Liberty University
Virginia Challenge
Ackley’s School-Record 33:49 10K Punctuates Big Day in Charlottesville
4/22/2022 11:31:14 PM | Track and Field
Adelyn Ackley’s school-record 10K time of 33:49.00 wrapped up Liberty’s successful Friday at the Virginia Challenge. Ackley was one of two event winners for the Flames at Lannigan Field, joining Jose Ballivian (open men’s discus – 179-0).
Making her 10K debut, Ackley summoned a 70.47-second final lap to edge Toledo’s Faith Linga for the victory by 0.76 seconds. Ackley’s time took down the previous record of 33:56.67 set by teammate Noel Palmer at the 2019 Raleigh Relays and ranks No. 30 in the NCAA this season.
Ackley, who previously set the ASUN women’s 5K record this season at 15:54.98, has now posted NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round qualifiers in both the 5K and 10K.
Also making her 10K debut under the lights Friday night, Anna Hostetler clocked the No. 7 time in program history, 35:18.81.
The number of sub-14:00 5K runners in Liberty history increased from five to seven on Friday as both Felix Kandie (13:55.07, No. 4 in program history) and freshman Will Jefferson (13:56.51, No. 5 in program history) joined Sam Chelanga, Josh McDougal, Ryan Drew, Azaria Kirwa and Caleb Edmonds in the Flames’ sub-14:00 club.
Landon Miller became the Flames’ seventh sub-9:00 steeplechase performer in program history, shattering the barrier with a big personal-best time of 8:52.00. That effort puts the first-year Flame fourth on Liberty’s all-time list and puts him in a good position to qualify for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet in his home state of Indiana next month.
Marie Hostetler got the distance crew’s day started with a personal-best 1,500 time of 4:28.87, climbing to No. 9 in program history.
Ryan Drew’s streak of record-breaking races ended at four. However, he posted a 1:55.05 final 800 to clock a solid 1,500 time of 3:42.25.
Ballivian (179-0) and Beau Backes (168-9) placed 1-5 in the open men’s discus, just after teammate Kevin Nedrick came in sixth in the event’s invitational section with a 183-9 heave.
A trio of Liberty sophomores currently ranks 1-2-3 on the ASUN women’s discus list this season, and they all posted top-10 finishes in the open women’s discus on Friday. Sofia Mojica (seventh, 153-9) led the way, followed by classmates Megan Mann (ninth, 152-7) and Annika Hantho (10th, 152-4).
In his first long jump competition in more than two years, Donald McClinton reached a personal-best 24-9.75 for eighth place in the competition and a tie for eighth on Liberty’s all-time chart. He took over the ASUN lead with that effort and punched his NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round ticket.
McClinton had earlier qualified for the men’s 100 final with a 10.52 preliminary clocking. Isis Brooks reached the women’s 100 final, where she placed sixth in 11.61.
Anders Janes pole vaulted 15-3.5 during his outdoor season debut, claiming the No. 2 spot on this season’s ASUN performance list.
Women’s Event Winners
Adelyn Ackley – 10K – 33:49.00
Men’s Event Winners
Jose Ballivian – Open Discus – 179-0
Women’s Record Breakers
Liberty Record – 10K – Adelyn Ackley – 33:49.00
Previous Record: 33:56.67 by Noel Palmer at the Raleigh Relays on March 29, 2019
New Women’s NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Adelyn Ackley – 10K – 33:49.00
New Men’s NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Donald McClinton – Long Jump – 24-9.75
Landon Miller – Steeplechase – 8:52.00
Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Women’s Top 10 List
10K – No. 1 – Adelyn Ackley – 33:49.00
10K – No. 7 – Anna Hostetler – 35:18.81
1,500 – No. 9 – Marie Hostetler – 4:28.87
Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Men’s Top 10 List
Steeplechase – No. 4 – Landon Miller – 8:52.00
5K – No. 4 – Felix Kandie – 13:55.07
5K – No. 5 – Will Jefferson – 13:56.51
Long Jump – Tie for No. 8 – Donald McClinton – 24-9.75
Up Next
Liberty will divide its team between a pair of meets on Saturday. The Flames’ first meet at the Virginia Challenge will be the men’s high jump invitational section at 12:05 p.m.
A number of Flames and Lady Flames will also be in action at the WildCat Twilight at WildCat Stadium in Lynchburg. Liberty’s day in the Hill City will begin at 3:30 p.m. with the women’s high jump.
