Omari Lewis
Liberty Set to Host CUSA Indoor Track Championships For the 1st Time
2/21/2024 1:51:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty is preparing to host the Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships for the first time, Friday and Saturday at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
In its first year of CUSA membership, the Liberty men's squad will attempt to claim its 27th straight indoor conference championship, following 21 consecutive Big South titles (1998-2018) and five ASUN titles in a row (2019-23). Meanwhile, the Lady Flames will aim for their third consecutive indoor conference title, after Liberty captured back-to-back ASUN crowns in 2022 and 2023.
The meet will begin Friday at 10 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter dash. Saturday's action will commence at 10:30 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.
Liberty will host its conference's indoor track & field championship for the seventh consecutive year. The Liberty Indoor Track Complex served as the venue for the 2018 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships along with the 2019-23 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Liberty hopes its home track advantage continues this weekend. The Flames and Lady Flames have won 27 of a possible 28 conference men's and women's indoor and outdoor team titles in Lynchburg. The lone setback came on the women's side at the 2021 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships, when Kennesaw State edged the Lady Flames by five points.
This year's meet will feature nine women's teams (FIU, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky) and six men's squads (Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky). Conference USA's membership has changed significantly since last season, with only five schools (FIU, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and Western Kentucky) returning from the 2023 indoor track & field championship where Charlotte swept the men's and women's team titles.
How to Follow the Action
Admission is free of charge to both days of the 2024 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Live video streaming of both days' running events and taped coverage of the field events and multi events will be available on ESPN+. The live broadcast windows include Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday from 2-6 p.m.
Live results will be available throughout the meet, featuring live splits in the running events and throw-by-throw and jump-by-jump updates in the field events, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing.
Women's Meet Preview
Last season, Liberty defeated Kennesaw State by 16 points for its second consecutive ASUN Conference team title and its fourth in five years of ASUN Conference membership. Overall, Liberty has captured 17 women's indoor conference championships in the last 26 years, also including 13 in the Big South.
No indoor women's track & field team has hoisted the trophy during its first year of CUSA membership since Marquette won the inaugural title in 1996.
Middle Tennessee (third place) is the top returning women's team from last year's meet. Meanwhile, UTEP's 2019 title was the most recent CUSA crown claimed by a current conference member.
CUSA newcomers New Mexico State and Sam Houston performed well at their final WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships appearance in 2023, sharing second place.
The Lady Flames own CUSA's top performance in the following four events this season: 60 (Reese Webster), 800 (Katelyn Locker), pole vault (Katie Urbine) and pentathlon (Patasha Bryan). All but Bryan are in their first season competing for the Lady Flames.
Megan Mann (shot put) and Paola Bueno (weight throw) swept the ASUN women's throwing event titles a year ago, and both are back to compete against CUSA's best. Makenzy Mizera will try to win her second straight women's triple jump title, after claiming first place in the ASUN in 2023.
Liberty will be without the services of some talented athletes this week, headlined by 2023 ASUN Most Valuable Female Performer and two-time All-American Calli Doan (injury) along with two-time defending ASUN pentathlon champion Meredith Engle (redshirt).
Men's Meet Preview
The Liberty men's indoor track & field team has never lost a conference meet at the NCAA Division I level, going 26 for 26 in claiming the team championship trophy. The Flames captured the team title at each of the 21 editions of the Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships they competed in and have won the last five ASUN indoor crowns, extending the longest active championship streak in NCAA Division I men's indoor track & field.
If the Flames are victorious, they would become the first men's indoor track & field team to hoist the CUSA title trophy in their inaugural season of conference membership since 2015 (Western Kentucky).
Four-time defending CUSA men's indoor team champion Charlotte is no longer part of the conference, leaving UTEP (fourth place) as the top returning squad from 2023 and Middle Tennessee (2019) as the current CUSA member who has won most recently.
Newcomer Sam Houston placed just eighth of 10 teams at the 2023 WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. However, the Bearkats have since reloaded and figure to challenge the Flames for top honors this week.
Liberty Head Coach Lance Bingham is well acquainted with Coach David Self and his Sam Houston program. The Bearkats captured the Southland men's indoor track & field team title during three of Bingham's four years competing in the conference as Abilene Christian's head coach (2017, 2018 and 2019).
The Flames own CUSA's top mark of 2023 in five different events, including the mile (Kyle Harkabus), 3K (Kyle Harkabus), shot put (Warren Barrett), weight throw (Desmond Coleman) and heptathlon (Cole Peterlin). Unfortunately, Peterlin will not be able to compete this week due to injury.
John Hicks was a three-time ASUN men's weight throw champion (2020, 2021 and 2022), while Anthony Bryan won a pair of ASUN heptathlon titles (2021 and 2023). Omari Lewis (60), Brendan Pitcher (800) and Joshua Smith (triple jump) are also back after posting ASUN first-place finishes a year ago.
The CUSA meet will mark athletes' final chance to post a qualifying mark for the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, slated for March 8-9 in Boston, Mass. At this point, 2023 men's shot put All-American Warren Barrett appears likely to qualify for the second year in a row. However, any other Liberty athlete who hopes to punch a ticket to Boston would need to record a big performance this weekend.
Event Capsules
Women's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:50 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:05 p.m.
Defending Champion: Ulanda Lewis (Louisiana Tech) – 7.36
Defending Champion (WAC): Rajer Gurode (Sam Houston) – 7.33
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Lewis
Meet Record: 7.18 by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2010
Facility Record: 7.30 by Kiara Grant (Norfolk State) in 2020
Liberty Record: 7.32 by Reese Webster in 2024
2024 Leader: Reese Webster (Liberty) – 7.32
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster
Outlook: A deep women's 60 field features the last two CUSA champions (Middle Tennessee's Lyn'Nika Vance in 2022 and Louisiana Tech's Ulanda Lewis in 2023) and the defending WAC champion (Sam Houston's Rajer Gurode). But they are all looking up at 2023 CAA third-place finisher Reese Webster, who has been a revelation during her first year at Liberty. She owns the No. 1 seed at 7.32 (Liberty record) and has won all six of her 60-meter dash races this season, including prelims and finals. The last Lady Flame to win a conference title at 60 meters was Abby Pantlitz in 2021 (ASUN).
Women's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 23.29
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 23.65
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Burgher
Meet Record: 23.35 by Aurieyall Scott (UCF) in 2013
Facility Record: 23.30 by Joyasia Smith (Charlotte) in 2024
Liberty Record: 23.66 by Reese Webster in 2024
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.97
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster, Indea Cartwright
Outlook: Liberty's Reese Webster has lowered the program record from 23.98 to 23.66 this season but is seeded just No. 4 in CUSA. Two of the women listed ahead of her (UTEP's Niesha Burgher – CUSA and New Mexico State's Jhana Downie – WAC) were conference champions in the one-lap event a year ago. Burgher, who is currently tied for No. 9 nationally with an altitude-adjusted 22.97, will try to become CUSA's first back-to-back champion in this event since 2006 and 2007 (Houston's Ebonie Floyd). As in the 60, Liberty's last indoor conference champion in the women's 200 was Abby Pantlitz in 2021. Both the meet (23.35) and facility (23.30) records could be in jeopardy with the way Burgher has been running this season.
Women's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Maya Singletary (Charlotte) – 53.33
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 53.19
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Loubna Benhadja (UTEP) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 52.77 by Abike Egbeniyi (Middle Tennessee) in 2018
Facility Record: 52.55 by Athing Mu (Unattached) in 2019
Liberty Record: 53.99 by Cortney Strohman in 2019
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 54.39
Liberty Entrants: None
Outlook: The women's 400 could turn into a head-to-head showdown between local rivals UTEP and New Mexico State, as three of the top six marks in CUSA this season belong to Miners and the other three to Aggies. With conference leader Niesha Burgher focusing on other events, last year's third-place finisher (Loubna Benhadja) is a top candidate to claim UTEP's first CUSA title in this event since 2015. New Mexico State's Jhana Downie won the 2023 WAC 400 title but will also focus on other events this weekend. Freshman Maddy Merritt is Liberty's top seed at No. 20 but is not entered, making the women's 400 the only event the Flames will not contest this weekend.
Women's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jessica Lambert (FAU) – 2:08.54
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Pamela Milano (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 2:07.43 by Jenny Holmroos (UTEP) in 2006
Facility Record: 2:03.73 by Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) in 2021
Liberty Record: 2:05.42 by Jaime Watson in 2010
2024 Leader: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 2:08.38
Liberty Entrants: Katelyn Locker, Jessica Palisca, Katrina Schlenker
Outlook: Monmouth transfer Katelyn Locker has been outstanding during her first season of competition for Liberty, shattering the program record for the 1,000 (2:45.61) and posting CUSA's fastest 800 time (2:08.38). However, she was defeated by the top returnee from the 2023 CUSA final (fifth-place Pamela Milano of Middle Tennessee) head-to-head two weeks ago at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Talented FIU freshman Ane Martin Del Campo could battle for the Panthers' first-ever CUSA title in this event. Locker and teammate Jessica Palisca (fifth in the ASUN a year ago as a freshman) will shoot for Liberty's first indoor women's 800 conference title since 2020 (Tanner Ealum – ASUN).
Women's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2 p.m.
Defending Champion: Lauren Johnston (Charlotte) – 4:49.41
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: No finalists return
Meet Record: 4:37.53 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Facility Record: 4:37.42 by Anna Vess (NC State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 4:36.52 by Calli Doan in 2023
2024 Leader: Valerie Lastra (FIU) – 4:38.46
Liberty Entrants: Marie Hostetler, Ryann Aycock
Outlook: With Liberty mile record holder and two-time ASUN mile champion Calli Doan out and the entire field of mile finalists from the 2023 CUSA meet absent, FIU's Valerie Lastra has emerged as a significant favorite to grab the Panthers' first CUSA mile crown. She has lowered the FIU record to 4:38.46, CUSA's fastest time of 2024 by more than seven seconds. Even without Doan, Liberty will line up two of the top 10 milers in program history in Marie Hostetler (No. 6) and Ryann Aycock (No. 10). Jessica Palisca's Liberty freshman record of 4:49.71 from last season could be challenged by Aycock.
