Liberty University
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UNF Invitational
Mitchell Wins UNF Invitational Shot Put with Record-Setting 64-3
4/29/2021 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Liberty's Kyle Mitchell's record-setting victory in the men's shot put stood out on the UNF Invitational's opening day of competition, Thursday at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. Mitchell broke his own program record four times on the day, culminating with his winning effort of 64-3.
The last time Mitchell had competed at this facility, he tied Coach Clendon Henderson's then program record of 61-3 at the 2019 NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet. However, that mark left Mitchell one place and 1.25 inches away from qualifying to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Fast forward two years, and Mitchell entered Thursday's meet coming off a program-record 62-11.25 effort at the Virginia Challenge on April 17. The junior from Kingston, Jamaica proceeded to break that record in round 2 (63-1.5), round 3 (63-9.75), round 4 (63-11) and finally round 5 (64-3). The 64-3 mark leapfrogs Mitchell up to No. 11 on the NCAA national list this season and No. 5 in the East Region.
That impressive series enabled Mitchell to vanquish a quality field which included 2019 NCAA national qualifier Eric Favors of South Carolina and ASUN rival Tyler Blalock of Kennesaw State, who entered the weekend ranked No. 4 nationally at 65-6.75.
Mitchell gained a measure of revenge after Blalock had defeated him by one centimeter for the 2021 ASUN indoor men's shot put title in February. Thursday's result set up what figures to be one of the most highly competitive events of the 2021 ASUN Outdoor Track & Field Championships, slated for May 14-15 back at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.
Mitchell later added an eighth place (156-1) in the discus. Teammate Jose Ballivian posted two top-10 finishes of his own, including fifth (59-2.75) in the shot put and sixth (169-8) in the discus, putting him one spot ahead of ASUN discus leader Anthony Harrison of Kennesaw State in Thursday's competition.
Naomi Mojica was the Lady Flames' highest finisher in the women's throws, capturing fourth place with a 51-11 shot put. Chelsea Igberaese followed in ninth place (48-10.25) after coming in sixth (172-3) in the discus earlier in the afternoon.
Freshman Annika Hantho's personal-best 147-5 discus mark was good for 15th place in the competition and No. 10 all-time for the Lady Flames. It added seven feet to her previous best.
On the track, Diamantae Griffin posted the Flames' top mark of the day. His personal-best 200 time of 20.83 was good for seventh place in the event and should punch his ticket to the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet, especially after the field was expanded to 48 qualifiers per event on Thursday.
Griffin's 200 time was the fastest by a Flame since Carlton McDuffie's 20.81 effort in 1997 and ranks No. 3 in program history. It was also the fastest clocking by any ASUN sprinter since 2015.
In the women's 200, Janai Scott continued her long and impressive journey back from injury. She won her heat and placed 15th overall in a season-best 24.21 seconds despite battling a slight headwind.
Scott's time ranks No. 5 in program history and is her fastest clocking in the half-lap event since 2017, when she won the Big South 200 title as a Campbell freshman in 23.95 seconds.
Men's Event Winners (1)
Kyle Mitchell – Shot Put – 64-3
Men's Record Breakers
Liberty Record – Shot Put – Kyle Mitchell – 64-3
Previous Record: 62-11.25 by Mitchell at the Virginia Challenge on April 17
Men's NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Diamantae Griffin – 200 – 20.83
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
200 – No. 5 – Janai Scott – 24.21
Discus – No. 10 – Annika Hantho – 147-5
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Shot Put – No. 1 – Kyle Mitchell – 64-3
200 – No. 3 – Diamantae Griffin – 20.83
Up Next
The UNF Invitational will conclude on Friday. The day's slate of events will begin at 10 a.m. with the women's hammer and men's javelin.
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