Liberty University
Virginia Tech Invitational
Burroughs Lowers Liberty Freshman Record for 300 to 34.10 at VT
1/13/2023 10:24:30 PM | Track and Field
Liberty’s Elonzo Burroughs punctuated a successful Friday for the Flames by improving his own program freshman record to 34.10 in the men’s 300. He was one of 13 Flames to improve their standing on the program’s all-time top 10 lists during day one of the Virginia Tech Invitational at Rector Field House.
Men’s Day 1 Recap
Burroughs placed fourth in the men’s 300, the final track event of the evening. His 34.10 clocking improved upon Burroughs’ 34.37 effort during his collegiate debut at the Liberty Kickoff on Dec. 2 and ranks No. 5 all-time for the Flames.
Freshmen also excelled in the men’s triple jump, arguably the Flames’ top event of the day. Quinten Clay led the way with a personal-best leap of 50-2.5 which was good for second place in the competition and fourth in program history. Rookies Shane Wang (personal-best 48-9, sixth place in event, No. 8 in program history) and Joshua Smith (48-8.75, seventh place in event, No. 9 in program history) joined Clay inside the top 10 in their collegiate debuts.
Isaiah Schulties’ personal-best 2:24.43 effort claimed fourth place in the men’s 1,000 and the third spot in program history for the five-lap event. The performance overtook his coach, Isaac Wendland, on Liberty’s all-time top 10 chart. Wendland drops to fourth with his 2:24.74 clocking from the 2011 IC4A meet.
Making his debut in a Liberty uniform, redshirt freshman Brendan Pitcher followed in 2:26.57 for eighth in the men’s 1,000 and No. 6 all-time for the Flames.
Omari Lewis (personal-best 6.76) and Donald McClinton (season-best 6.86) both clocked notable times in the men’s 60 dash prelims to qualify for the final. McClinton’s effort ties that of his coach, Pete McFadden, for No. 9 all-time at Liberty. Meanwhile, Lewis went on to notch fifth place in the final in 6.78.
Flames Tristian Merchant (4:08.72), Graham Mussmon (4:09.97) and Kyle Harkabus (4:11.41) placed 5-6-7 in the men’s mile with Merchant claiming the No. 7 spot in program history.
The last Liberty athlete in action Friday evening, Luke Lombardi joined pole vault’s 15-foot club for the first time. His personal-best 15-3 clearance earned sixth place in the event’s unseeded section.
Women’s Day 1 Recap
Jasmine Williams raced to a personal-best time of 8.46 to claim third place in the women’s 60 hurdles final. In the process, the first-year Lady Flame climbed to No. 2 in program history behind only teammate Indea Cartwright’s program-record 8.23 effort from the Liberty Kickoff on Dec. 2.
All-American Calli Doan started off the Lady Flames’ Friday in impressive fashion during the women’s 3K. Her 9:36.19 clocking, a personal best by 18 seconds, placed third in the race and fourth all-time at Liberty.
Paola Bueno continued an impressive start to her collegiate career in the women’s weight throw. Her top mark of 61-4 bettered the Mexico native’s previous best by nearly three feet. She ended up fifth in the competition and moved to No. 7 in program history.
Sophomore Mia Bowers paced the Lady Flames’ pole vault crew with a pole vault indoor personal-best clearance of 12-9.5 that matched her lifetime best, indoors or out. She finished fourth in the unseeded section and is now tied with Mariel Finger for fifth place on Liberty’s top 10 list.
After redshirting the 2021-22 indoor and outdoor campaigns, Makenzy Mizera made a successful return to action. Her ASUN-leading 40-5 triple jump placed fourth in the event.
Men’s Day 1 Record Breaker
Liberty Freshman Record – 300 – Elonzo Burroughs – 34.10
Previous Record: 34.37 by Burroughs at the Liberty Kickoff on Dec. 2, 2022
Day 1 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Men’s Top 10 List
1,000 – No. 3 – Isaiah Schulties – 2:24.43
Triple Jump – No. 4 – Quinten Clay – 50-2.5
60 – No. 5 – Omari Lewis – 6.76
300 – No. 5 – Elonzo Burroughs – 34.10
1,000 – No. 6 – Brendan Pitcher – 2:26.57
Mile – No. 7 – Tristian Merchant – 4:08.72
Triple Jump – No. 8 – Shane Wang – 48-9
Triple Jump – No. 9 – Joshua Smith – 48-8.75
60 – Tie for No. 9 – Donald McClinton – 6.86
Day 1 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Women’s Top 10 List
60 Hurdles – No. 2 – Jasmine Williams – 8.46
3K – No. 4 – Calli Doan – 9:36.19
Pole Vault – Tie for No. 5 – Mia Bowers – 12-9.5
Weight Throw – No. 7 – Paola Bueno – 61-4
Up Next
The Virginia Tech Invitational will conclude on Saturday. The day’s first events (women’s high jump and seeded women’s pole vault) are set for an 11 a.m. start.
Featured in Main Photo: Elonzo Burroughs
