Liberty University
Brant Tolsma Invitational
Bueno, Hicks, McClinton Win Friday Events at Brant Tolsma Invitational
1/20/2023 9:18:40 PM | Track and Field
Host Liberty picked up three first-place finishes on Friday, the second day of the third annual Brant Tolsma Invitational. John Hicks and Paola Bueno swept the men’s and women’s weight throw titles, while Donald McClinton took top honors in his first 200 as a Flame, at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Men’s Day 2 Recap
McClinton prevailed in one of the day’s most-anticipated races, which pitted him against graduated Liberty standout Christian Lyon, one of McClinton’s teammates on last year’s All-American 4 x 100 relay squad.
Racing one lane inside Lyon around the oval, McClinton crossed the finish line in 21.58 to Lyon’s 21.92. McClinton ended up first overall with a time than ranks No. 1 in the ASUN this season and No. 8 all-time at Liberty. Lyon, the program record holder, ended up fifth in the final standings.
The next heat of the men’s 200 saw first-year Flame Omari Lewis clock a season-best 21.68 for second place in both the event and the ASUN leaderboard this season.
Hicks reached 60-0.5 in the men’s weight throw, adding more than four feet to his previous season best and winning the competition by 15 inches.
Teammate Stuart Folkerts also achieved a season best in the men’s weight, stretching the tape to 56-2.5 for fourth place.
Anthony Bryan came in second overall and first among collegiate entrants in the heptathlon with a point total of 5,258. He opened day two in fine fashion, notching a 60 hurdles personal best (8.17) and recording his best-ever pole vault clearance within a multi-event competition (14-11).
One of numerous Flames to compete unattached on Friday, freshman Jacob Hess was the men’s 3K runner-up in 8:32.51.
Women’s Day 2 Recap
The reigning ASUN Freshman of the Week, Bueno collected her second women’s weight throw victory of the season with a personal-best 62-8 effort in round one.
Bueno has improved from 58-6 to 61-4 to 62-8 in the first three competitions of her collegiate career, moving the freshman up to No. 6 all-time at Liberty already.
Megan Mann joined Bueno inside the top five, coming in fourth at 56-1.
Freshman Leah Wood’s clutch third-attempt clearance at a season-best 11-9.75 nearly netted victory in the open women’s pole vault. However, Campbell’s Gabrielle Goecke answered with a clearance of her own and took the title on misses.
Wood ended up second, with classmate Grace Mueller following in fourth place at 11-3.75.
Racing unattached, the Lady Flames’ Isis Brooks was a clear victor in the women’s 200 in 24.00.
Men’s Day 2 Event Winners
John Hicks – Weight Throw – 60-0.5
Donald McClinton – 200 – 21.58
Women’s Day 2 Event Winners
Paola Bueno – Weight Throw – 62-8
Day 2 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Men’s Top 10 List
60 Hurdles – No. 7 – Anthony Bryan – 8.17
200 – No. 8 – Donald McClinton – 21.58
Day 2 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Women’s Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 6 – Paola Bueno – 62-8
Up Next
The Brant Tolsma Invitational’s third and final day of competition will get underway Saturday at 11 a.m. with the women’s high jump, women’s shot put, men’s triple jump and women’s 60 hurdles prelims.
Featured in Main Photo: Donald McClinton