Women's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louise Lounes (Charlotte) – 9:27.87
Defending Champion (ASUN): Calli Doan (Liberty) – 9:24.67
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Ruth Jerubet (UTEP) – 10th place
Meet Record: 9:10.40 by Elinor Kirk (UAB) in 2014
Facility Record: 9:17.27 by Odilia Jepchumba (Middle Tennessee) in 2024
Liberty Record: 9:24.67 by Calli Doan in 2023
2024 Leader: Joyce Kemboi (UTEP) – 9:15.35
Liberty Entrants: Adelyn Fairley, Isabela Ross, Marie Hostetler, Ryann Aycock
Outlook: With 2023 ASUN 3K champion and Liberty program record holder Calli Doan sidelined and each of the top nine finishers from last year's CUSA 3K out of the picture, a pair of Kenyan freshmen have stepped forward as the favorites. Middle Tennessee's Odilia Jepchumba clocked a facility-record 9:17.27 to win the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational title two weeks ago in her last visit to Lynchburg. Meanwhile, UTEP's Joyce Kemboi clocked an impressive 9:29.37 at the high altitude of Albuquerque last month. Liberty's top hopes lie with Adelyn Fairley, the No. 4 seed at 9:27.64. She was the ASUN 3K runner-up in 2022. Lady Flames newcomer Isabela Ross placed sixth in the Sun Belt 3K final a year ago as a Southern Miss freshman.
Women's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louise Lounes (Charlotte) – 16:40.97
Defending Champion (ASUN): Calli Doan (Liberty) – 16:35.87
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Faith Nyathi (Middle Tennessee) – 11th place
Meet Record: 15:57.54 by Caroline Sang (Charlotte) in 2018
Facility Record: 15:37.12 by Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland High School) in 2018
Liberty Record: 15:47.89 by Ednah Kurgat in 2016
2024 Leader: Joyce Kemboi (UTEP) – 15:43.43
Liberty Entrants: Adelyn Fairley, Isabela Ross
Outlook: UTEP freshman Joyce Kemboi shattered the school record with a 15:43.43 effort in Seattle two weeks ago, stamping herself as a top contender for the Miners' first CUSA 5K title since 2017. Two-time ASUN indoor 5K champion (2021 & 2022) Adelyn Fairley of Liberty ran the fastest indoor 5K of her career (16:17.62) in Boston back in December. Teammate Isabela Ross was the Sun Belt's sixth-place finisher in 2023. Lady Flames posted first-place conference finishes in this event each of the last three years in the ASUN, with Calli Doan following up Fairley's back-to-back crowns in 2023. Middle Tennessee's Odilia Jepchumba also figures to contend during her first 5K of the season.
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:35 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.29
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Simpson
Meet Record: 8.01 by Tobi Amusan (UTEP) in 2017
Facility Record: 8.14 by Cha'Mia Rothwell (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 8.23 by Indea Cartwright in 2022
2024 Leader: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.13
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright, Ahvon Mitchell, Amani Hankton
Outlook: Liberty's Indea Cartwright owns the program record (8.23 from 2022) and has finished first or second in all five of her 60 hurdles finals this season. However, she will be challenged mightily by the talented trio of UTEP's Marissa Simpson, Louisiana Tech's Tonie-Ann Forbes and New Mexico State's Aliyah Logan. Simpson is the defending champion and will try to become the first back-to-back titlist since UTEP great Tobi Amusan in 2016 and 2017. Forbes has set the LA Tech program record multiple times as a freshman and is currently in the mix (along with Simpson) for a trip to the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Logan was the 2022 WAC champion in this event. Ahvon Mitchell has run well during her first season at Liberty, ranking No. 4 in program history at 8.53. She placed fourth in the MAC 60 hurdles final in 2023 while representing Western Michigan. Liberty's last 60 hurdles conference title came from Jada Thomas in 2019, the Lady Flames' first year in the ASUN.
Women's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Charlotte – 3:37.42 (4th in a row)
Meet Record: 3:37.42 by Charlotte in 2023
Facility Record: 3:39.60 by the Bullis School in 2018
Liberty Record: 3:39.06 in 2019
2024 Leader: UTEP – 3:38.17
Outlook: The 4 x 400 relay could turn into a duel between UTEP and New Mexico State, who have both dipped under 3:40 this season. The meet record (3:37.42) and facility record (3:39.60) could both be on watch as UTEP chases its first CUSA 4 x 400 crown since 2016. Liberty, which clocked a season-best 3:47.18 to win the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational title and claim the No. 4 seed, is seeking its first conference title in this event since 2019 (ASUN).
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Rice – 11:34.36
Meet Record: 11:30.59 by Middle Tennessee in 2022
Facility Record: 11:34.54 by Lake Braddock High School in 2017
Liberty Record: 11:41.12 in 2021
2024 Leader: Middle Tennessee – 11:36.32
Outlook: Middle Tennessee clocked an impressive meet-record 11:36.32 to win the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational DMR two weeks ago. Liberty won three straight ASUN distance medley relay titles between 2019 and 2021 with Calli Doan running the anchor leg each time. The facility record in this event (11:34.54) was set by Lake Braddock High School on the very first day of competition at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, Jan. 13, 2017, and set the high school national record.
Women's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Oreoluwa Adamson (UTSA) – 21-2.5 (6.46m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Valissa Brown (New Mexico State) – 19-5.5 (5.93m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Lyn'Nika Vance (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 21-10 (6.65m) by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2008 and 2010
Facility Record: 20-10.75 (6.37m) by Jasmine Akins (Kennesaw State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 19-10.25 (6.05m) by Ayanna Johnson in 2022
2024 Leader: Lyn'Nika Vance (Middle Tennessee) – 19-5.5 (5.93m)
Liberty Entrants: Rebecca Allen, Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel, Makenzy Mizera
Outlook: Middle Tennessee has not claimed gold in the CUSA indoor women's long jump since 2016. But that could change Friday afternoon, as the Raiders boast the conference's only three 19-foot jumpers so far this season in Lyn'Nika Vance, Lakesha Smith and Viktoria Rusnakova. Vance placed third in CUSA both indoors and out a year ago. With 2020 ASUN champion Makenzy Mizera sidelined all season due to injury, sophomore Rebecca Allen has stepped forward as Liberty's leader in this event. She has cracked the program all-time top 10 list at 18-9.25, making her the No. 4 seed. Mizera, who ranks No. 2 on said top 10 list with a 19-4.75 leap in 2020, is entered in her first long jump competition in nine months.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Esther Isa (Middle Tennessee) – 42-11 (13.08m) (3rd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 41-5.25 (12.63m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Tia Reder (Louisiana Tech) – 9th place
Meet Record: 45-6.5 (13.88m) by Ganna Demydova (Southern Miss) in 2011
Facility Record: 47-7.75 (14.52m) by Thea LaFond (Unattached) in 2021
Liberty Record: 42-8 (13.00m) by Makenzy Mizera in 2021
2024 Leader: Danielle Mcgonigle (FIU) – 39-2.25 (11.94m)
Liberty Entrants: Kacy Cox, Maddy Hunt, Rebecca Allen, Makenzy Mizera
Outlook: Three-time defending CUSA women's triple jump titlist Esther Isa of Middle Tennessee has graduated and 2023 ASUN champ Makenzy Mizera of Liberty has been sidelined all season due to injury. As a result, the triple jump is wide open with the top five seeds separated by only 8.25 inches. It has taken a leap of 40 feet or longer to win this event every year since 1998. But that could change on Saturday, as FIU freshman Danielle McGonigle owns the conference's top mark of 2024 at 39-2.25. Kacy Cox is Liberty's top seed at No. 5 with a season best of 38-6 in her first year focusing on the triple jump after first arriving on campus as a high jump specialist. Mizera, who is set to make her season debut this weekend, owns the Liberty record of 42-8 from 2021 and was a six-time All-ASUN triple jumper.
Women's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Katie Isenbarger (WKU) – 5-10.75 (1.80m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Grace Turner (WKU) – 4th place
Meet Record: 6-1.25 (1.86m) by Josie Taylor (Rice) in 2022
Facility Record: 6-0.75 (1.85m) by Kristi Snyman (Jacksonville) in 2023
Liberty Record: 5-10.75 (1.80m) by Kena Butts in 2005
2024 Leader: Emilia Lesniak (WKU) and A'riel Williams (Louisiana Tech) – 5-10 (1.78m)
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Eva Whiteman, Paige Greenhagel
Outlook: WKU's Emilia Lesniak and Louisiana Tech's A'riel Williams, both in their first season with their respective teams, have each cleared a conference-best 5-10 this year. Williams, the school record holder as a freshman, will try to claim LA Tech's first-ever CUSA women's high jump title. Freshman Eva Whiteman could possess Liberty's top shot at claiming the Lady Flames' first indoor conference high jump crown since 2018 (Kylie Polsgrove – Big South). She has made it over 5-5 this year after sailing over 5-8 as a high school senior in Michigan.
Women's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-8.25 (4.17m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Janse Van Rensburg
Meet Record: 13-11.75 (4.26m) by Riley Felts (Charlotte) and Anna Massa (UAB) in 2022
Facility Record: 15-1 (4.60m) by Alina McDonald (KMR Athletics) in 2022
Liberty Record: 14-0 (4.27m) by Andrea Wildrick in 2002
2024 Leader: Katie Urbine (Liberty) – 13-8.5 (4.18m)
Liberty Entrants: Katie Urbine, Mia Bowers, Colleen Schaner
Outlook: The meet's first field event final, the women's pole vault promises an intriguing three-way showdown between defending champion Nicole Janse Van Rensburg of FIU and a pair of talented freshmen (Liberty's Katie Urbine and UTEP's Alla Parnov). Parnov has set the UTEP program record at 13-7.25 and seeks the Miners' first CUSA championship in this event. Urbine, the top seed at a Liberty freshman-record 13-8.5, looks to follow in the footsteps of current assistant Taylen (Langin) Rey. Rey won the ASUN women's pole vault title as a freshman in 2019, setting the meet record. The CUSA meet record (13-11.75) and long-standing Liberty record (14-0) could be in play if Urbine has a big day. All-American and Liberty Athletics Hall of Famer Andrea Wildrick has owned the program record of 14-0 since 2002. Lady Flame Mia Bowers could also battle for a spot on the podium after joining the 13-foot club for the first time at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago. The junior was third (in 2022) and fourth (in 2023) during her pair of ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships appearances.
Women's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Erna Gunnarsdottir (Rice) – 58-9.5 (17.92m) (3rd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Megan Mann (Liberty) – 48-5.5 (14.77m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Arianne Morais (UTEP) – 13th place
Meet Record: 58-10.75 (17.95m) by Claire Uke (Rice) in 2015
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Patience Marshall (Campbell) in 2020
Liberty Record: 53-5.5 (16.29m) by Mychelle Cumings in 2014
2024 Leader: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 52-10 (16.10m)
Liberty Entrants: Megan Mann, Sofia Mojica, Efe Latham
Outlook: Liberty women's shot putters have claimed eight straight indoor conference titles, a streak which began in 2016 with Mychelle Cumings' Big South championship. Defending ASUN champion Megan Mann is back and has improved her indoor best to 48-7.25 this year. However, she is looking up at New Mexico State's Rebecca Green's big 52-10 mark atop the CUSA performance list. Most recently, Green placed ninth at the USATF Indoor Championships this past weekend in Albuquerque.
