Saturday, March 30
Lynchburg, Va.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
at
Hornet Open
Katrina Schlenker
Liberty Wins 4 Hornet Open Events on Saturday
3/30/2024 8:48:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty wrapped up the Hornet Open with a quartet of Saturday victories at Dr. Jack M. Toms Track. Efe Latham (women's shot put) claimed her second victory in as many days, Sean Aiken and Katrina Schlenker swept the men's and women's steeplechase titles in their debuts and Nimeesha Coleman took top honors in the women's 400 hurdles.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Latham outdueled teammate Sofia Mojica (competing unattached) for the women's shot put victory. Latham's personal-best 44-4.25 effort not only defeated Mojica by four inches in the competition but also bumped Mojica out of the No. 10 spot in program history.
Latham had previously claimed victory in Friday's women's hammer competition with a personal-best mark of 174-7, while Mojica had won the women's discus by 15 feet with a 149-2 toss earlier on Saturday.
Schlenker was also in action on Friday, clocking a personal-best 4:37.94 1,500 at the Raleigh Relays. Fast forward 25 hours, and she had returned to the Hill City to attempt the steeplechase for the first time. Schlenker closed quickly, pulling away from freshman teammate Sophia Park (the only other competitor in the race) for a 20-second victory, 11:31.22 to 11:51.07. Park was also debuting in the steeplechase.
Coleman (season-best 1:05.32) and Sofia Van Arsdale (personal-best 1:08.83) recorded a 1-3 finish in the women's 400 hurdles final. It was part of a busy day for Van Arsdale, which also included season-best performances in the long jump (16-10) and shot put (34-4) for a pair of seventh-place showings.
Aided by some gusty winds and warm weather in Lynchburg on Saturday, Emily Coates recorded season-best times in both of her sprinting events. She placed fifth in the 100 (12.38) and took seventh in the 200 (25.47).
Allison Engle recorded a 1,500 personal best for the second week in a row (4:58.56) to place seventh in the invitational section.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Aiken (9:42.89) and Kyle Thrush (9:49.49) matched their female counterparts in finishing 1-2 during their steeplechase debuts on Saturday. In their case though, Aiken and Thrush both needed to chase down Concord's Preston Prather on the final lap.
Aiken has now won two of his first three races in a Liberty uniform as a freshman, also including the 49er Classic men's 3K crown on March 16.
Fellow freshmen Jason Hayes (men's discus, personal-best 153-5) and Ethan Pedersen (men's 5K, personal-best 15:18.55) were each the top collegiate finishers in their respective events. Hayes was defeated by former Liberty All-American Kevin Nedrick, now serving as an assistant for the Flames.
Hayes started off his day with a third-place men's hammer finish, thanks to another personal-best effort, 160-4.
Yet another freshman, Jordae Edwards, recorded a podium finish on Saturday. His 48-4.75 shot put mark claimed third place in the event.
Women's Day 2 Event Winners
Nimeesha Coleman – 400 Hurdles – 1:05.32
Efe Latham – Shot Put – 44-4.25
Katrina Schlenker – Steeplechase – 11:31.22
Men's Day 2 Event Winners
Sean Aiken – Steeplechase – 9:42.89
Other Women's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Sophia Park – Steeplechase – 11:51.07
3rd – Sofia Van Arsdale – 400 Hurdles – 1:08.83
Other Men's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Jason Hayes – Discus – 153-5
2nd – Ethan Pedersen – 5K – 15:18.55
2nd – Kyle Thrush – Steeplechase – 9:49.49
3rd – Jordae Edwards – Shot Put – 48-4.75
3rd – Jason Hayes – Hammer – 160-4
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Shot Put – No. 10 – Efe Latham – 44-4.25
Up Next
Liberty will remain in town for its lone meet next weekend. Hosted by Randolph, the WildCat Track Festival is scheduled for April 5-6.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Latham outdueled teammate Sofia Mojica (competing unattached) for the women's shot put victory. Latham's personal-best 44-4.25 effort not only defeated Mojica by four inches in the competition but also bumped Mojica out of the No. 10 spot in program history.
Latham had previously claimed victory in Friday's women's hammer competition with a personal-best mark of 174-7, while Mojica had won the women's discus by 15 feet with a 149-2 toss earlier on Saturday.
Schlenker was also in action on Friday, clocking a personal-best 4:37.94 1,500 at the Raleigh Relays. Fast forward 25 hours, and she had returned to the Hill City to attempt the steeplechase for the first time. Schlenker closed quickly, pulling away from freshman teammate Sophia Park (the only other competitor in the race) for a 20-second victory, 11:31.22 to 11:51.07. Park was also debuting in the steeplechase.
Coleman (season-best 1:05.32) and Sofia Van Arsdale (personal-best 1:08.83) recorded a 1-3 finish in the women's 400 hurdles final. It was part of a busy day for Van Arsdale, which also included season-best performances in the long jump (16-10) and shot put (34-4) for a pair of seventh-place showings.
Aided by some gusty winds and warm weather in Lynchburg on Saturday, Emily Coates recorded season-best times in both of her sprinting events. She placed fifth in the 100 (12.38) and took seventh in the 200 (25.47).
Allison Engle recorded a 1,500 personal best for the second week in a row (4:58.56) to place seventh in the invitational section.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Aiken (9:42.89) and Kyle Thrush (9:49.49) matched their female counterparts in finishing 1-2 during their steeplechase debuts on Saturday. In their case though, Aiken and Thrush both needed to chase down Concord's Preston Prather on the final lap.
Aiken has now won two of his first three races in a Liberty uniform as a freshman, also including the 49er Classic men's 3K crown on March 16.
Fellow freshmen Jason Hayes (men's discus, personal-best 153-5) and Ethan Pedersen (men's 5K, personal-best 15:18.55) were each the top collegiate finishers in their respective events. Hayes was defeated by former Liberty All-American Kevin Nedrick, now serving as an assistant for the Flames.
Hayes started off his day with a third-place men's hammer finish, thanks to another personal-best effort, 160-4.
Yet another freshman, Jordae Edwards, recorded a podium finish on Saturday. His 48-4.75 shot put mark claimed third place in the event.
Women's Day 2 Event Winners
Nimeesha Coleman – 400 Hurdles – 1:05.32
Efe Latham – Shot Put – 44-4.25
Katrina Schlenker – Steeplechase – 11:31.22
Men's Day 2 Event Winners
Sean Aiken – Steeplechase – 9:42.89
Other Women's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Sophia Park – Steeplechase – 11:51.07
3rd – Sofia Van Arsdale – 400 Hurdles – 1:08.83
Other Men's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Jason Hayes – Discus – 153-5
2nd – Ethan Pedersen – 5K – 15:18.55
2nd – Kyle Thrush – Steeplechase – 9:49.49
3rd – Jordae Edwards – Shot Put – 48-4.75
3rd – Jason Hayes – Hammer – 160-4
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Shot Put – No. 10 – Efe Latham – 44-4.25
Up Next
Liberty will remain in town for its lone meet next weekend. Hosted by Randolph, the WildCat Track Festival is scheduled for April 5-6.
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Sprints
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Hurdles
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Throws
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Mid-Distance
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Throws
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Throws
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Throws
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Mid-Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Mid-distance
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