Liberty University
Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic
Distance Crew Dazzles for Flames
4/17/2021 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Liberty's distance crew took center stage at Saturday's Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic, posting three of the Flames' six victories at Dr. Jack M. Toms Track. Jamie Anderson (women's 5K – 17:40.01), Brittany Carnathan (women's steeplechase – 11:02.06) and Caleb Olson (men's 5K – 14:18.52) each won their events in personal-best times.
The Flames' other victors included Nanah Fung Loy (women's javelin – 126-6), Stuart Folkerts (men's hammer – 174-8) and Zack Weekman (men's 400 hurdles – 55.68), all of whom are freshmen.
Carnathan got things started for the Lady Flames during the evening distance carnival, winning the women's steeplechase by 18 seconds with her 11:02.06 clocking. Carnathan slashed 16 seconds off her previous best and now ranks No. 6 all-time for the Lady Flames.
Kyley Sorg added a third-place steeplechase finish in 11:20.36. The sophomore joined Liberty's all-time top 10 list at No. 8 with an 18-second personal best.
Anderson's 5K winning time of 17:40.01 improved her overall personal best by 10 seconds and was 34 seconds faster than she had ever covered the distance outdoors.
In the men's 5K, Olson lopped 33 seconds off his personal best to win in 14:18.52. Three of the next five runners to cross the finish line were his teammates, all of whom recorded personal bests of their own.
Kyle Harkabus was the 5K runner-up in 14:24.46, followed by fifth-place Joe Spitzer (14:49.20) and sixth-place Kipruto Kogei (14:53.34).
Liberty also showcased its strength and depth in the throwing events. Folkerts recorded a personal best (174-8) to win the men's hammer, the morning's opening event. Meanwhile, Fung Loy's 126-6 effort outdistanced her nearest women's javelin competitor.
Freshman Annika Hantho collected a pair of runner-up finishes in the throwing events, including the women's hammer (151-3) and discus (140-3), where she was the top collegiate performer.
After freshmen Felix Lawrence and Luke Anderson had clocked personal-best 400 hurdles times at the Virginia Challenge earlier in the day, three more freshmen did the same in the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic men's 400 hurdles.
Weekman led the way with his winning time of 55.68, while Seth Newell (57.79) and Daniel Van Duren (58.20) placed eighth and 11th, respectively.
Another freshman who excelled in the Hill City on Saturday was Tyler Modrzejewski, who cut more than a second off his 800 personal-best to take second place in 1:53.23.
Women's Event Winners (3)
Jamie Anderson – 5K – 17:40.01
Brittany Carnathan – Steeplechase – 11:02.06
Nanah Fung Loy – Javelin – 126-6
Men's Event Winners (3)
Stuart Folkerts – Hammer – 174-8
Caleb Olson – 5K – 14:18.52
Zack Weekman – 400 Hurdles – 55.68
Other Women's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Emma Arblaster – High Jump – 5-1
2nd – Annika Hantho – Discus – 140-3 (1st collegiate)
2nd – Annika Hantho – Hammer – 151-3
3rd – Kyley Sorg – Steeplechase – 11:20.36
Other Men's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Kyle Harkabus – 5K – 14:24.46
2nd – Tyler Modrzejewski – 800 – 1:53.23
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Steeplechase – No. 6 – Brittany Carnathan – 11:02.06
Steeplechase – No. 8 – Kyley Sorg – 11:20.36
Up Next
Liberty will return to Irwin Belk Track in Greensboro, N.C., for the second time in three weeks with the Aggie Classic slated for April 24.