Women's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) – 72-9.25 (22.18m) (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Paola Bueno (Liberty) – 64-8 (19.71m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Phethisang Makhethe (New Mexico State) – 67-7.5 (20.61m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 72-9.25 (22.18m) by Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 71-7.5 (21.83m) by Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir (VCU) in 2024
Liberty Record: 67-5.5 (20.56m) by Jocelyn Williams in 2014
2024 Leader: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 68-3 (20.80m)
Liberty Entrants: Paola Bueno, Megan Mann, Sofia Mojica, Efe Latham, Annika Hantho
Outlook: Last season, Liberty's Paola Bueno won the ASUN women's weight throw title as a freshman, becoming the third different Lady Flame in as many years to stand atop the podium in this event. She enters the meet as the No. 3 seed and will try to become Liberty's first-ever back-to-back weight throw conference champion. The top two seeds belong to FIU Panthers, led by last year's runner-up Michaelle Valentin at 68-3. FIU is in search of its first CUSA weight throw crown since 2019.
Women's Pentathlon
Event Schedule: Begins Friday at 10:15 a.m.
Defending Champion: Marta Sivina (North Texas) – 3,639
Defending Champion (ASUN): Meredith Engle (Liberty) – 3,973
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Johannon Murray (Louisiana Tech) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 4,004 by Charlotte Abrahamsen (Memphis) in 2008 and Xenia Rahn (Memphis) in 2013
Facility Record: 4,324 by Shaina Burns (Unattached) in 2023
Liberty Record: 3,986 by Kylie Polsgrove in 2019
2024 Leader: Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 3,814
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel, Sofia Van Arsdale
Outlook: Liberty's Meredith Engle, the two-time defending ASUN pentathlon champion, is redshirting this season. In her absence, teammate Patasha Bryan has stood out as the conference favorite. Her season-best mark of 3,814 is tops in CUSA by nearly 400 points. Bryan came in third in the ASUN pentathlon a year ago as a redshirt freshman. Louisiana Tech's Johannon Murray was third at the CUSA meet in 2023, while FIU's Fabiola Declet was the 2022 CUSA runner-up with a personal-best score of 3,629.
Men's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:10 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 6.63 (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 6.70
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Rodney Heath Jr. (Louisiana Tech) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 6.61 by McKinely West (Southern Miss) in 2019
Facility Record: 6.63 by Davonte Burnett (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 6.70 by Omari Lewis in 2023
2024 Leader: Julian Forde (Louisiana Tech) – 6.62
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis, Revell Webster
Outlook: The men's 60 field features the defending ASUN champion (Liberty's Omari Lewis) and the 2023 CUSA runner-up (LA Tech's Rodney Heath Jr.) They are seeded 3-4 behind Louisiana Tech's Julian Forde with a blazing season best of 6.62 and Sam Houston freshman Jayden Jones at 6.69. Forde was the Southland 60 champion in 2022, competing for New Orleans. He and Heath Jr. will chase the Bulldogs' first CUSA 60 crown since 2016. Liberty has claimed four straight conference titles in this event, but Lewis will likely need to break his own program record of 6.70 to keep that streak alive Saturday afternoon.
Men's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 20.59 (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Donald McClinton (Liberty) – 21.10
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 8th place
Meet Record: 20.59 by Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) in 2023
Facility Record: 20.68 by Caleb Boger (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 20.86 by Donald McClinton in 2023
2024 Leader: Xavier Butler (UTEP) – 20.96
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis, Revell Webster
Outlook: With seven of eight CUSA 200 finalists from last year absent, freshmen Xavier Butler of UTEP and Jayden Jones of Sam Houston rank a clear 1-2 in the conference entering the week. Butler, coming off a 20.96 effort at the Arkansas Qualifier, will aim for the Miners' first CUSA title in the one-lap event in 15 years. Liberty's Omari Lewis clocked an indoor-best 21.19 to place second to since graduated teammate Donald McClinton in the 2023 ASUN final.
Men's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Michael Roth (UTSA) – 46.42
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Julio Pacheco Estrada (UTEP) – 4th place
Meet Record: 46.21 by Emmanuel Dasor (WKU) in 2016
Facility Record: 46.15 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (Liberty) in 2019
Liberty Record: 46.07 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata in 2019
2024 Leader: Julio Pacheco Estrada (UTEP) – 47.56
Liberty Entrants: Simon Lamparelli
Outlook: UTEP's Julio Pacheco Estrada is both the top returnee from 2023, when he placed fourth as a freshman, and owns the conference's top time of 2024 with his altitude-assisted 47.45 clocking. He has raced lightly this season, with only two 400 efforts to his credit. Louisiana Tech has never won this event at the CUSA meet, and Tim Rummelhagen seemed like an unlikely threat to end that streak prior to a big breakthrough 47.85 effort at the Tyson Invitational two weeks ago. The Flames' lone entrant is Simon Lamparelli, who has enjoyed a promising freshman season thus far and enters with the conference's sixth fastest time at 48.81. All-American Alejandro Perlaza Zapata was Liberty's most recent men's 400 champion, claiming the title during Liberty's first season in the ASUN (2019).
Men's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:45 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Brian Rono (Middle Tennessee) – 1:53.17
Defending Champion (ASUN): Brendan Pitcher (Liberty) – 1:50.94
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 1:49.98 by Chris O'Hare (Tulsa) in 2012
Facility Record: 1:46.59 by Alex Amankwah (District Track Club) in 2021
Liberty Record: 1:49.18 by Ally Kipchirchir in 2023
2024 Leader: Aron Tanui (UTEP) – 1:48.45
Liberty Entrants: Brendan Pitcher, Isaiah Schulties
Outlook: UTEP's Aron Tanui is the only CUSA runner to break 1:50 in the 800 so far in 2024, doing so in each of his last two races. He is in his first year competing for the Miners after placing fourth in the 800 at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships while racing for South Plains. Liberty's Brendan Pitcher was a surprise ASUN 800 champion on his home track a year ago. He will try to become the first Flame to collect back-to-back indoor 800 crowns since Chris Poluikis in 1999 and 2000 (Big South). Three of the top five 800 runners in CUSA went head-to-head at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago with Pitcher edging Middle Tennessee's Wail Bourahli by 0.14 seconds for the honor of top conference finisher.
Men's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kenneth Talavera (UTEP) – 4:07.08 (2nd in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: No finalists return
Meet Record: 4:00.82 by Pablo Solares (Rice) in 2007
Facility Record: 3:56.79 by Antonio Lopez Segura (Virginia Tech) in 2022
Liberty Record: 4:01.27 by Ryan Drew in 2022
2024 Leader: Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 4:05.28
Liberty Entrants: Kyle Harkabus, Jonathon Hadley, Graham Mussmon, Tristian Merchant, Ethan Stansbury
Outlook: No CUSA runner other than Liberty's Kyle Harkabus has broken 4:07 in the mile, and he has clocked a pair of 4:05s. A year ago, Harkabus posted a personal-best 4:04.64 at the ASUN meet, where he took third place in the final. The Flames have boasted a conference mile champion each of the last two even years, thanks to Ryan Drew's ASUN crowns in 2020 and 2022. Middle Tennessee owns three of the top five seeds, paced by Habtamu Geta. The No. 2 seed at 4:07.62, Geta took third place at the CUSA Cross Country Championships in October. Graham Mussmon and Tristian Merchant represent a pair of wild cards for Liberty. Mussmon stepped up for an eighth-place finish in the ASUN mile a year ago as a freshman. Merchant has not raced a mile this season but clocked 4:05.12 in 2023. UTEP 800-meter ace Aron Tanui also bears watching in his mile debut for the Miners, especially if the race turns tactical. He placed seventh in the 1,500 at last year's NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a personal-best 3:51.04.
Men's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Daniel Bernal (UTEP) – 8:00.14
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 9th place
Meet Record: 8:00.14 by Daniel Bernal (UTEP) in 2023
Facility Record: 7:54.64 by Patrick Anderson (North Carolina) in 2022
Liberty Record: 7:48.24 by Sam Chelanga in 2011
2024 Leader: Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 8:01.62
Liberty Entrants: Kyle Harkabus, Edwin Kiprop, Tristian Merchant, Nathan Moore, Nicholas Kiprotich, Jack Cottrell
Outlook: CUSA's top four 3K times this season all came at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, led by a big personal-best 8:01.62 from Liberty's Kyle Harkabus to win the race. That ranks No. 3 all-time at Liberty, trailing only past NCAA cross country national champions Sam Chelanga and Josh McDougal. Harkabus is one of six Flames ranked among the conference's top eight in this event, giving Liberty huge point potential late in the meet. Remarkably, 2023 NCAA cross country national qualifier Nicholas Kiprotich is only the Flames' sixth-fastest runner in this event this year. Liberty freshman Edwin Kiprop ranks No. 3 in CUSA with an 8:03.76 effort in the only race of his collegiate career to date at Darius Dixon. Tristian Merchant, who just ran his first race in 5.5 months last Saturday at Virginia Tech, was Liberty's top finisher (third place) in the 2023 ASUN 3K final. Middle Tennessee's Brian Kiptoo (No. 2 at 8:02.19) will be the top seed not wearing a Liberty uniform. The seventh-place finisher at the CUSA Cross Country Championship, Kiptoo was overtaken by Harkabus on the final lap of the Darius Dixon 3K and finished third overall.
Men's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nick Scudder (Charlotte) – 13:59.56 (3rd in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 13:47.51 by Nick Scudder (Charlotte) in 2021
Facility Record: 13:43.27 by Athanas Kioko (Campbell) in 2022
Liberty Record: 13:19.79 by Sam Chelanga in 2009
2024 Leader: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 14:33.36
Liberty Entrants: Jack Cottrell, Edwin Kiprop, Nicholas Kiprotich, Tristian Merchant, Nathan Moore
Outlook: Charlotte's Nick Scudder, who ran sub-14:00 times to win each of the last three CUSA 5K titles, is no longer part of the conference. Only four CUSA runners have broken 15:00 this year, led by Middle Tennessee's Habtamu Geta at 14:33.36. No. 5 seed Jacob Hess (15:04.62) is the only Flame who has contested a 5K this season but is not among Liberty's five entries in Friday evening's race. Tristian Merchant and Jack Cottrell stepped up for a big 2-3 5K finish for the Flames at the 2023 ASUN Championship. Felix Kandie (2021) was Liberty's most recent conference champion in this event.
