Liberty University
Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic
Liberty Posts 5 Victories at Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic
4/15/2023 8:34:06 PM | Track and Field
Liberty won five events on a sunny Saturday at the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic, contested across town at the University of Lynchburg’s Dr. Jack M. Toms Track.
The Lady Flames’ three victors included Nimeesha Coleman (400 hurdles – 1:03.48), Kacy Cox (high jump – 5-3) and Myiah Scott (shot put – 43-5.75). Meanwhile, both of the Flames’ triumphs were achieved by athletes in their first year competing for Liberty—Christian Hicks (discus – 164-4) and Rayshawn Johnson (110 hurdles – 14.67).
Women’s Day 2 Recap
Scott entered the day with a shot put personal best of 41-3.75, achieved at last Saturday’s WildCat Track Festival. She posted a mark of 42-4.25 on her first attempt and then unleashed a 43-5.75 effort in round six, adding another foot to her best and winning the competition by 4.5 feet.
Cox high jumped a season-best 5-3 on her first attempt, giving her the victory over Wittenberg’s Julissa Williams, who needed three tries to make 5-3.
Coleman clocked a season-best 1:03.48 to pull out a 400 hurdles triumph on the race’s final straightaway.
Dawn Hilton enjoyed a busy and successful day in the sprints, placing second in the 200 (personal-best 24.90), fourth in the 100 (personal-best 12.18) and anchoring the Lady Flames’ 4 x 400 relay squad to third place in 4:02.96 with a 56.23 anchor carry. She was preceded with the baton by Emily Coates, Ava Podolski and Faith Sidwell.
Katrina Schlenker (season-best 2:15.43 for third in the 800) and Kristiana Young (personal-best 11:28.77 for fourth in the steeplechase) paced the Lady Flames’ mid-distance and distance squad.
Liberty recorded third-place finishes in both horizontal jumps, courtesy of Rebecca Allen (18-1.75) and Emma Arblaster (37-1.75).
Indea Cartwright, who is redshirting the outdoor season, notched one of the day’s most impressive performances, running a lifetime-best 13.36 to win the women’s 100 hurdles. By way of comparison, Liberty’s program record stands at 13.65.
Men’s Day 2 Recap
Hicks closed out Liberty’s day in style, winning the men’s discus on his sixth and final attempt. His first career throw over 50 meters (50.10m to be exact) converts to 164-4. Liberty has now won the men’s discus at two different meets this weekend, as Kevin Nedrick claimed the Bryan Clay Invitational on Friday.
Prior to Saturday, Johnson’s 110 hurdles personal best stood at 15.08. He broke through in a big way, clocking a wind-legal 14.67 to edge out unattached teammate Luke Anderson (14.71) for first place.
Freshman Isaiah Idore placed third in both men’s hurdles events, posting times of 15.09 and 55.04. Teammate Zack Weekman finished one spot ahead of him in the 400 hurdles at 54.94.
An all-freshman 4 x 400 relay squad of Micah Dennis, Daniel Leja, Jackson Birdseye and Caleb Barkwell posted a season-best 3:18.81 for third place. Barkwell brought the Flames home in 48.40.
Another of Liberty’s talented freshmen, Shane Wang captured third place in the first long jump competition of his collegiate career, reaching 22-2.25.
Unattached Flames performed well in the distance events. Gavin Sweeney (9:27.86) and Stephen Carvalho (9:38.81) placed 1-3 in the steeplechase.
Meanwhile, Liberty freshman Jacob Hess broke 15:00 in the 5K for the first time (14:58.83) Saturday morning to place 10th, following unattached teammates Brannon Adams (third, 14:45.95) and Landon Dinkel (fifth, 14:47.38) under the 15:00 barrier.
Redshirting the season as he becomes a decathlete, Gabriel Willis raced to victory in the open men’s 100 in a wind-legal 10.81.
Women’s Day 2 Event Winners
Nimeesha Coleman – 400 Hurdles – 1:03.48
Kacy Cox – High Jump – 5-3
Myiah Scott – Shot Put – 43-5.75
Men’s Day 2 Event Winners
Christian Hicks – Discus – 164-4
Rayshawn Johnson – 110 Hurdles – 14.67
Up Next
Liberty will compete at two different meets within the Commonwealth next week, including the Virginia Challenge (April 20-22 in Charlottesville, Va.) and Randolph College’s WildCat Twilight (April 21-22 in Lynchburg, Va.)
Featured in Main Photo: Rayshawn Johnson
