time top 10 with his 56-3 mark for fifth place.
Liberty's other top-three finishers on the day were Naomi Armstrong in the women's 800 (second place, season-best 2:12.42) and Cole Peterlin in the men's high jump (third place, 6-2.75).
The Flames' pole vault crew posted some impressive finishes, including top-10 showings by Rachel Milnes (tie for fifth place, 12-10) and Taylen Langin (tie for seventh place, 12-4) in a loaded women's pole vault.
In the men's vault, Anders Janes cleared a season-best and ASUN-leading 16-2.75 for fifth place overall and first among collegiate entrants. Freshman teammate Luke Lombardi made it over a personal-best 14-11 in his Flames debut, sharing eighth place.
One day after watching their teammates place an impressive seventh at the FSU Winter Cross Country Classic, the Liberty women's distance crew set a number of personal bests on Saturday. These included Lauren Hirneisen (5:13.08) and Kyley Sorg (5:14.00) in the mile and Jamie Anderson (17:49.91) in the 5K. Anderson lopped more than 16 seconds off her previous best in the process.
New facility records were established in the women's pole vault (14-5.5 by Alina McDonald), men's mile (4:02.76 by Campbell's Athanas Kioko) and men's 3K (8:02.60 by Charlotte's Nickolas Scudder).
Women's Event Winners (1)
Chelsea Igberaese – Weight Throw – 64-9.25
Men's Event Winners (1)
Christian Lyon – 60 – 6.78
Other Women's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Naomi Armstrong – 800 – 2:12.42
Other Men's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Jose Ballivian – Shot Put – 55-11
2nd – John Hicks – Weight Throw – 60-6
2nd – Christian Lyon – 200 – 21.56
3rd – Cole Peterlin – High Jump – 6-2.75
Women's Record Breakers
ASUN Record – Shot Put – Naomi Mojica – 50-4
Shared Record: 50-4 by Mojica at the 2020 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 3 – Chelsea Igberaese – 64-9.25
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 7 – John Hicks – 60-6
Weight Throw – No. 10 – Stuart Folkerts – 56-3
Up Next
The Flames and Lady Flames will remain at home next weekend for the seventh annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Liberty's final tune-up for the 2021 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships is slated for Friday and Saturday at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