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:55 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Justin Leaston (Charlotte) – 7.82
Defending Champion (ASUN): Prosper Ekporere (Liberty) – 8.09
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 7.77 by Caleb Parker (Southern Miss) in 2019 and Bashiru Abdullahi (UTSA) in 2022
Facility Record: 7.71 by Jovaine Atkinson (Liberty) in 2018 and Kurt Powdar (Hinds CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 7.64 by Jovaine Atkinson in 2018
2024 Leader: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 7.70
Liberty Entrants: Albrey Gossett, Anthony Bryan, Daniel Van Duren, Rayshawn Johnson
Outlook: The men's 60 hurdles will be a race to watch, with two runners (Middle Tennessee's Stephen Eloji – 7.70 and UTEP's Jordani Woodley – altitude-assisted 7.73) having run faster than the current meet record (7.77) this season. Eloji, the 2023 runner-up, is currently on the bubble for NCAA national qualification. Neither Middle Tennessee nor UTEP has ever won a CUSA 60 hurdles crown. Liberty went 1-2-3 in last year's ASUN 60 hurdles final, but none of those three runners will be competing this weekend. Albrey Gossett, the Flames' top seed at No. 4 (8.06), will compete in an indoor conference meet for the first time. He started his career at Coastal Carolina, which does not sponsor men's indoor track & field. Heptathlon favorite Anthony Bryan also figures to contend for points for Liberty, as he has lowered his personal best to 8.11 this season.
Men's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Defending Champion: UTSA – 3:12.45
Meet Record: 3:09.17 by Middle Tennessee in 2019
Facility Record: 3:10.34 by St. Augustine's in 2020
Liberty Record: 3:09.88 in 2018
2024 Leader: UTEP – 3:11.02
Outlook: Liberty has won the men's 4 x 400 relay to cap off seven of its last nine indoor conference meets. However, the Flames are seeded only sixth at 3:22.50. UTEP is the clear No. 1 seed with an altitude-assisted time of 3:10.58. The Miners' most recent CUSA title in this event came in 2020.
Men's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Rice – 9:58.01
Meet Record: 9:51.62 by UTEP in 2009
Facility Record: 9:43.73 by Eastern Kentucky in 2023
Liberty Record: 9:47.30 in 2018
2024 Leader: Middle Tennessee – 10:03.11
Outlook: Middle Tennessee has run a conference-leading 10:03.11 DMR this season as it chases a second CUSA title in three years. Liberty won the men's DMR two of its last three years as an ASUN member, with three members of its 2022 championship squad still part of the roster (Kyle Harkabus, Luke Anderson and Isaiah Schulties).
Men's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Christiaan Le Roux (UTSA) – 25-0.75 (7.64m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 5th place
Meet Record: 25-7.25 (7.80m) by Fabian Edoki (Middle Tennessee) in 2019
Facility Record: 25-6.25 (7.78m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 25-0.75 (7.64m) by Quinten Clay in 2022
2024 Leader: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 23-8.75 (7.23m)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Ilesanmi, Anthony Bryan, Daniel Van Duren
Outlook: Liberty won the men's long jump title at four of its five ASUN Championship appearances. Following the graduation of two-time ASUN champ Quinten Clay, first-year Flame Michael Ilesanmi is Liberty's new leader in the event. The No. 6 seed with a season best of 22-1.5, Ilesanmi starred in 2023, his final year at Saint Peter's. He swept the MAAC and IC4A outdoor long jump titles, reaching a personal best of 24-2.5. Louisiana Tech's Mateo Smith, the top returnee from a year ago (fifth place), tops the 2023 CUSA performance list at 23-8.75. The men's long jump will be Anthony Bryan's seventh and final event of Friday for the Flames, contested concurrently with the pole vault.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jemuel Miller (UTSA) – 51-3.5 (15.63m) (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Joshua Smith (Liberty) – 49-7.75 (15.13m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: No competitors return
Meet Record: 53-7.5 (16.34m) by John Warren (Southern Miss) in 2018
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 51-0 (15.54m) by Darrel Jones in 2018
2024 Leader: Joel Iheakolam (Middle Tennessee) – 50-0.5 (15.25m)
Liberty Entrants: Joshua Smith, Shane Wang, Michael Ilesanmi
Outlook: Liberty's Joshua Smith recorded a dramatic victory in the ASUN men's triple jump final last season as a freshman, popping a personal-best 49-7.75 effort in round six to come from behind. He will try to become the Flames' first back-to-back conference champion in this event since Clarence Powell in 2010 and 2011 (Big South). Smith's top mark this season (48-0.5) is two feet behind conference-leading freshman Joel Iheakolam of Middle Tennessee. His season-best mark of 50-0.5 came at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago, stamping him as the favorite to claim the Raiders' first-ever CUSA championship in this event.
Men's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-0.25 (2.14m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) – 7-2.5 (2.20m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Belik
Meet Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Mickael Hanany (UTEP) in 2006
Facility Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) in 2022
Liberty Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder in 2022
2024 Leader: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-0.5 (2.15m)
Liberty Entrants: Daniel Van Duren, Albrey Gossett
Outlook: Saturday's men's high jump competition promises a showdown between defending champion Jakub Belik of UTEP (7-0.5 season best) and Sam Houston freshman Jerimiah Jackson (6-11.75 season best). No one else is within seven inches of the talented duo this season. Belik will try to become UTEP's first back-to-back champion in this event since program great Mickael Hanany did so in 2006 and 2007. Two-time defending ASUN high jump champion and All-American Kennedy Sauder is no longer part of Liberty's program, and injuries have decimated the Flames' current high jump crew. As a result, this will be one of Liberty's most unlikely events to score points in this weekend even though only 10 total athletes are entered.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5 p.m.
Defending Champion: Alexander Slinkman (Rice) – 17-8.25 (5.39m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: None
Meet Record: 17-8.25 (5.39m) by Alexander Slinkman (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 18-10.25 (5.75m) by Scott Houston (Vaulthouse Elite) in 2021
Liberty Record: 17-5 (5.31m) by Ken Howell in 1999
2024 Leader: Rylan Olguin (Sam Houston) – 17-0.75 (5.20m)
Liberty Entrants: Anthony Bryan, Hunter Flack
Outlook: If Sam Houston is to capture the men's team title on Saturday, Friday's pole vault competition will be a big reason why. The Bearkats own CUSA's top four pole vaulters so far this season, led by Rylan Olguin (17-0.75). Liberty's Anthony Bryan and Hunter Flack will try to break up Sam Houston's potential podium sweep. Bryan cleared a personal-best 15-9 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago but will be vaulting at the end of a busy Friday, seven hours into his day of competition. Flack earned a pair of All-ASUN pole vault medals, placing third indoors in 2022 and second outdoors in 2023. WKU's Devon Montgomery, who no-heighted a year ago, is the only returnee from the 2023 CUSA indoor men's pole vault competition.
Men's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Elian Ahmar (Rice) – 57-9.5 (17.61m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Nemoy Cockett (Louisiana Tech) – 11th place
Meet Record: 63-5.5 (19.34m) by John Davis (Houston) in 1999
Facility Record: 67-2.75 (20.49m) by Stipe Zunic (Nike/Croatia) in 2017
Liberty Record: 64-1.25 (19.54m) by Warren Barrett in 2023
2024 Leader: Warren Barrett (Liberty) – 63-6 (19.35m)
Liberty Entrants: Warren Barrett, Jordae Edwards, Christian Hicks, Desmond Coleman, John Hicks
Outlook: Current Liberty coach Kyle Mitchell captured the ASUN indoor men's shot put title in 2020. One of his pupils and fellow Jamaicans, Warren Barrett is heavily favored to become the Flames' next conference champion in this event on Saturday afternoon. His season-best mark of 63-6 is more than eight feet longer than that of No. 2 seed Dominykas Cepys of Sam Houston. Barrett will aim to take down the meet record from 25 years ago (63-5.5) and his own program record from last season (64-1.25) while clinching a trip to the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships for the second year in a row. Barrett enters the week ranked No. 11 nationally, with the top 16 performers qualifying to Boston. This could be a pivotal event in the Liberty-Sam Houston battle late in the meet, as the conference's top five marks in 2024 belong to Flames (two) and Bearkats (three).
Men's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nick Hicks (Rice) – 69-2.5 (21.09m) (3rd in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Nemoy Cockett (Louisiana Tech) – 5th place
Meet Record: 74-7.25 (22.74m) by Steffen Nerdal (Memphis) in 2010
Facility Record: 76-9.75 (23.41m) by Alex Young (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 68-0.5 (20.74m) by Desmond Coleman in 2024
2024 Leader: Desmond Coleman (Liberty) – 68-0.5 (20.74m)
Liberty Entrants: Desmond Coleman, John Hicks, Christian Hicks
Outlook: Prior to this season, Jon Hart had held the Liberty men's weight throw record at 66-6.5 for 16 years. It has been broken by two different Flames this month, including John Hicks (67-1.25) at the Liberty Open and Desmond Coleman (68-0.5) at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational a week later. Hicks opened his collegiate career with three consecutive ASUN weight throw crowns (2020, 2021 and 2022), while Coleman is competing in the event for the first time in 2024. Their top competition figures to come from 2022 CUSA runner-up Aleks Hristov of UTEP. A new CUSA men's weight throw champion will be crowned, as Nick Hicks of Rice (no relation to Liberty's John and Christian Hicks) is no longer part of the conference after taking top honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Men's Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at 10 a.m.; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Defending Champion: Jack Turner (UTSA) – 5,794
Defending Champion (ASUN): Anthony Bryan (Liberty) – 5,248
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Jalen Cadet (UTEP) – 4th place
Meet Record: 5,794 by Jack Turner (UTSA) in 2023
Facility Record: 5,608 by Dylan Cooper (Athletic Lab TC) in 2022
Liberty Record: 5,537 by Markus Ballengee in 2018
2024 Leader: Cole Peterlin (Liberty) – 5,244
Liberty Entrants: Luke Anderson, Anthony Bryan, Daniel Van Duren
Outlook: Liberty claimed four heptathlon titles in five years as an ASUN member and has a good chance to extend that string of success this weekend despite an injury to top seed Cole Peterlin. Anthony Bryan, who captured ASUN heptathlon crowns in both 2021 and 2023, has set personal bests in the shot put (44-5.25), 60 hurdles (8.11) and pole vault (15-9) this season. He will attempt to become Liberty's first back-to-back heptathlon conference champion since Geren Woodbridge won three Big South titles in succession between 2009-11. Fellow Flame Daniel Van Duren captured the 2023 ASUN decathlon championship. UTEP's Jalen Cadet (fourth place) is the top returner from a season ago, while Sam Houston's Bryce Barbay came in sixth in the 2023 WAC heptathlon. Sam Houston teammate Rylan Olguin, the pole vault favorite, is entered in his first heptathlon since he took sixth place in the WAC in 2022 with a personal-best 4,978 points. Rice and UTSA competitors combined to win the last seven CUSA heptathlon gold medals, prior to departing the conference.
In its first year of CUSA membership, the Liberty men's squad will attempt to claim its 27th straight indoor conference championship, following 21 consecutive Big South titles (1998-2018) and five ASUN titles in a row (2019-23). Meanwhile, the Lady Flames will aim for their third consecutive indoor conference title, after Liberty captured back-to-back ASUN crowns in 2022 and 2023.
The meet will begin Friday at 10 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter dash. Saturday's action will commence at 10:30 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.
