Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lance Bingham
Bingham Announces 10 Track & Field/XC Newcomers for 2024-25
3/12/2024 10:22:00 AM | Cross Country, Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – As his team transitions from indoor track & field to the outdoor season, Liberty Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lance Bingham has announced 10 new additions to his squad for 2024-25.
The new signees include six future Lady Flames (Jasmine Claunch, Emma Ervi, Morgan Maier, Indiah Maroney, Neely Rogan and Allie Zealand) and four incoming Flames (Todd Benhase, Dale Hall, Wallace Tupper II and Trevor Veenstra).
"We are very excited about this group of signees," exclaimed Bingham. "Each one has the ability to compete at the highest level and, more importantly, they all embrace our core values which are summed up in our quest to Honor Christ in all that we say and do.
"This group includes two children of former Liberty All-Americans (Allie Zealand and Todd Benhase). It is a very special opportunity to see the next generation having an impact for the Kingdom through our track program. We continue to pray for our recruits, and we are thankful that we have been blessed with this awesome group!"
Incoming Women's Student-Athletes
Jasmine Claunch
Jumps | Mercer County High School (Centre) | Burgin, Ky.
Long Jump: 18-10.5
Triple Jump: 40-6.75
Claunch is a four-time women's triple jump All-American at the Division III level, competing for Centre College.
She placed second at the 2022 NCAA indoor meet, fourth at the 2023 indoor meet, sixth at the 2023 outdoor meet and fifth at this past weekend's 2024 indoor meet.
Recently, Claunch was named 2024 USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year.
Emma Ervi
Distance | Home Schooled | Lynchburg, Va.
1,600: 5:00.95
3,200: 11:00.44
5K: 17:33.24
The younger sister of current Lady Flame Grace Ervi clocked a personal-best 17:33.24 5K at the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex on Nov. 2, 2023.
Ervi placed fourth in her 3,200 heat at the 2023 Running Lane Championships, clocking 11:00.44.
Morgan Maier
Heptathlon | Rogers High School | Rogers, Ark.
60: 7.73
100: 12.32
Pentathlon: 3,366
Heptathlon: 4,372
Maier scored a personal-best 4,372 points for second place in the 2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games' 17-18 heptathlon.
A year ago at the Arkansas 6A state meet, she took runner-up honors in the 100 (personal-best 12.32) and placed fourth in the 200 (25.69).
Indiah Maroney
High Jump | Wylie High School | Tuscola, Texas
High Jump: 5-5
Maroney came in fourth in the high jump at the 2022 Texas 5A state meet as a sophomore.
Standing 6-3, she is also a standout right-side hitter/outside hitter in volleyball, earning honorable mention all-district recognition in 2023.
Neely Rogan
Throws | Apalachee High School | Athens, Ga.
Shot Put: 41-8
Discus: 135-11
Rogan was the Georgia 6A state discus runner-up as a junior in 2023 after placing third each of the previous two seasons.
She also stepped up for a fourth-place finish in the state shot put final a year ago, reaching a personal-best 41-8.
Allie Zealand
Distance | Home Schooled | Forest, Va.
Mile: 4:37.76
2 Mile: 9:47.57
Cross Country 5K: 16:34
Both of Zealand's parents (Josh Zealand and Heather [Sagan] Zealand) ran at Liberty, with her mother winning the 2002 NCAA Division I women's mile national title and currently serving on Liberty's track/XC coaching staff.
Zealand is a three-time Foot Locker Cross Country national finalist, placing eighth in 2022 and second in 2023.
She was also the 2023 NXR Southeast Region cross country champion in 16:34, the third fastest 5K time in Virginia history.
On Sunday, Zealand won the girls' 2-mile title at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston, Mass., clocking a big personal-best time of 9:47.57.
Later this month, Zealand will be part of the USA U20 girls' squad at the World Cross Country Championships for the second year in a row, thanks to a runner-up finish in the USATF U20 championship. She helped Team USA earn the bronze medal in the team competition in 2023.
Incoming Men's Student-Athletes
Todd Benhase
Pole Vault | Hanover High School | Hanover, Va.
Pole Vault: 15-8
The son of 1999 Liberty decathlon All-American Greg Benhase is making a name for himself in the pole vault.
Most recently, he captured his third Virginia 4A pole vault state title in February at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, clearing a personal-best and meet-record 15-8.
Benhase's previous state championships came during the 2023 indoor and outdoor campaigns.
Dale Hall
Distance | Hampton High School | Allison Park, Pa.
1,600: 4:08.52
3,200: 9:08.55
Cross Country 5K: 15:36
Hall raced to the Pennsylvania 3A 1,600 title in 2023, reaching the finish line in a personal-best 4:08.52.
This past fall, he came in fourth in the Pennsylvania 2A state cross country championship.
Wallace Tupper II
Hurdles | Traverse City West Senior High School | Traverse City, Mich.
110 Hurdles: 14.48
300 Hurdles: 38.97
As a junior in 2023, Tupper II came in sixth in the 110 hurdles and eighth in the 300 hurdles at the Michigan Lower Peninsula Division 1 state meet.
Trevor Veenstra
Throws | Pella Christian High School | Lynnville, Iowa
Shot Put: 57-2.5
Discus: 189-8
Veenstra enjoyed a breakthrough junior season in 2023, claiming the Iowa state discus title and taking second place at the Drake Relays.
