Saturday, March 16
Charlotte, N.C.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
at
49er Classic
Sean Aiken
Newcomers Shine for Flames on Saturday in Charlotte
3/16/2024 10:54:00 PM | Track and Field
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Newcomers stood out for Liberty on Saturday, the final day of competition at the 2024 outdoor season-opening 49er Classic. Freshman Sean Aiken won the men's 3K, while the Flames got program top-10 performances from freshman Kellen Kimes (men's hammer) and transfer Addilae Watts (women's javelin).
Aiken, Kimes and Watts were among a group of Flames wearing a Liberty uniform in competition for the first time this weekend.
Men's Day 3 Recap
Running his second race in as many days after contesting the 1,500 on Friday, Aiken clocked 8:34.63 to take top honors in the men's 3K. He outdueled Catawba's Seth Caudill by 14 hundredths of a second for the victory. Classmate Ethan Pedersen followed in seventh place in 8:51.00.
Kimes got the Flames off to a fast start Saturday morning in a men's hammer competition resumed from Friday. Down to his final attempt after two fouls on Friday, Kimes unleashed a 193-0 effort in round three. That stood up for fourth place in the event and No. 7 all-time for the Flames in the freshman's collegiate debut after redshirting the indoor campaign.
The best of Anthony Bryan's three events this weekend was Saturday's pole vault competition. The CUSA heptathlon champion matched his outdoor best of 15-1 to place seventh in Group A.
Women's Day 3 Recap
Watts (147-11) and Kali Grayson (139-9) finished 2-3 in the women's javelin. The Horizon League javelin champion for Youngstown State a year ago, Watts now ranks No. 6 on Liberty's all-time list after one meet as a Flame.
Yet another newcomer (freshman Eva Whiteman) tied for seventh place in Group A of the women's high jump with a 5-3 clearance.
The Lady Flames' distance crew closed out a solid opening weekend of competition with a pair of top-10 finishes. Kristiana Young ran 10:45.57 for third place in the women's 3K.
The quartet of Sophia Park, Samantha Troup, Sophia Mast and Allison Engle then raced to sixth place in the rarely contested women's 4 x 800 relay. Their official time was 9:47.00.
Men's Day 3 Event Winners
Sean Aiken – 3K – 8:34.63
Women's Day 3 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Addilae Watts – Javelin – 147-11
3rd – Kali Grayson – Javelin – 139-9
Day 3 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Hammer – No. 7 – Kellen Kimes – 193-0
Day 3 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Javelin – No. 6 – Addilae Watts – 147-11
Up Next
Liberty will divide up its squad between a pair of meets next weekend. Some Flames and Lady Flames will head to High Point, N.C., for the Bob Davidson Team Challenge, March 22-23. Other Liberty athletes will remain in the Hill City for the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, March 22-23 at the University of Lynchburg.
Aiken, Kimes and Watts were among a group of Flames wearing a Liberty uniform in competition for the first time this weekend.
Men's Day 3 Recap
Running his second race in as many days after contesting the 1,500 on Friday, Aiken clocked 8:34.63 to take top honors in the men's 3K. He outdueled Catawba's Seth Caudill by 14 hundredths of a second for the victory. Classmate Ethan Pedersen followed in seventh place in 8:51.00.
Kimes got the Flames off to a fast start Saturday morning in a men's hammer competition resumed from Friday. Down to his final attempt after two fouls on Friday, Kimes unleashed a 193-0 effort in round three. That stood up for fourth place in the event and No. 7 all-time for the Flames in the freshman's collegiate debut after redshirting the indoor campaign.
The best of Anthony Bryan's three events this weekend was Saturday's pole vault competition. The CUSA heptathlon champion matched his outdoor best of 15-1 to place seventh in Group A.
Women's Day 3 Recap
Watts (147-11) and Kali Grayson (139-9) finished 2-3 in the women's javelin. The Horizon League javelin champion for Youngstown State a year ago, Watts now ranks No. 6 on Liberty's all-time list after one meet as a Flame.
Yet another newcomer (freshman Eva Whiteman) tied for seventh place in Group A of the women's high jump with a 5-3 clearance.
The Lady Flames' distance crew closed out a solid opening weekend of competition with a pair of top-10 finishes. Kristiana Young ran 10:45.57 for third place in the women's 3K.
The quartet of Sophia Park, Samantha Troup, Sophia Mast and Allison Engle then raced to sixth place in the rarely contested women's 4 x 800 relay. Their official time was 9:47.00.
Men's Day 3 Event Winners
Sean Aiken – 3K – 8:34.63
Women's Day 3 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Addilae Watts – Javelin – 147-11
3rd – Kali Grayson – Javelin – 139-9
Day 3 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Hammer – No. 7 – Kellen Kimes – 193-0
Day 3 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Javelin – No. 6 – Addilae Watts – 147-11
Up Next
Liberty will divide up its squad between a pair of meets next weekend. Some Flames and Lady Flames will head to High Point, N.C., for the Bob Davidson Team Challenge, March 22-23. Other Liberty athletes will remain in the Hill City for the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, March 22-23 at the University of Lynchburg.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
High Jump
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
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