Liberty will host its conference's indoor track & field championship for the seventh consecutive year. The Liberty Indoor Track Complex served as the venue for the 2018 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships along with the 2019-23 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Liberty hopes its home track advantage continues this weekend. The Flames and Lady Flames have won 27 of a possible 28 conference men's and women's indoor and outdoor team titles in Lynchburg. The lone setback came on the women's side at the 2021 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships, when Kennesaw State edged the Lady Flames by five points.
This year's meet will feature nine women's teams (FIU, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky) and six men's squads (Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky). Conference USA's membership has changed significantly since last season, with only five schools (FIU, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and Western Kentucky) returning from the 2023 indoor track & field championship where Charlotte swept the men's and women's team titles.
How to Follow the Action
Admission is free of charge to both days of the 2024 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Live video streaming of both days' running events and taped coverage of the field events and multi events will be available on ESPN+. The live broadcast windows include Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday from 2-6 p.m.
Live results will be available throughout the meet, featuring live splits in the running events and throw-by-throw and jump-by-jump updates in the field events, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing.
Women's Meet Preview
Last season, Liberty defeated Kennesaw State by 16 points for its second consecutive ASUN Conference team title and its fourth in five years of ASUN Conference membership. Overall, Liberty has captured 17 women's indoor conference championships in the last 26 years, also including 13 in the Big South.
No indoor women's track & field team has hoisted the trophy during its first year of CUSA membership since Marquette won the inaugural title in 1996.
Middle Tennessee (third place) is the top returning women's team from last year's meet. Meanwhile, UTEP's 2019 title was the most recent CUSA crown claimed by a current conference member.
CUSA newcomers New Mexico State and Sam Houston performed well at their final WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships appearance in 2023, sharing second place.
The Lady Flames own CUSA's top performance in the following four events this season: 60 (Reese Webster), 800 (Katelyn Locker), pole vault (Katie Urbine) and pentathlon (Patasha Bryan). All but Bryan are in their first season competing for the Lady Flames.
Megan Mann (shot put) and Paola Bueno (weight throw) swept the ASUN women's throwing event titles a year ago, and both are back to compete against CUSA's best. Makenzy Mizera will try to win her second straight women's triple jump title, after claiming first place in the ASUN in 2023.
Liberty will be without the services of some talented athletes this week, headlined by 2023 ASUN Most Valuable Female Performer and two-time All-American Calli Doan (injury) along with two-time defending ASUN pentathlon champion Meredith Engle (redshirt).
Men's Meet Preview
The Liberty men's indoor track & field team has never lost a conference meet at the NCAA Division I level, going 26 for 26 in claiming the team championship trophy. The Flames captured the team title at each of the 21 editions of the Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships they competed in and have won the last five ASUN indoor crowns, extending the longest active championship streak in NCAA Division I men's indoor track & field.
If the Flames are victorious, they would become the first men's indoor track & field team to hoist the CUSA title trophy in their inaugural season of conference membership since 2015 (Western Kentucky).
Four-time defending CUSA men's indoor team champion Charlotte is no longer part of the conference, leaving UTEP (fourth place) as the top returning squad from 2023 and Middle Tennessee (2019) as the current CUSA member who has won most recently.
Newcomer Sam Houston placed just eighth of 10 teams at the 2023 WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. However, the Bearkats have since reloaded and figure to challenge the Flames for top honors this week.
Liberty Head Coach Lance Bingham is well acquainted with Coach David Self and his Sam Houston program. The Bearkats captured the Southland men's indoor track & field team title during three of Bingham's four years competing in the conference as Abilene Christian's head coach (2017, 2018 and 2019).
The Flames own CUSA's top mark of 2023 in five different events, including the mile (Kyle Harkabus), 3K (Kyle Harkabus), shot put (Warren Barrett), weight throw (Desmond Coleman) and heptathlon (Cole Peterlin). Unfortunately, Peterlin will not be able to compete this week due to injury.
John Hicks was a three-time ASUN men's weight throw champion (2020, 2021 and 2022), while Anthony Bryan won a pair of ASUN heptathlon titles (2021 and 2023). Omari Lewis (60), Brendan Pitcher (800) and Joshua Smith (triple jump) are also back after posting ASUN first-place finishes a year ago.
The CUSA meet will mark athletes' final chance to post a qualifying mark for the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, slated for March 8-9 in Boston, Mass. At this point, 2023 men's shot put All-American Warren Barrett appears likely to qualify for the second year in a row. However, any other Liberty athlete who hopes to punch a ticket to Boston would need to record a big performance this weekend.
Event Capsules
Women's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:50 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:05 p.m.
Defending Champion: Ulanda Lewis (Louisiana Tech) – 7.36
Defending Champion (WAC): Rajer Gurode (Sam Houston) – 7.33
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Lewis
Meet Record: 7.18 by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2010
Facility Record: 7.30 by Kiara Grant (Norfolk State) in 2020
Liberty Record: 7.32 by Reese Webster in 2024
2024 Leader: Reese Webster (Liberty) – 7.32
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster
Outlook: A deep women's 60 field features the last two CUSA champions (Middle Tennessee's Lyn'Nika Vance in 2022 and Louisiana Tech's Ulanda Lewis in 2023) and the defending WAC champion (Sam Houston's Rajer Gurode). But they are all looking up at 2023 CAA third-place finisher Reese Webster, who has been a revelation during her first year at Liberty. She owns the No. 1 seed at 7.32 (Liberty record) and has won all six of her 60-meter dash races this season, including prelims and finals. The last Lady Flame to win a conference title at 60 meters was Abby Pantlitz in 2021 (ASUN).
Women's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 23.29
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 23.65
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Burgher
Meet Record: 23.35 by Aurieyall Scott (UCF) in 2013
Facility Record: 23.30 by Joyasia Smith (Charlotte) in 2024
Liberty Record: 23.66 by Reese Webster in 2024
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.97
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster, Indea Cartwright
Outlook: Liberty's Reese Webster has lowered the program record from 23.98 to 23.66 this season but is seeded just No. 4 in CUSA. Two of the women listed ahead of her (UTEP's Niesha Burgher – CUSA and New Mexico State's Jhana Downie – WAC) were conference champions in the one-lap event a year ago. Burgher, who is currently tied for No. 9 nationally with an altitude-adjusted 22.97, will try to become CUSA's first back-to-back champion in this event since 2006 and 2007 (Houston's Ebonie Floyd). As in the 60, Liberty's last indoor conference champion in the women's 200 was Abby Pantlitz in 2021. Both the meet (23.35) and facility (23.30) records could be in jeopardy with the way Burgher has been running this season.
Women's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Maya Singletary (Charlotte) – 53.33
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 53.19
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Loubna Benhadja (UTEP) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 52.77 by Abike Egbeniyi (Middle Tennessee) in 2018
Facility Record: 52.55 by Athing Mu (Unattached) in 2019
Liberty Record: 53.99 by Cortney Strohman in 2019
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 54.39
Liberty Entrants: None
Outlook: The women's 400 could turn into a head-to-head showdown between local rivals UTEP and New Mexico State, as three of the top six marks in CUSA this season belong to Miners and the other three to Aggies. With conference leader Niesha Burgher focusing on other events, last year's third-place finisher (Loubna Benhadja) is a top candidate to claim UTEP's first CUSA title in this event since 2015. New Mexico State's Jhana Downie won the 2023 WAC 400 title but will also focus on other events this weekend. Freshman Maddy Merritt is Liberty's top seed at No. 20 but is not entered, making the women's 400 the only event the Flames will not contest this weekend.
Women's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jessica Lambert (FAU) – 2:08.54
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Pamela Milano (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 2:07.43 by Jenny Holmroos (UTEP) in 2006
Facility Record: 2:03.73 by Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) in 2021
Liberty Record: 2:05.42 by Jaime Watson in 2010
2024 Leader: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 2:08.38
Liberty Entrants: Katelyn Locker, Jessica Palisca, Katrina Schlenker
Outlook: Monmouth transfer Katelyn Locker has been outstanding during her first season of competition for Liberty, shattering the program record for the 1,000 (2:45.61) and posting CUSA's fastest 800 time (2:08.38). However, she was defeated by the top returnee from the 2023 CUSA final (fifth-place Pamela Milano of Middle Tennessee) head-to-head two weeks ago at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Talented FIU freshman Ane Martin Del Campo could battle for the Panthers' first-ever CUSA title in this event. Locker and teammate Jessica Palisca (fifth in the ASUN a year ago as a freshman) will shoot for Liberty's first indoor women's 800 conference title since 2020 (Tanner Ealum – ASUN).
Women's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2 p.m.
Defending Champion: Lauren Johnston (Charlotte) – 4:49.41
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: No finalists return
Meet Record: 4:37.53 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Facility Record: 4:37.42 by Anna Vess (NC State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 4:36.52 by Calli Doan in 2023
2024 Leader: Valerie Lastra (FIU) – 4:38.46
Liberty Entrants: Marie Hostetler, Ryann Aycock
Outlook: With Liberty mile record holder and two-time ASUN mile champion Calli Doan out and the entire field of mile finalists from the 2023 CUSA meet absent, FIU's Valerie Lastra has emerged as a significant favorite to grab the Panthers' first CUSA mile crown. She has lowered the FIU record to 4:38.46, CUSA's fastest time of 2024 by more than seven seconds. Even without Doan, Liberty will line up two of the top 10 milers in program history in Marie Hostetler (No. 6) and Ryann Aycock (No. 10). Jessica Palisca's Liberty freshman record of 4:49.71 from last season could be challenged by Aycock.
Women's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louise Lounes (Charlotte) – 9:27.87
Defending Champion (ASUN): Calli Doan (Liberty) – 9:24.67
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Ruth Jerubet (UTEP) – 10th place
Meet Record: 9:10.40 by Elinor Kirk (UAB) in 2014
Facility Record: 9:17.27 by Odilia Jepchumba (Middle Tennessee) in 2024
Liberty Record: 9:24.67 by Calli Doan in 2023
2024 Leader: Joyce Kemboi (UTEP) – 9:15.35
Liberty Entrants: Adelyn Fairley, Isabela Ross, Marie Hostetler, Ryann Aycock
Outlook: With 2023 ASUN 3K champion and Liberty program record holder Calli Doan sidelined and each of the top nine finishers from last year's CUSA 3K out of the picture, a pair of Kenyan freshmen have stepped forward as the favorites. Middle Tennessee's Odilia Jepchumba clocked a facility-record 9:17.27 to win the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational title two weeks ago in her last visit to Lynchburg. Meanwhile, UTEP's Joyce Kemboi clocked an impressive 9:29.37 at the high altitude of Albuquerque last month. Liberty's top hopes lie with Adelyn Fairley, the No. 4 seed at 9:27.64. She was the ASUN 3K runner-up in 2022. Lady Flames newcomer Isabela Ross placed sixth in the Sun Belt 3K final a year ago as a Southern Miss freshman.
