Liberty University
Don Kirby Elite Invitational
McClinton, Sauder Excel on Friday in New Mexico
2/10/2023 10:33:25 PM | Track and Field
Liberty All-Americans Donald McClinton and Kennedy Sauder posted exceptional performances on Friday, the opening day of the Don Kirby Elite Invitational. McClinton clocked a Liberty and ASUN-record 20.86 in the men’s 200, while Sauder won the men’s high jump with a season-best 7-3.25 clearance at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
A redshirt senior from Hinesville, Ga., McClinton shattered his previous season best of 21.49 while placing fourth overall in the one-lap event. His 200 time of 20.86 took down the Liberty and ASUN standards of 20.99 which had been established by former teammate Christian Lyon at the 2020 ASUN Championship at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Competing in an earlier section of the 200, Omari Lewis also produced a big personal best (21.33). That ranks the first-year Flame from Trinidad and Tobago No. 6 on Liberty’s all-time list.
Sauder, who earned All-America honors both indoors and outdoors as a freshman last season, arrived in New Mexico with a season-best clearance of 7-1.75. He improved that twice on Friday, making it over 7-2.25 on his first attempt and 7-3.25 on his second. Sauder then made three unsuccessful tries at 7-4.5, which would have broken his own Liberty and ASUN records.
Only three collegiate athletes had jumped higher than 7-3.25 entering the weekend, meaning that Sauder has very likely earned a return trip to New Mexico for next month’s NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Quinten Clay long jumped 23-9.5 for 11th place, while Makenzy Mizera, the lone Lady Flame to compete in New Mexico on Friday, reached 18-9.5 for 19th in the women’s long jump.
Men’s Day 1 Event Winners
Kennedy Sauder – High Jump – 7-3.25
Men’s Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty and ASUN Conference Record – 200 – Donald McClinton – 20.86
Previous Records: 20.99 by Christian Lyon at the ASUN Championship at Liberty on Feb. 29, 2020
Day 1 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Men’s Top 10 List
200 – No. 1 – Donald McClinton – 20.86
200 – No. 6 – Omari Lewis – 21.33
Up Next
The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational will wrap up with a busy Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the women’s high jump, women’s shot put, women’s triple jump and open men’s pole vault. Running events will commence at 11:10 with the men’s 500.
Meanwhile, Liberty’s first Saturday event at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque will be the women’s triple jump, featuring Makenzy Mizera, at noon Eastern.
Featured in Main Photo: Christian Lyon (left) and Donald McClinton (right)
