Friday, February 9
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
vs
Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
Kyle Harkabus
Coleman, Harkabus Pace Flames on Darius Dixon Opening Day
2/9/2024 11:04:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Desmond Coleman's program record in the men's weight throw and Kyle Harkabus' come-from-behind victory in the invitational men's 3K provided host Liberty's biggest highlights on the opening day of the 10th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Paola Bueno (women's weight throw) also picked up an event victory for the Flames on Friday at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Men's Day 1 Recap
Prior to Saturday's Liberty Open, Jon Hart's Liberty men's weight throw record of 66-6.5 had stood for 16 years. John Hicks took down the long-standing record with a 67-1.25 but only got to keep his crown for six days.
Following in Hicks' footsteps, Coleman saved his best effort for round six on Friday. His 68-0.5 bomb leapfrogged him from fifth place to first in the final standings and bettered Hicks' short-lived record by 11 inches.
Hicks ended up third in the competition at 66-0.25 while younger brother Christian Hicks reached a personal best 60-8.75 for sixth in the competition and No. 10 all-time for the Flames.
Competing unattached, Liberty freshman Kellen Kimes threw a personal-best 65-7.5 for fourth place.
Harkabus opened up the ESPN+ live coverage window with a bang, dropping a 28.9-second last lap to overtake Charlotte's Nickolas Scudder and Middle Tennessee's Brian Kiptoo for the invitational men's 3K victory. His winning time of 8:01.62 slashed 13 seconds off Harkabus' previous personal best and ranks No. 3 in program history behind only national champions Sam Chelanga and Josh McDougal.
Running his first collegiate race, freshman Edwin Kiprop followed closely behind in fourth place. His 8:03.76 effort is already good for sixth on the Flames' all-time men's 3K chart.
Brendan Pitcher (season-best 1:50.94) and Isaiah Schulties (personal-best 1:51.43) placed 2-5 in the invitational men's 800. Pitcher matched the time which won him the 2023 ASUN title, while Schulties improved to eighth all-time at Liberty.
Omari Lewis won his heat of the men's 60 semifinals in 6.71 to advance to Saturday's final. He was one of two athletes to better the meet record of 6.72 set by Desmond Lawrence in 2018.
The Flames will also be represented in the men's 60 hurdles final after Albrey Gossett equaled his season best of 8.06 in the semifinals.
Women's Day 1 Recap
Bueno gave Liberty a sweep of Friday's weight throw titles, as her top mark of 64-1.25 won the event by more than a foot and a half. Megan Mann followed in fourth place with a best effort of 60-6.
For the first time in her collegiate career, Katie Urbine failed to break the Liberty freshman record for the women's pole vault. However, she did clear 13-6.25 for fifth place in the invitational section.
Mia Bowers sailed over a personal-best 13-0.25 for eighth place, becoming the sixth 13-foot vaulter in program history.
The Lady Flames' distance crew enjoyed a solid evening, including impressive performances by Jessica Palisca (season-best 2:12.20 for 5th in the invitational 800), Katelyn Locker (2:12.89 for 6th in the invitational 800), Adelyn Fairley (9:32.46 for 8th in the invitational 3K) and Marie Hostetler (17:15.83 for 5th in the invitational 5K).
Freshman Paige Greenhagel paced Liberty's long jumpers, landing in the sand at a season-best 18-0.25 for fourth in the open section.
Indea Cartwright (semifinal time of 8.30) and Ahvon Mitchell (8.60) both advanced to Saturday's women's 60 hurdles final, while Reese Webster won her 60 heat in 7.40 to reach the final of her event.
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Desmond Coleman – Weight Throw – 68-0.5
Kyle Harkabus – Invitational 3K – 8:01.62
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Paola Bueno – Weight Throw – 64-1.25
Men's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Record – Weight Throw – Desmond Coleman – 68-0.5
Previous Record: 67-1.25 by John Hicks at the Liberty Open on Feb. 3
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 1 – Desmond Coleman – 68-0.5
3K – No. 3 – Kyle Harkabus – 8:01.62
3K – No. 6 – Edwin Kiprop – 8:03.76
800 – No. 8 – Isaiah Schulties – 1:51.43
Weight Throw – No. 10 – Christian Hicks – 60-8.75
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Pole Vault – No. 5 – Mia Bowers – 13-0.25
Up Next
The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational will wrap up with a full day of activity on Saturday. The day's first event (open women's high jump) will get going at 9 a.m. Running events will commence at 10 a.m. with the open sections of the men's 200.
A special Darius Dixon recognition will take place at 12:10 p.m., just as the ESPN+ live television window (Noon-4 p.m.) gets started.