Women's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louise Lounes (Charlotte) – 16:40.97
Defending Champion (ASUN): Calli Doan (Liberty) – 16:35.87
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Faith Nyathi (Middle Tennessee) – 11th place
Meet Record: 15:57.54 by Caroline Sang (Charlotte) in 2018
Facility Record: 15:37.12 by Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland High School) in 2018
Liberty Record: 15:47.89 by Ednah Kurgat in 2016
2024 Leader: Joyce Kemboi (UTEP) – 15:43.43
Liberty Entrants: Adelyn Fairley, Isabela Ross
Outlook: UTEP freshman Joyce Kemboi shattered the school record with a 15:43.43 effort in Seattle two weeks ago, stamping herself as a top contender for the Miners' first CUSA 5K title since 2017. Two-time ASUN indoor 5K champion (2021 & 2022) Adelyn Fairley of Liberty ran the fastest indoor 5K of her career (16:17.62) in Boston back in December. Teammate Isabela Ross was the Sun Belt's sixth-place finisher in 2023. Lady Flames posted first-place conference finishes in this event each of the last three years in the ASUN, with Calli Doan following up Fairley's back-to-back crowns in 2023. Middle Tennessee's Odilia Jepchumba also figures to contend during her first 5K of the season.
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:35 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.29
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Simpson
Meet Record: 8.01 by Tobi Amusan (UTEP) in 2017
Facility Record: 8.14 by Cha'Mia Rothwell (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 8.23 by Indea Cartwright in 2022
2024 Leader: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.13
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright, Ahvon Mitchell, Amani Hankton
Outlook: Liberty's Indea Cartwright owns the program record (8.23 from 2022) and has finished first or second in all five of her 60 hurdles finals this season. However, she will be challenged mightily by the talented trio of UTEP's Marissa Simpson, Louisiana Tech's Tonie-Ann Forbes and New Mexico State's Aliyah Logan. Simpson is the defending champion and will try to become the first back-to-back titlist since UTEP great Tobi Amusan in 2016 and 2017. Forbes has set the LA Tech program record multiple times as a freshman and is currently in the mix (along with Simpson) for a trip to the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Logan was the 2022 WAC champion in this event. Ahvon Mitchell has run well during her first season at Liberty, ranking No. 4 in program history at 8.53. She placed fourth in the MAC 60 hurdles final in 2023 while representing Western Michigan. Liberty's last 60 hurdles conference title came from Jada Thomas in 2019, the Lady Flames' first year in the ASUN.
Women's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Charlotte – 3:37.42 (4th in a row)
Meet Record: 3:37.42 by Charlotte in 2023
Facility Record: 3:39.60 by the Bullis School in 2018
Liberty Record: 3:39.06 in 2019
2024 Leader: UTEP – 3:38.17
Outlook: The 4 x 400 relay could turn into a duel between UTEP and New Mexico State, who have both dipped under 3:40 this season. The meet record (3:37.42) and facility record (3:39.60) could both be on watch as UTEP chases its first CUSA 4 x 400 crown since 2016. Liberty, which clocked a season-best 3:47.18 to win the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational title and claim the No. 4 seed, is seeking its first conference title in this event since 2019 (ASUN).
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Rice – 11:34.36
Meet Record: 11:30.59 by Middle Tennessee in 2022
Facility Record: 11:34.54 by Lake Braddock High School in 2017
Liberty Record: 11:41.12 in 2021
2024 Leader: Middle Tennessee – 11:36.32
Outlook: Middle Tennessee clocked an impressive meet-record 11:36.32 to win the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational DMR two weeks ago. Liberty won three straight ASUN distance medley relay titles between 2019 and 2021 with Calli Doan running the anchor leg each time. The facility record in this event (11:34.54) was set by Lake Braddock High School on the very first day of competition at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, Jan. 13, 2017, and set the high school national record.
Women's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Oreoluwa Adamson (UTSA) – 21-2.5 (6.46m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Valissa Brown (New Mexico State) – 19-5.5 (5.93m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Lyn'Nika Vance (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 21-10 (6.65m) by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2008 and 2010
Facility Record: 20-10.75 (6.37m) by Jasmine Akins (Kennesaw State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 19-10.25 (6.05m) by Ayanna Johnson in 2022
2024 Leader: Lyn'Nika Vance (Middle Tennessee) – 19-5.5 (5.93m)
Liberty Entrants: Rebecca Allen, Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel, Makenzy Mizera
Outlook: Middle Tennessee has not claimed gold in the CUSA indoor women's long jump since 2016. But that could change Friday afternoon, as the Raiders boast the conference's only three 19-foot jumpers so far this season in Lyn'Nika Vance, Lakesha Smith and Viktoria Rusnakova. Vance placed third in CUSA both indoors and out a year ago. With 2020 ASUN champion Makenzy Mizera sidelined all season due to injury, sophomore Rebecca Allen has stepped forward as Liberty's leader in this event. She has cracked the program all-time top 10 list at 18-9.25, making her the No. 4 seed. Mizera, who ranks No. 2 on said top 10 list with a 19-4.75 leap in 2020, is entered in her first long jump competition in nine months.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Esther Isa (Middle Tennessee) – 42-11 (13.08m) (3rd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 41-5.25 (12.63m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Tia Reder (Louisiana Tech) – 9th place
Meet Record: 45-6.5 (13.88m) by Ganna Demydova (Southern Miss) in 2011
Facility Record: 47-7.75 (14.52m) by Thea LaFond (Unattached) in 2021
Liberty Record: 42-8 (13.00m) by Makenzy Mizera in 2021
2024 Leader: Danielle Mcgonigle (FIU) – 39-2.25 (11.94m)
Liberty Entrants: Kacy Cox, Maddy Hunt, Rebecca Allen, Makenzy Mizera
Outlook: Three-time defending CUSA women's triple jump titlist Esther Isa of Middle Tennessee has graduated and 2023 ASUN champ Makenzy Mizera of Liberty has been sidelined all season due to injury. As a result, the triple jump is wide open with the top five seeds separated by only 8.25 inches. It has taken a leap of 40 feet or longer to win this event every year since 1998. But that could change on Saturday, as FIU freshman Danielle McGonigle owns the conference's top mark of 2024 at 39-2.25. Kacy Cox is Liberty's top seed at No. 5 with a season best of 38-6 in her first year focusing on the triple jump after first arriving on campus as a high jump specialist. Mizera, who is set to make her season debut this weekend, owns the Liberty record of 42-8 from 2021 and was a six-time All-ASUN triple jumper.
Women's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Katie Isenbarger (WKU) – 5-10.75 (1.80m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Grace Turner (WKU) – 4th place
Meet Record: 6-1.25 (1.86m) by Josie Taylor (Rice) in 2022
Facility Record: 6-0.75 (1.85m) by Kristi Snyman (Jacksonville) in 2023
Liberty Record: 5-10.75 (1.80m) by Kena Butts in 2005
2024 Leader: Emilia Lesniak (WKU) and A'riel Williams (Louisiana Tech) – 5-10 (1.78m)
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Eva Whiteman, Paige Greenhagel
Outlook: WKU's Emilia Lesniak and Louisiana Tech's A'riel Williams, both in their first season with their respective teams, have each cleared a conference-best 5-10 this year. Williams, the school record holder as a freshman, will try to claim LA Tech's first-ever CUSA women's high jump title. Freshman Eva Whiteman could possess Liberty's top shot at claiming the Lady Flames' first indoor conference high jump crown since 2018 (Kylie Polsgrove – Big South). She has made it over 5-5 this year after sailing over 5-8 as a high school senior in Michigan.
Women's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-8.25 (4.17m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Janse Van Rensburg
Meet Record: 13-11.75 (4.26m) by Riley Felts (Charlotte) and Anna Massa (UAB) in 2022
Facility Record: 15-1 (4.60m) by Alina McDonald (KMR Athletics) in 2022
Liberty Record: 14-0 (4.27m) by Andrea Wildrick in 2002
2024 Leader: Katie Urbine (Liberty) – 13-8.5 (4.18m)
Liberty Entrants: Katie Urbine, Mia Bowers, Colleen Schaner
Outlook: The meet's first field event final, the women's pole vault promises an intriguing three-way showdown between defending champion Nicole Janse Van Rensburg of FIU and a pair of talented freshmen (Liberty's Katie Urbine and UTEP's Alla Parnov). Parnov has set the UTEP program record at 13-7.25 and seeks the Miners' first CUSA championship in this event. Urbine, the top seed at a Liberty freshman-record 13-8.5, looks to follow in the footsteps of current assistant Taylen (Langin) Rey. Rey won the ASUN women's pole vault title as a freshman in 2019, setting the meet record. The CUSA meet record (13-11.75) and long-standing Liberty record (14-0) could be in play if Urbine has a big day. All-American and Liberty Athletics Hall of Famer Andrea Wildrick has owned the program record of 14-0 since 2002. Lady Flame Mia Bowers could also battle for a spot on the podium after joining the 13-foot club for the first time at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago. The junior was third (in 2022) and fourth (in 2023) during her pair of ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships appearances.
Women's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Erna Gunnarsdottir (Rice) – 58-9.5 (17.92m) (3rd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Megan Mann (Liberty) – 48-5.5 (14.77m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Arianne Morais (UTEP) – 13th place
Meet Record: 58-10.75 (17.95m) by Claire Uke (Rice) in 2015
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Patience Marshall (Campbell) in 2020
Liberty Record: 53-5.5 (16.29m) by Mychelle Cumings in 2014
2024 Leader: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 52-10 (16.10m)
Liberty Entrants: Megan Mann, Sofia Mojica, Efe Latham
Outlook: Liberty women's shot putters have claimed eight straight indoor conference titles, a streak which began in 2016 with Mychelle Cumings' Big South championship. Defending ASUN champion Megan Mann is back and has improved her indoor best to 48-7.25 this year. However, she is looking up at New Mexico State's Rebecca Green's big 52-10 mark atop the CUSA performance list. Most recently, Green placed ninth at the USATF Indoor Championships this past weekend in Albuquerque.
Women's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) – 72-9.25 (22.18m) (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Paola Bueno (Liberty) – 64-8 (19.71m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Phethisang Makhethe (New Mexico State) – 67-7.5 (20.61m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 72-9.25 (22.18m) by Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 71-7.5 (21.83m) by Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir (VCU) in 2024
Liberty Record: 67-5.5 (20.56m) by Jocelyn Williams in 2014
2024 Leader: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 68-3 (20.80m)
Liberty Entrants: Paola Bueno, Megan Mann, Sofia Mojica, Efe Latham, Annika Hantho
Outlook: Last season, Liberty's Paola Bueno won the ASUN women's weight throw title as a freshman, becoming the third different Lady Flame in as many years to stand atop the podium in this event. She enters the meet as the No. 3 seed and will try to become Liberty's first-ever back-to-back weight throw conference champion. The top two seeds belong to FIU Panthers, led by last year's runner-up Michaelle Valentin at 68-3. FIU is in search of its first CUSA weight throw crown since 2019.
