Thursday, April 11
Long Beach, Calif.
11:00 AM ET/8:00 AM PT
Liberty University
at
Pacific Coast Invitational
Kali Grayson
Grayson, Kimes Lead Way in Long Beach
4/11/2024 9:45:00 PM | Track and Field
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Kali Grayson and Kellen Kimes led the way on a successful day for Liberty's throwers, Thursday at the Pacific Coast Invitational. Grayson won the women's javelin with her best mark since 2021 (156-4), while Kimes set a Liberty freshman record in the men's hammer (208-0) on a hot day at Long Beach State's Jack Rose Track.
Women's Meet Recap
Grayson got the Flames' day off to a good start in the women's javelin, an event which began at 8 a.m. local time. She catapulted from third place to first with her season-best 156-4 effort in round six.
That throw won the event by five inches and marked Grayson's top distance since her personal-best 158-6 heave at the Virginia Challenge on April 16, 2021. As a result, she will qualify for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet for the third time in her career.
Teammate Addilae Watts added a fourth-place javelin finish, with her best mark of the day measuring 145-3.
Paola Bueno finished fifth in a loaded women's hammer field, thanks to a 202-11 performance on her first attempt. Three of Bueno's six throws landed past the 60-meter arc during the sophomore's impressive series.
The shot put was the best of Megan Mann's three events on the day. She posted a new personal-best distance (48-11), which claimed ninth place.
Men's Meet Recap
Two-time CUSA Male Freshman of the Week Kimes continued his impressive progression in the men's hammer. He has now improved his distance during each of his first four collegiate competitions, going from 193-0 to 198-1 to 203-5 to Thursday's 208-0 effort.
This time, his performance eclipsed the Liberty freshman record of 204-10, which John Hicks used to win the 2021 ASUN title.
Hicks (212-4) did get the better of Kimes during Thursday's competition, placing fourth overall to Kimes' sixth.
Ben Shughart threw the javelin 200-1 to earn a sixth-place finish in his event.
Part of a field which included the nation's top two men's discus throwers this season, Desmond Coleman came in eighth at 186-5.
Women's Event Winners
Kali Grayson – Javelin – 156-4
Men's Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Kellen Kimes – Hammer – 208-0
Previous Record: 204-10 by John Hicks at the 2021 ASUN Championship in Jacksonville, Fla.
New Women's NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Kali Grayson – Javelin – 156-4
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Shot Put – No. 4 – Megan Mann – 48-11
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Hammer – No. 3 – Kellen Kimes – 208-0
Up Next
While Liberty's throwers who competed in Long Beach will take Friday off, the Flames will have athletes in action in three other venues.
Liberty's top distance runners will take part in day two of the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. The Flames will also get started at a pair of meets in Virginia on Friday, including the Virginia Grand Prix (Charlottesville) and the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic (Lynchburg, hosted by the University of Lynchburg).
Women's Meet Recap
Grayson got the Flames' day off to a good start in the women's javelin, an event which began at 8 a.m. local time. She catapulted from third place to first with her season-best 156-4 effort in round six.
That throw won the event by five inches and marked Grayson's top distance since her personal-best 158-6 heave at the Virginia Challenge on April 16, 2021. As a result, she will qualify for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet for the third time in her career.
Teammate Addilae Watts added a fourth-place javelin finish, with her best mark of the day measuring 145-3.
Paola Bueno finished fifth in a loaded women's hammer field, thanks to a 202-11 performance on her first attempt. Three of Bueno's six throws landed past the 60-meter arc during the sophomore's impressive series.
The shot put was the best of Megan Mann's three events on the day. She posted a new personal-best distance (48-11), which claimed ninth place.
Men's Meet Recap
Two-time CUSA Male Freshman of the Week Kimes continued his impressive progression in the men's hammer. He has now improved his distance during each of his first four collegiate competitions, going from 193-0 to 198-1 to 203-5 to Thursday's 208-0 effort.
This time, his performance eclipsed the Liberty freshman record of 204-10, which John Hicks used to win the 2021 ASUN title.
Hicks (212-4) did get the better of Kimes during Thursday's competition, placing fourth overall to Kimes' sixth.
Ben Shughart threw the javelin 200-1 to earn a sixth-place finish in his event.
Part of a field which included the nation's top two men's discus throwers this season, Desmond Coleman came in eighth at 186-5.
Women's Event Winners
Kali Grayson – Javelin – 156-4
Men's Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Kellen Kimes – Hammer – 208-0
Previous Record: 204-10 by John Hicks at the 2021 ASUN Championship in Jacksonville, Fla.
New Women's NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Kali Grayson – Javelin – 156-4
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Shot Put – No. 4 – Megan Mann – 48-11
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Hammer – No. 3 – Kellen Kimes – 208-0
Up Next
While Liberty's throwers who competed in Long Beach will take Friday off, the Flames will have athletes in action in three other venues.
Liberty's top distance runners will take part in day two of the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. The Flames will also get started at a pair of meets in Virginia on Friday, including the Virginia Grand Prix (Charlottesville) and the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic (Lynchburg, hosted by the University of Lynchburg).
Players Mentioned
Hammer
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Throws
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Javelin
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Javelin
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