Men's Day 1 Recap
Prior to Saturday's Liberty Open, Jon Hart's Liberty men's weight throw record of 66-6.5 had stood for 16 years. John Hicks took down the long-standing record with a 67-1.25 but only got to keep his crown for six days.
Following in Hicks' footsteps, Coleman saved his best effort for round six on Friday. His 68-0.5 bomb leapfrogged him from fifth place to first in the final standings and bettered Hicks' short-lived record by 11 inches.
Hicks ended up third in the competition at 66-0.25 while younger brother Christian Hicks reached a personal best 60-8.75 for sixth in the competition and No. 10 all-time for the Flames.
Competing unattached, Liberty freshman Kellen Kimes threw a personal-best 65-7.5 for fourth place.
Harkabus opened up the ESPN+ live coverage window with a bang, dropping a 28.9-second last lap to overtake Charlotte's Nickolas Scudder and Middle Tennessee's Brian Kiptoo for the invitational men's 3K victory. His winning time of 8:01.62 slashed 13 seconds off Harkabus' previous personal best and ranks No. 3 in program history behind only national champions Sam Chelanga and Josh McDougal.
Watch Kyle Harkabus come from behind to win the invitational men's 3K in a big PR time of 8:01.26!
— Liberty XC & TF (@Liberty_XCTF) February 10, 2024
No. 3 all-time at Liberty and a personal best by 13 seconds. pic.twitter.com/n1eM6srGPS
Running his first collegiate race, freshman Edwin Kiprop followed closely behind in fourth place. His 8:03.76 effort is already good for sixth on the Flames' all-time men's 3K chart.
Brendan Pitcher (season-best 1:50.94) and Isaiah Schulties (personal-best 1:51.43) placed 2-5 in the invitational men's 800. Pitcher matched the time which won him the 2023 ASUN title, while Schulties improved to eighth all-time at Liberty.
Omari Lewis won his heat of the men's 60 semifinals in 6.71 to advance to Saturday's final. He was one of two athletes to better the meet record of 6.72 set by Desmond Lawrence in 2018.
The Flames will also be represented in the men's 60 hurdles final after Albrey Gossett equaled his season best of 8.06 in the semifinals.
Women's Day 1 Recap
Bueno gave Liberty a sweep of Friday's weight throw titles, as her top mark of 64-1.25 won the event by more than a foot and a half. Megan Mann followed in fourth place with a best effort of 60-6.
For the first time in her collegiate career, Katie Urbine failed to break the Liberty freshman record for the women's pole vault. However, she did clear 13-6.25 for fifth place in the invitational section.
Mia Bowers sailed over a personal-best 13-0.25 for eighth place, becoming the sixth 13-foot vaulter in program history.
The Lady Flames' distance crew enjoyed a solid evening, including impressive performances by Jessica Palisca (season-best 2:12.20 for 5th in the invitational 800), Katelyn Locker (2:12.89 for 6th in the invitational 800), Adelyn Fairley (9:32.46 for 8th in the invitational 3K) and Marie Hostetler (17:15.83 for 5th in the invitational 5K).
Freshman Paige Greenhagel paced Liberty's long jumpers, landing in the sand at a season-best 18-0.25 for fourth in the open section.
Indea Cartwright (semifinal time of 8.30) and Ahvon Mitchell (8.60) both advanced to Saturday's women's 60 hurdles final, while Reese Webster won her 60 heat in 7.40 to reach the final of her event.
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Desmond Coleman – Weight Throw – 68-0.5
Kyle Harkabus – Invitational 3K – 8:01.62
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Paola Bueno – Weight Throw – 64-1.25
Men's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Record – Weight Throw – Desmond Coleman – 68-0.5
Previous Record: 67-1.25 by John Hicks at the Liberty Open on Feb. 3
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Weight Throw – No. 1 – Desmond Coleman – 68-0.5
3K – No. 3 – Kyle Harkabus – 8:01.62
3K – No. 6 – Edwin Kiprop – 8:03.76
800 – No. 8 – Isaiah Schulties – 1:51.43
Weight Throw – No. 10 – Christian Hicks – 60-8.75
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Pole Vault – No. 5 – Mia Bowers – 13-0.25
Up Next
The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational will wrap up with a full day of activity on Saturday. The day's first event (open women's high jump) will get going at 9 a.m. Running events will commence at 10 a.m. with the open sections of the men's 200.
A special Darius Dixon recognition will take place at 12:10 p.m., just as the ESPN+ live television window (Noon-4 p.m.) gets started.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
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Hammer
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Hurdles
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Throws
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Hurdles
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Distance
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Mid-distance
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Hurdles
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Heptathlon
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Distance
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Throws
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Throws
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Mid-distance
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Throws
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Distance
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Sprints
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
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Mid-distance
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Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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