Women's Pentathlon
Event Schedule: Begins Friday at 10:15 a.m.
Defending Champion: Marta Sivina (North Texas) – 3,639
Defending Champion (ASUN): Meredith Engle (Liberty) – 3,973
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Johannon Murray (Louisiana Tech) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 4,004 by Charlotte Abrahamsen (Memphis) in 2008 and Xenia Rahn (Memphis) in 2013
Facility Record: 4,324 by Shaina Burns (Unattached) in 2023
Liberty Record: 3,986 by Kylie Polsgrove in 2019
2024 Leader: Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 3,814
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel, Sofia Van Arsdale
Outlook: Liberty's Meredith Engle, the two-time defending ASUN pentathlon champion, is redshirting this season. In her absence, teammate Patasha Bryan has stood out as the conference favorite. Her season-best mark of 3,814 is tops in CUSA by nearly 400 points. Bryan came in third in the ASUN pentathlon a year ago as a redshirt freshman. Louisiana Tech's Johannon Murray was third at the CUSA meet in 2023, while FIU's Fabiola Declet was the 2022 CUSA runner-up with a personal-best score of 3,629.
Men's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:10 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 6.63 (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 6.70
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Rodney Heath Jr. (Louisiana Tech) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 6.61 by McKinely West (Southern Miss) in 2019
Facility Record: 6.63 by Davonte Burnett (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 6.70 by Omari Lewis in 2023
2024 Leader: Julian Forde (Louisiana Tech) – 6.62
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis, Revell Webster
Outlook: The men's 60 field features the defending ASUN champion (Liberty's Omari Lewis) and the 2023 CUSA runner-up (LA Tech's Rodney Heath Jr.) They are seeded 3-4 behind Louisiana Tech's Julian Forde with a blazing season best of 6.62 and Sam Houston freshman Jayden Jones at 6.69. Forde was the Southland 60 champion in 2022, competing for New Orleans. He and Heath Jr. will chase the Bulldogs' first CUSA 60 crown since 2016. Liberty has claimed four straight conference titles in this event, but Lewis will likely need to break his own program record of 6.70 to keep that streak alive Saturday afternoon.
Men's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 20.59 (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Donald McClinton (Liberty) – 21.10
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 8th place
Meet Record: 20.59 by Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) in 2023
Facility Record: 20.68 by Caleb Boger (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 20.86 by Donald McClinton in 2023
2024 Leader: Xavier Butler (UTEP) – 20.96
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis, Revell Webster
Outlook: With seven of eight CUSA 200 finalists from last year absent, freshmen Xavier Butler of UTEP and Jayden Jones of Sam Houston rank a clear 1-2 in the conference entering the week. Butler, coming off a 20.96 effort at the Arkansas Qualifier, will aim for the Miners' first CUSA title in the one-lap event in 15 years. Liberty's Omari Lewis clocked an indoor-best 21.19 to place second to since graduated teammate Donald McClinton in the 2023 ASUN final.
Men's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Michael Roth (UTSA) – 46.42
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Julio Pacheco Estrada (UTEP) – 4th place
Meet Record: 46.21 by Emmanuel Dasor (WKU) in 2016
Facility Record: 46.15 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (Liberty) in 2019
Liberty Record: 46.07 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata in 2019
2024 Leader: Julio Pacheco Estrada (UTEP) – 47.56
Liberty Entrants: Simon Lamparelli
Outlook: UTEP's Julio Pacheco Estrada is both the top returnee from 2023, when he placed fourth as a freshman, and owns the conference's top time of 2024 with his altitude-assisted 47.45 clocking. He has raced lightly this season, with only two 400 efforts to his credit. Louisiana Tech has never won this event at the CUSA meet, and Tim Rummelhagen seemed like an unlikely threat to end that streak prior to a big breakthrough 47.85 effort at the Tyson Invitational two weeks ago. The Flames' lone entrant is Simon Lamparelli, who has enjoyed a promising freshman season thus far and enters with the conference's sixth fastest time at 48.81. All-American Alejandro Perlaza Zapata was Liberty's most recent men's 400 champion, claiming the title during Liberty's first season in the ASUN (2019).
Men's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:45 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Brian Rono (Middle Tennessee) – 1:53.17
Defending Champion (ASUN): Brendan Pitcher (Liberty) – 1:50.94
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 1:49.98 by Chris O'Hare (Tulsa) in 2012
Facility Record: 1:46.59 by Alex Amankwah (District Track Club) in 2021
Liberty Record: 1:49.18 by Ally Kipchirchir in 2023
2024 Leader: Aron Tanui (UTEP) – 1:48.45
Liberty Entrants: Brendan Pitcher, Isaiah Schulties
Outlook: UTEP's Aron Tanui is the only CUSA runner to break 1:50 in the 800 so far in 2024, doing so in each of his last two races. He is in his first year competing for the Miners after placing fourth in the 800 at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships while racing for South Plains. Liberty's Brendan Pitcher was a surprise ASUN 800 champion on his home track a year ago. He will try to become the first Flame to collect back-to-back indoor 800 crowns since Chris Poluikis in 1999 and 2000 (Big South). Three of the top five 800 runners in CUSA went head-to-head at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago with Pitcher edging Middle Tennessee's Wail Bourahli by 0.14 seconds for the honor of top conference finisher.
Men's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kenneth Talavera (UTEP) – 4:07.08 (2nd in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: No finalists return
Meet Record: 4:00.82 by Pablo Solares (Rice) in 2007
Facility Record: 3:56.79 by Antonio Lopez Segura (Virginia Tech) in 2022
Liberty Record: 4:01.27 by Ryan Drew in 2022
2024 Leader: Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 4:05.28
Liberty Entrants: Kyle Harkabus, Jonathon Hadley, Graham Mussmon, Tristian Merchant, Ethan Stansbury
Outlook: No CUSA runner other than Liberty's Kyle Harkabus has broken 4:07 in the mile, and he has clocked a pair of 4:05s. A year ago, Harkabus posted a personal-best 4:04.64 at the ASUN meet, where he took third place in the final. The Flames have boasted a conference mile champion each of the last two even years, thanks to Ryan Drew's ASUN crowns in 2020 and 2022. Middle Tennessee owns three of the top five seeds, paced by Habtamu Geta. The No. 2 seed at 4:07.62, Geta took third place at the CUSA Cross Country Championships in October. Graham Mussmon and Tristian Merchant represent a pair of wild cards for Liberty. Mussmon stepped up for an eighth-place finish in the ASUN mile a year ago as a freshman. Merchant has not raced a mile this season but clocked 4:05.12 in 2023. UTEP 800-meter ace Aron Tanui also bears watching in his mile debut for the Miners, especially if the race turns tactical. He placed seventh in the 1,500 at last year's NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a personal-best 3:51.04.
Men's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Daniel Bernal (UTEP) – 8:00.14
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 9th place
Meet Record: 8:00.14 by Daniel Bernal (UTEP) in 2023
Facility Record: 7:54.64 by Patrick Anderson (North Carolina) in 2022
Liberty Record: 7:48.24 by Sam Chelanga in 2011
2024 Leader: Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 8:01.62
Liberty Entrants: Kyle Harkabus, Edwin Kiprop, Tristian Merchant, Nathan Moore, Nicholas Kiprotich, Jack Cottrell
Outlook: CUSA's top four 3K times this season all came at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, led by a big personal-best 8:01.62 from Liberty's Kyle Harkabus to win the race. That ranks No. 3 all-time at Liberty, trailing only past NCAA cross country national champions Sam Chelanga and Josh McDougal. Harkabus is one of six Flames ranked among the conference's top eight in this event, giving Liberty huge point potential late in the meet. Remarkably, 2023 NCAA cross country national qualifier Nicholas Kiprotich is only the Flames' sixth-fastest runner in this event this year. Liberty freshman Edwin Kiprop ranks No. 3 in CUSA with an 8:03.76 effort in the only race of his collegiate career to date at Darius Dixon. Tristian Merchant, who just ran his first race in 5.5 months last Saturday at Virginia Tech, was Liberty's top finisher (third place) in the 2023 ASUN 3K final. Middle Tennessee's Brian Kiptoo (No. 2 at 8:02.19) will be the top seed not wearing a Liberty uniform. The seventh-place finisher at the CUSA Cross Country Championship, Kiptoo was overtaken by Harkabus on the final lap of the Darius Dixon 3K and finished third overall.
Men's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nick Scudder (Charlotte) – 13:59.56 (3rd in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 13:47.51 by Nick Scudder (Charlotte) in 2021
Facility Record: 13:43.27 by Athanas Kioko (Campbell) in 2022
Liberty Record: 13:19.79 by Sam Chelanga in 2009
2024 Leader: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 14:33.36
Liberty Entrants: Jack Cottrell, Edwin Kiprop, Nicholas Kiprotich, Tristian Merchant, Nathan Moore
Outlook: Charlotte's Nick Scudder, who ran sub-14:00 times to win each of the last three CUSA 5K titles, is no longer part of the conference. Only four CUSA runners have broken 15:00 this year, led by Middle Tennessee's Habtamu Geta at 14:33.36. No. 5 seed Jacob Hess (15:04.62) is the only Flame who has contested a 5K this season but is not among Liberty's five entries in Friday evening's race. Tristian Merchant and Jack Cottrell stepped up for a big 2-3 5K finish for the Flames at the 2023 ASUN Championship. Felix Kandie (2021) was Liberty's most recent conference champion in this event.
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:55 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Justin Leaston (Charlotte) – 7.82
Defending Champion (ASUN): Prosper Ekporere (Liberty) – 8.09
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 7.77 by Caleb Parker (Southern Miss) in 2019 and Bashiru Abdullahi (UTSA) in 2022
Facility Record: 7.71 by Jovaine Atkinson (Liberty) in 2018 and Kurt Powdar (Hinds CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 7.64 by Jovaine Atkinson in 2018
2024 Leader: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 7.70
Liberty Entrants: Albrey Gossett, Anthony Bryan, Daniel Van Duren, Rayshawn Johnson
Outlook: The men's 60 hurdles will be a race to watch, with two runners (Middle Tennessee's Stephen Eloji – 7.70 and UTEP's Jordani Woodley – altitude-assisted 7.73) having run faster than the current meet record (7.77) this season. Eloji, the 2023 runner-up, is currently on the bubble for NCAA national qualification. Neither Middle Tennessee nor UTEP has ever won a CUSA 60 hurdles crown. Liberty went 1-2-3 in last year's ASUN 60 hurdles final, but none of those three runners will be competing this weekend. Albrey Gossett, the Flames' top seed at No. 4 (8.06), will compete in an indoor conference meet for the first time. He started his career at Coastal Carolina, which does not sponsor men's indoor track & field. Heptathlon favorite Anthony Bryan also figures to contend for points for Liberty, as he has lowered his personal best to 8.11 this season.
