Liberty University
Lynchburg Hornet Open
Liberty Wins 17 Events at Lynchburg Hornet Open
3/13/2021 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Liberty enjoyed a considerable amount of success at Saturday's Lynchburg Hornet Open, the Flames' first outdoor track & field meet since 2019. Liberty recorded 17 event victories at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Track, headlined by double event winners Luke Anderson, Jeremy Davis and Abby Pantlitz and new Liberty freshman men's hammer record holder John Hicks.
Hicks recorded arguably the Flames' best individual performance with his winning hammer mark of 199-3. That shattered Ryan Smith's Liberty freshman record of 183-3 from 2010 and ranks No. 2 in program history. It also ranks No. 4 nationally during the early stages of the 2021 outdoor season.
Freshmen won a total of nine events for the Flames, also including Anderson's sweep of the men's 110 hurdles (15.12) and 400 hurdles (54.66) titles.
Coming off a spectacular end to her indoor season, Pantlitz won both the 100 (11.97) and 4 x 100 relay (47.84) in her outdoor collegiate debut. She led off for the victorious relay team, passing the baton to Janai Scott, Dawn Hilton and Joelle Patton.
Davis' pair of victories came in the men's horizontal jumps. He long jumped 22-4.25 and triple jumped 45-1.75.
Liberty showcased its overall strength and depth in the throwing events throughout the day. The Lady Flames placed 1-2 in the shot put, 1-2-3 in the hammer, 1-2-3-4 in the discus and 1-2-3-4-5 in the evening's final event, the javelin.
Mackenzie Hainley paced Liberty's women's javelin sweep with a personal-best 147-11 mark which moves the sophomore up to No. 4 in program history. Women's discus champion Megan Mann, yet another freshman, earned the No. 8 spot in program history with her 149-1 effort.
The men's squad's top throwing event was the hammer, which saw Flames claim the top four positions. Behind Hicks' winning performance, runner-up Sam Mastro added 13 feet to his personal best, stretching the tape to 180-9 (No. 10 all-time at Liberty).
Women's Event Winners (9)
Grace Artis – Hammer – 167-7
Kamia Cooper – Long Jump – 17-9.75
Ty'Asia Dansbury – 400 – 58.25
Meredith Engle – Shot Put – 36-5.5
Mackenzie Hainley – Javelin – 147-11
Megan Mann – Discus – 149-1
Abby Pantlitz – 100 – 11.97
Heidi Tillman – 800 – 2:19.60
Abby Pantlitz, Janai Scott, Dawn Hilton, Joelle Patton – 4 x 100 – 47.84
Men's Event Winners (8)
Luke Anderson – 110 Hurdles – 15.12
Luke Anderson – 400 Hurdles – 54.66
Jeremy Davis – Long Jump – 22-4.25
Jeremy Davis – Triple Jump – 45-1.75
Jake Galluccio – High Jump – 6-0
John Hicks – Hammer – 199-3
Michael Rose – 400 – 48.78
Jacob Strickler – Javelin – 182-11
Other Women's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Nanah Fung Loy – Pole Vault – 10-4
2nd – Nanah Fung Loy – Javelin – 135-8
2nd – Nikayla Hoyte – 100 – 12.10
2nd – Megan Mann – Hammer – 159-1
2nd – Sofia Mojica – Discus – 141-8
2nd – Myiah Scott – Shot Put – 36-3.5
3rd – Meredith Engle – 200 – 26.69
3rd – Kali Grayson – Javelin – 128-11
3rd – Annika Hantho – Discus – 136-5
3rd – Sofia Mojica – Hammer – 143-9
3rd – Janai Scott – 100 – 12.25
Other Men's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Sam Mastro – Hammer – 180-9
2nd – Zack Weekman – 400 Hurdles – 57.90
3rd – Lane Hluch – Hammer – 177-4
3rd – Cole Peterlin – Javelin – 164-8
Men's Record Breakers
Freshman Record – Hammer – John Hicks – 199-3
Old Record: 183-3 by Ryan Smith at the 2010 Liberty Twilight Qualifier
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Javelin – No. 4 – Mackenzie Hainley – 147-11
Discus – No. 8 – Megan Mann – 149-1
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Hammer – No. 2 – John Hicks – 199-3
Hammer – No. 10 – Sam Mastro – 180-9
Up Next
Liberty will head to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational, March 19-20 at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium. It will be the Flames' first visit to the facility since the 2016 Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational.
