Liberty University
Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
Personal Bests Abound on Darius Dixon Day 1
2/10/2023 11:03:59 PM | Track and Field
Always a highlight of the indoor track & field schedule, day one of the ninth annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational did not disappoint, Friday at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. Personal-best performances were abundant for host Liberty, including some impressive weight throws (65-9.5 by John Hicks, 58-3 by Stuart Folkerts and 58-9.5 by Megan Mann), a couple big 60 hurdles bests (7.93 by Prosper Ekporere and 8.16 by Cole Peterlin) and a big breakthrough 1:51.57 800 for Brendan Pitcher, just to name a few.
Men’s Day 1 Recap
Hicks has been nearly unbeatable in the weight throw at home during his career. He was defeated by Wake Forest’s Andrew White (69-4) on Friday but added nine inches to his personal best with a runner-up throw of 65-9.5. That mark, which measured 20.05 meters metrically, makes Hicks the second Flame (also Jon Hart) and the third ASUN thrower ever to surpass the 20-meter arc.
Folkerts’ personal-best 58-3 weight throw earned him a spot in the event finals and a ninth-place finish overall.
Ekporere impressed in his Liberty debut, as the newcomer from Nigeria ran a personal-best 7.93 to lead all qualifiers to Saturday’s men’s 60 hurdles final. Only All-American Jovaine Atkinson has run the event faster in program history.
Peterlin just missed out on the 60 hurdles final himself, but claimed the No. 8 position in program history with his 8.16 effort in the semifinals. Four of the nine fastest 60 hurdlers all-time at Liberty are part of this year’s team, including Ekporere, Peterlin, Felix Lawrence (7.95) and Anthony Bryan (8.17).
Liberty placed three runners inside the men’s 800’s top 10, including Ally Kipchirchir (third place, 1:51.24), Pitcher (fifth, 1:51.57) and Isaiah Schulties (10th, 1:52.75). Pitcher’s big personal best sits No. 8 all-time for the Flames.
Tristian Merchant’s 8:07.88 clocking paced the Flames’ 3K contingent in fourth place. Teammates Jack Cottrell (11th, 8:15.85), Kyle Harkabus (12th, 8:16.98) and Nicholas Kiprotich (14th, 8:18.03) each recorded lifetime bests.
Women’s Day 1 Recap
Paola Bueno was the closest Liberty athlete to winning an event on Friday, as the freshman’s 63-7 in the women’s weight throw landed just one centimeter short of event champion Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir of VCU (63-7.5).
Mann (sixth place, 58-9.5) and Sofia Mojica (ninth, 56-3.75) followed with personal-best marks, with Mann joining Liberty’s all-time top 10 ledger at No. 9.
Racing on her 23rd birthday, Naomi Armstrong crossed the line in a season-best 2:11.15 to take fourth place in the women’s 800. The event was won in 2:08.68 by Liberty’s Katie Locker, competing unattached.
Marie Hostetler’s season-best 9:49.35 was good for 11th place in a deep women’s 3K field.
On a typical multi-event day for both of them, Meredith Engle (eighth place, 18-5.75) and Patasha Bryan (15th, 17-11.5) each posted new long jump personal bests.
Day 1 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Men’s Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 2 – John Hicks – 65-9.5
60 Hurdles – No. 2 – Prosper Ekporere – 7.93
60 Hurdles – No. 8 – Cole Peterlin – 8.16
800 – No. 8 – Brendan Pitcher – 1:51.57
Weight Throw – No. 10 – Stuart Folkerts – 58-3
Day 1 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Women’s Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 9 – Megan Mann – 58-9.5
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: Brendan Pitcher
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