Men's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Defending Champion: UTSA – 3:12.45
Meet Record: 3:09.17 by Middle Tennessee in 2019
Facility Record: 3:10.34 by St. Augustine's in 2020
Liberty Record: 3:09.88 in 2018
2024 Leader: UTEP – 3:11.02
Outlook: Liberty has won the men's 4 x 400 relay to cap off seven of its last nine indoor conference meets. However, the Flames are seeded only sixth at 3:22.50. UTEP is the clear No. 1 seed with an altitude-assisted time of 3:10.58. The Miners' most recent CUSA title in this event came in 2020.
Men's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Rice – 9:58.01
Meet Record: 9:51.62 by UTEP in 2009
Facility Record: 9:43.73 by Eastern Kentucky in 2023
Liberty Record: 9:47.30 in 2018
2024 Leader: Middle Tennessee – 10:03.11
Outlook: Middle Tennessee has run a conference-leading 10:03.11 DMR this season as it chases a second CUSA title in three years. Liberty won the men's DMR two of its last three years as an ASUN member, with three members of its 2022 championship squad still part of the roster (Kyle Harkabus, Luke Anderson and Isaiah Schulties).
Men's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Christiaan Le Roux (UTSA) – 25-0.75 (7.64m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 5th place
Meet Record: 25-7.25 (7.80m) by Fabian Edoki (Middle Tennessee) in 2019
Facility Record: 25-6.25 (7.78m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 25-0.75 (7.64m) by Quinten Clay in 2022
2024 Leader: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 23-8.75 (7.23m)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Ilesanmi, Anthony Bryan, Daniel Van Duren
Outlook: Liberty won the men's long jump title at four of its five ASUN Championship appearances. Following the graduation of two-time ASUN champ Quinten Clay, first-year Flame Michael Ilesanmi is Liberty's new leader in the event. The No. 6 seed with a season best of 22-1.5, Ilesanmi starred in 2023, his final year at Saint Peter's. He swept the MAAC and IC4A outdoor long jump titles, reaching a personal best of 24-2.5. Louisiana Tech's Mateo Smith, the top returnee from a year ago (fifth place), tops the 2023 CUSA performance list at 23-8.75. The men's long jump will be Anthony Bryan's seventh and final event of Friday for the Flames, contested concurrently with the pole vault.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jemuel Miller (UTSA) – 51-3.5 (15.63m) (2nd in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Joshua Smith (Liberty) – 49-7.75 (15.13m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: No competitors return
Meet Record: 53-7.5 (16.34m) by John Warren (Southern Miss) in 2018
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 51-0 (15.54m) by Darrel Jones in 2018
2024 Leader: Joel Iheakolam (Middle Tennessee) – 50-0.5 (15.25m)
Liberty Entrants: Joshua Smith, Shane Wang, Michael Ilesanmi
Outlook: Liberty's Joshua Smith recorded a dramatic victory in the ASUN men's triple jump final last season as a freshman, popping a personal-best 49-7.75 effort in round six to come from behind. He will try to become the Flames' first back-to-back conference champion in this event since Clarence Powell in 2010 and 2011 (Big South). Smith's top mark this season (48-0.5) is two feet behind conference-leading freshman Joel Iheakolam of Middle Tennessee. His season-best mark of 50-0.5 came at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago, stamping him as the favorite to claim the Raiders' first-ever CUSA championship in this event.
Men's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-0.25 (2.14m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) – 7-2.5 (2.20m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Belik
Meet Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Mickael Hanany (UTEP) in 2006
Facility Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) in 2022
Liberty Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder in 2022
2024 Leader: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-0.5 (2.15m)
Liberty Entrants: Daniel Van Duren, Albrey Gossett
Outlook: Saturday's men's high jump competition promises a showdown between defending champion Jakub Belik of UTEP (7-0.5 season best) and Sam Houston freshman Jerimiah Jackson (6-11.75 season best). No one else is within seven inches of the talented duo this season. Belik will try to become UTEP's first back-to-back champion in this event since program great Mickael Hanany did so in 2006 and 2007. Two-time defending ASUN high jump champion and All-American Kennedy Sauder is no longer part of Liberty's program, and injuries have decimated the Flames' current high jump crew. As a result, this will be one of Liberty's most unlikely events to score points in this weekend even though only 10 total athletes are entered.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5 p.m.
Defending Champion: Alexander Slinkman (Rice) – 17-8.25 (5.39m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: None
Meet Record: 17-8.25 (5.39m) by Alexander Slinkman (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 18-10.25 (5.75m) by Scott Houston (Vaulthouse Elite) in 2021
Liberty Record: 17-5 (5.31m) by Ken Howell in 1999
2024 Leader: Rylan Olguin (Sam Houston) – 17-0.75 (5.20m)
Liberty Entrants: Anthony Bryan, Hunter Flack
Outlook: If Sam Houston is to capture the men's team title on Saturday, Friday's pole vault competition will be a big reason why. The Bearkats own CUSA's top four pole vaulters so far this season, led by Rylan Olguin (17-0.75). Liberty's Anthony Bryan and Hunter Flack will try to break up Sam Houston's potential podium sweep. Bryan cleared a personal-best 15-9 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago but will be vaulting at the end of a busy Friday, seven hours into his day of competition. Flack earned a pair of All-ASUN pole vault medals, placing third indoors in 2022 and second outdoors in 2023. WKU's Devon Montgomery, who no-heighted a year ago, is the only returnee from the 2023 CUSA indoor men's pole vault competition.
Men's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Elian Ahmar (Rice) – 57-9.5 (17.61m)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Nemoy Cockett (Louisiana Tech) – 11th place
Meet Record: 63-5.5 (19.34m) by John Davis (Houston) in 1999
Facility Record: 67-2.75 (20.49m) by Stipe Zunic (Nike/Croatia) in 2017
Liberty Record: 64-1.25 (19.54m) by Warren Barrett in 2023
2024 Leader: Warren Barrett (Liberty) – 63-6 (19.35m)
Liberty Entrants: Warren Barrett, Jordae Edwards, Christian Hicks, Desmond Coleman, John Hicks
Outlook: Current Liberty coach Kyle Mitchell captured the ASUN indoor men's shot put title in 2020. One of his pupils and fellow Jamaicans, Warren Barrett is heavily favored to become the Flames' next conference champion in this event on Saturday afternoon. His season-best mark of 63-6 is more than eight feet longer than that of No. 2 seed Dominykas Cepys of Sam Houston. Barrett will aim to take down the meet record from 25 years ago (63-5.5) and his own program record from last season (64-1.25) while clinching a trip to the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships for the second year in a row. Barrett enters the week ranked No. 11 nationally, with the top 16 performers qualifying to Boston. This could be a pivotal event in the Liberty-Sam Houston battle late in the meet, as the conference's top five marks in 2024 belong to Flames (two) and Bearkats (three).
Men's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nick Hicks (Rice) – 69-2.5 (21.09m) (3rd in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Nemoy Cockett (Louisiana Tech) – 5th place
Meet Record: 74-7.25 (22.74m) by Steffen Nerdal (Memphis) in 2010
Facility Record: 76-9.75 (23.41m) by Alex Young (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 68-0.5 (20.74m) by Desmond Coleman in 2024
2024 Leader: Desmond Coleman (Liberty) – 68-0.5 (20.74m)
Liberty Entrants: Desmond Coleman, John Hicks, Christian Hicks
Outlook: Prior to this season, Jon Hart had held the Liberty men's weight throw record at 66-6.5 for 16 years. It has been broken by two different Flames this month, including John Hicks (67-1.25) at the Liberty Open and Desmond Coleman (68-0.5) at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational a week later. Hicks opened his collegiate career with three consecutive ASUN weight throw crowns (2020, 2021 and 2022), while Coleman is competing in the event for the first time in 2024. Their top competition figures to come from 2022 CUSA runner-up Aleks Hristov of UTEP. A new CUSA men's weight throw champion will be crowned, as Nick Hicks of Rice (no relation to Liberty's John and Christian Hicks) is no longer part of the conference after taking top honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Men's Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at 10 a.m.; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Defending Champion: Jack Turner (UTSA) – 5,794
Defending Champion (ASUN): Anthony Bryan (Liberty) – 5,248
Top Returnee from 2023 CUSA Meet: Jalen Cadet (UTEP) – 4th place
Meet Record: 5,794 by Jack Turner (UTSA) in 2023
Facility Record: 5,608 by Dylan Cooper (Athletic Lab TC) in 2022
Liberty Record: 5,537 by Markus Ballengee in 2018
2024 Leader: Cole Peterlin (Liberty) – 5,244
Liberty Entrants: Luke Anderson, Anthony Bryan, Daniel Van Duren
Outlook: Liberty claimed four heptathlon titles in five years as an ASUN member and has a good chance to extend that string of success this weekend despite an injury to top seed Cole Peterlin. Anthony Bryan, who captured ASUN heptathlon crowns in both 2021 and 2023, has set personal bests in the shot put (44-5.25), 60 hurdles (8.11) and pole vault (15-9) this season. He will attempt to become Liberty's first back-to-back heptathlon conference champion since Geren Woodbridge won three Big South titles in succession between 2009-11. Fellow Flame Daniel Van Duren captured the 2023 ASUN decathlon championship. UTEP's Jalen Cadet (fourth place) is the top returner from a season ago, while Sam Houston's Bryce Barbay came in sixth in the 2023 WAC heptathlon. Sam Houston teammate Rylan Olguin, the pole vault favorite, is entered in his first heptathlon since he took sixth place in the WAC in 2022 with a personal-best 4,978 points. Rice and UTSA competitors combined to win the last seven CUSA heptathlon gold medals, prior to departing the conference.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
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Hurdles
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Distance
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Throws
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Pole Vault
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Decathlon
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Heptathlon
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Hammer
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Hurdles
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Jumps
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Throws
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Distance
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High Jump
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Distance
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Hurdles
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Hurdles
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Heptathlon
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Distance
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Pole Vault
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Hurdles
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Heptathlon
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Mid-distance
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Hurdles/Jumps
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Distance
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Distance
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Jumps
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Hurdles
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Sprints
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Distance
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Distance
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Decathlon
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Mid-distance
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Distance
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Pole Vault
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Distance
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Mid-distance
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Distance
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Pole Vault
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800
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Decathlon
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Sprints
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High Jump
/ Track and FieldPaola Bueno: Representing Liberty and Mexico
Thursday, January 29
The Sherard Family: On the Court and on the Track
Wednesday, January 21
Allie Zealand Talks About The Cross Country & Indoor Track Season
Friday, December 12
Coach Zealand & Ryann Aycock Give An Update On The Cross Country Season
Wednesday, September 17