Liberty University
WildCat Twilight
Liberty Wins 9 WildCat Twilight Events
4/23/2022 9:37:00 PM | Track and Field
Making the short commute across the Hill City, Liberty posted nine event victories at the WildCat Twilight, Saturday at Randolph College’s WildCat Stadium.
Six Lady Flames were victorious, including Kacy Cox (high jump – 5-3.25), Ayanna Johnson (long jump – 19-4), Lizbeth Joseph (triple jump – 38-9.5), Kyley Sorg (5K – 17:43.62), Samantha Troup (800 – 2:15.04) and Kristiana Young (1,500 – 4:45.50).
Liberty’s men’s event champions were Quinten Clay (long jump – 23-6.25), Michael Rose (400 – 48.54) and Gabriel Willis (high jump – 6-6).
For Johnson, Clay and Rose, it marked their second meet of the weekend. All three Flames were in action at the Virginia Challenge on Friday in Charlottesville. Joseph was victorious for the second straight weekend, after previously winning the Meet of Champions women’s triple jump competition.
Liberty showcased its depth in the women’s high jump, with Cox leading six Lady Flames among the top seven finishers. Three of Liberty’s high jumpers were two-sport athletes, including Trinity Watts (volleyball, fourth place, 5-1), Bridgette Rettstatt (women’s basketball, fifth, 5-1) and Abby Phillips (volleyball, seventh, 4-11.75). For Watts and Rettstatt, it marked their collegiate track & field debut. Rettstatt, a 5-8 high jumper in high school, contested the event for the first time in five years.
The Lady Flames also dominated the women’s 800, claiming seven of the top 10 spots. Troup’s big personal-best time of 2:15.04 enabled her to hold off Division III All-American Jackie Wilson (Lynchburg) for the win. Catherine Farrell (third, 2:18.31), Jessica Rogers (fourth, 2:19.68) and Kristiana Young (fifth, 2:21.47) also finished inside the top five.
Earlier in the day, Young (season-best 4:45.50) and Rogers (4:46.34) had gone 1-2 in the women’s 1,500. Sorg (outdoor personal-best 17:43.62) and Jamie Anderson (season-best 17:59.38) then closed out the meet by sweeping the top two spots in the women’s 5K.
Kipruto Kogei made a strong bid for victory in the men’s 5K before coming in second with a season-best 14:44.40 clocking.
Competing unattached a pair of Flames won men’s events on Saturday. Jack Cottrell took the 1,500 in 3:58.78, while Zack Weekman led the way in the 400 hurdles (54.81).
Women’s Event Winners
Kacy Cox – High Jump – 5-3.25
Ayanna Johnson – Long Jump – 19-4
Lizbeth Joseph – Triple Jump – 38-9.5
Kyley Sorg – 5K – 17:43.62
Samantha Troup – 800 – 2:15.04
Kristiana Young – 1,500 – 4:45.50
Men’s Event Winners
Quinten Clay – Long Jump – 23-6.25
Michael Rose – 400 – 48.54
Gabriel Willis – High Jump – 6-6
Up Next
Next weekend, Liberty will preview the venue for the ASUN Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The UNF Invitational is slated for Friday and Saturday at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
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