This past weekend, Veenstra shattered his previous shot put best with a 57-2.5 heave for first place at the Iowa indoor state championship.
The new signees include six future Lady Flames (Jasmine Claunch, Emma Ervi, Morgan Maier, Indiah Maroney, Neely Rogan and Allie Zealand) and four incoming Flames (Todd Benhase, Dale Hall, Wallace Tupper II and Trevor Veenstra).
"We are very excited about this group of signees," exclaimed Bingham. "Each one has the ability to compete at the highest level and, more importantly, they all embrace our core values which are summed up in our quest to Honor Christ in all that we say and do.
"This group includes two children of former Liberty All-Americans (Allie Zealand and Todd Benhase). It is a very special opportunity to see the next generation having an impact for the Kingdom through our track program. We continue to pray for our recruits, and we are thankful that we have been blessed with this awesome group!"
Incoming Women's Student-Athletes
Jasmine Claunch
Jumps | Mercer County High School (Centre) | Burgin, Ky.
Long Jump: 18-10.5
Triple Jump: 40-6.75
Claunch is a four-time women's triple jump All-American at the Division III level, competing for Centre College.
She placed second at the 2022 NCAA indoor meet, fourth at the 2023 indoor meet, sixth at the 2023 outdoor meet and fifth at this past weekend's 2024 indoor meet.
Recently, Claunch was named 2024 USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year.
Emma Ervi
Distance | Home Schooled | Lynchburg, Va.
1,600: 5:00.95
3,200: 11:00.44
5K: 17:33.24
The younger sister of current Lady Flame Grace Ervi clocked a personal-best 17:33.24 5K at the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex on Nov. 2, 2023.
Ervi placed fourth in her 3,200 heat at the 2023 Running Lane Championships, clocking 11:00.44.
Morgan Maier
Heptathlon | Rogers High School | Rogers, Ark.
60: 7.73
100: 12.32
Pentathlon: 3,366
Heptathlon: 4,372
Maier scored a personal-best 4,372 points for second place in the 2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games' 17-18 heptathlon.
A year ago at the Arkansas 6A state meet, she took runner-up honors in the 100 (personal-best 12.32) and placed fourth in the 200 (25.69).
Indiah Maroney
High Jump | Wylie High School | Tuscola, Texas
High Jump: 5-5
Maroney came in fourth in the high jump at the 2022 Texas 5A state meet as a sophomore.
Standing 6-3, she is also a standout right-side hitter/outside hitter in volleyball, earning honorable mention all-district recognition in 2023.
Neely Rogan
Throws | Apalachee High School | Athens, Ga.
Shot Put: 41-8
Discus: 135-11
Rogan was the Georgia 6A state discus runner-up as a junior in 2023 after placing third each of the previous two seasons.
She also stepped up for a fourth-place finish in the state shot put final a year ago, reaching a personal-best 41-8.
Allie Zealand
Distance | Home Schooled | Forest, Va.
Mile: 4:37.76
2 Mile: 9:47.57
Cross Country 5K: 16:34
Both of Zealand's parents (Josh Zealand and Heather [Sagan] Zealand) ran at Liberty, with her mother winning the 2002 NCAA Division I women's mile national title and currently serving on Liberty's track/XC coaching staff.
Zealand is a three-time Foot Locker Cross Country national finalist, placing eighth in 2022 and second in 2023.
She was also the 2023 NXR Southeast Region cross country champion in 16:34, the third fastest 5K time in Virginia history.
On Sunday, Zealand won the girls' 2-mile title at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston, Mass., clocking a big personal-best time of 9:47.57.
Later this month, Zealand will be part of the USA U20 girls' squad at the World Cross Country Championships for the second year in a row, thanks to a runner-up finish in the USATF U20 championship. She helped Team USA earn the bronze medal in the team competition in 2023.
Incoming Men's Student-Athletes
Todd Benhase
Pole Vault | Hanover High School | Hanover, Va.
Pole Vault: 15-8
The son of 1999 Liberty decathlon All-American Greg Benhase is making a name for himself in the pole vault.
Most recently, he captured his third Virginia 4A pole vault state title in February at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, clearing a personal-best and meet-record 15-8.
Benhase's previous state championships came during the 2023 indoor and outdoor campaigns.
Dale Hall
Distance | Hampton High School | Allison Park, Pa.
1,600: 4:08.52
3,200: 9:08.55
Cross Country 5K: 15:36
Hall raced to the Pennsylvania 3A 1,600 title in 2023, reaching the finish line in a personal-best 4:08.52.
This past fall, he came in fourth in the Pennsylvania 2A state cross country championship.
Wallace Tupper II
Hurdles | Traverse City West Senior High School | Traverse City, Mich.
110 Hurdles: 14.48
300 Hurdles: 38.97
As a junior in 2023, Tupper II came in sixth in the 110 hurdles and eighth in the 300 hurdles at the Michigan Lower Peninsula Division 1 state meet.
Trevor Veenstra
Throws | Pella Christian High School | Lynnville, Iowa
Shot Put: 57-2.5
Discus: 189-8
Veenstra enjoyed a breakthrough junior season in 2023, claiming the Iowa state discus title and taking second place at the Drake Relays.
This past weekend, Veenstra shattered his previous shot put best with a 57-2.5 heave for first place at the Iowa indoor state championship.
Players Mentioned
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