Friday, January 26
University Park, Pa.
4:00 PM ET
Liberty University
at
Penn State National Open
Omari Lewis
Lewis Matches Liberty Men’s 60 Record Twice at Penn State
1/26/2024 10:07:00 PM | Track and Field
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Liberty's Omari Lewis got the Penn State National Open off to a hot start on Friday, matching his own men's 60 program record of 6.70 twice on the way to a third-place finish. Mia Bowers also claimed the open women's pole vault title during Liberty's first visit to Penn State's Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track since 2017.
Men's Day 1 Recap
Lewis, who had first set the program record at 6.70 while racing to the 2023 ASUN Conference title, matched that clocking in both the semifinals and finals during his three-race evening. He ended up third in the event final, while fellow Trinidad and Tobago native Revell Webster took fifth in 6.85. Webster had earlier blazed a personal-best time of 6.81 in the semifinals, good for No. 8 all-time at Liberty.
The men's weight throw was another of the Flames' best events, as Desmond Coleman led three Liberty competitors among the top 12 finishers. Coleman added a foot to his previous personal best, stretching the tape to 64-11.5 for third place in both the event and program history. Brothers John (62-6.75) and Christian Hicks (58-4.75) came in ninth and 12th, respectively.
Reigning CUSA Male Field Athlete of the Week Cole Peterlin displayed his prowess on the track on Friday, clocking 8.23 for eighth place in the men's 60 hurdles final. Peterlin's 8.16 effort in the first round was the fastest among his trio of hurdles performances on the day.
On a night featuring many fast mid-distance times, the Flames' Brendan Pitcher (1:50.98 800) and Kyle Harkabus (4:05.28 mile) both produced significant season bests. For Pitcher, it was just four hundredths of a second off his indoor personal best, which won him the 2023 ASUN title.
Women's Day 1 Recap
Bowers became the third different Liberty women's pole vaulter to record a first-place finish this season, as she was clean through 12-5.5. Teammate Colleen Schaner, who had taken top honors at The Burg Open, tied for second at 11-11.75, the best clearance of her collegiate career.
Paola Bueno (fourth place, 64-4.5) and Megan Mann (sixth, personal-best 60-8.5) each fared well in the invitational women's weight throw. Mann improved upon her previous best by 7.5 inches, strengthening her hold on the No. 9 spot in Liberty history.
All three of the Lady Flames' milers found their names on the all-time top 10 list by the end of the night. Adelyn Fairley's season-best 4:50.83 effort led the way, while Marie Hostetler (personal-best 4:50.84, No. 6 in program history) and freshman Ryann Aycock (personal-best 4:53.73, No. 10 in program history) each ran the fastest miles of their respective careers.
Katelyn Locker won her heat and came in sixth of 42 women's 800 runners. Her time of 2:08.38 sits No. 6 all-time for the Lady Flames.
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Mia Bowers – Open Pole Vault – 12-5.5
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 3 – Desmond Coleman – 64-11.5
60 – No. 8 – Revell Webster – 6.81
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
800 – No. 6 – Katelyn Locker – 2:08.38
Mile – No. 6 – Marie Hostetler – 4:50.84
Weight Throw – No. 9 – Megan Mann – 60-8.5
Mile – No. 10 – Ryann Aycock – 4:53.73
Up Next
Liberty will wrap up competition at both the Dr. Sander Invitational/Columbia Challenge and Penn State National Open on Saturday. The Flames' first event at Penn State (men's 400) is slated for 10:40 a.m., while things will get started at The Armory at 1:17 p.m. with Indea Cartwright running the women's 200.
Men's Day 1 Recap
Lewis, who had first set the program record at 6.70 while racing to the 2023 ASUN Conference title, matched that clocking in both the semifinals and finals during his three-race evening. He ended up third in the event final, while fellow Trinidad and Tobago native Revell Webster took fifth in 6.85. Webster had earlier blazed a personal-best time of 6.81 in the semifinals, good for No. 8 all-time at Liberty.
The men's weight throw was another of the Flames' best events, as Desmond Coleman led three Liberty competitors among the top 12 finishers. Coleman added a foot to his previous personal best, stretching the tape to 64-11.5 for third place in both the event and program history. Brothers John (62-6.75) and Christian Hicks (58-4.75) came in ninth and 12th, respectively.
Reigning CUSA Male Field Athlete of the Week Cole Peterlin displayed his prowess on the track on Friday, clocking 8.23 for eighth place in the men's 60 hurdles final. Peterlin's 8.16 effort in the first round was the fastest among his trio of hurdles performances on the day.
On a night featuring many fast mid-distance times, the Flames' Brendan Pitcher (1:50.98 800) and Kyle Harkabus (4:05.28 mile) both produced significant season bests. For Pitcher, it was just four hundredths of a second off his indoor personal best, which won him the 2023 ASUN title.
Women's Day 1 Recap
Bowers became the third different Liberty women's pole vaulter to record a first-place finish this season, as she was clean through 12-5.5. Teammate Colleen Schaner, who had taken top honors at The Burg Open, tied for second at 11-11.75, the best clearance of her collegiate career.
Paola Bueno (fourth place, 64-4.5) and Megan Mann (sixth, personal-best 60-8.5) each fared well in the invitational women's weight throw. Mann improved upon her previous best by 7.5 inches, strengthening her hold on the No. 9 spot in Liberty history.
All three of the Lady Flames' milers found their names on the all-time top 10 list by the end of the night. Adelyn Fairley's season-best 4:50.83 effort led the way, while Marie Hostetler (personal-best 4:50.84, No. 6 in program history) and freshman Ryann Aycock (personal-best 4:53.73, No. 10 in program history) each ran the fastest miles of their respective careers.
Katelyn Locker won her heat and came in sixth of 42 women's 800 runners. Her time of 2:08.38 sits No. 6 all-time for the Lady Flames.
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Mia Bowers – Open Pole Vault – 12-5.5
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 3 – Desmond Coleman – 64-11.5
60 – No. 8 – Revell Webster – 6.81
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
800 – No. 6 – Katelyn Locker – 2:08.38
Mile – No. 6 – Marie Hostetler – 4:50.84
Weight Throw – No. 9 – Megan Mann – 60-8.5
Mile – No. 10 – Ryann Aycock – 4:53.73
Up Next
Liberty will wrap up competition at both the Dr. Sander Invitational/Columbia Challenge and Penn State National Open on Saturday. The Flames' first event at Penn State (men's 400) is slated for 10:40 a.m., while things will get started at The Armory at 1:17 p.m. with Indea Cartwright running the women's 200.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Hammer
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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