Friday, April 12
Azusa, Calif.
12:25 PM ET/9:25 AM PT
Liberty University
at
Bryan Clay Invitational
Katelyn Locker
Locker Shatters Program Record with 2:04.46 800 at Bryan Clay
4/13/2024 12:52:00 AM | Track and Field
AZUSA, Calif. – Katelyn Locker's record-breaking 2:04.46 effort in the women's 800 marked Liberty's performance of the day, Friday at the Bryan Clay Invitational. It shattered the program record which had stood since 2010.
Meanwhile, Edwin Kiprop (13:47.63) and Kyle Harkabus (13:58.38) became the ninth and 10th Flames ever to break 14:00 for a 5K. Kiprop's effort took down Josh McDougal's Liberty freshman record from 2005 in the process.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Last time out (March 30 at the Florida Relays), Locker had come within six hundredths of a second of the Liberty women's 800 standard with her then personal-best 2:06.15 effort.
On Friday, Locker left no doubt. She clocked a 2:04.46 to finish 30th of the 120 entrants in the women's 800 invitational sections, including 12th among collegiate runners.
Locker took down the long-standing Liberty standard of 2:06.09, set by Jaime Watson at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Stanford, Calif., on May 1, 2010.
Locker has now broken three Liberty records in 2024, also including the indoor 1,000 (2:45.61 on Jan. 27) and the indoor distance medley relay (11:32.82 on Feb. 23).
Locker's 2:04.46 performance represented the fastest time by a CUSA runner since 2019, when UTEP's Lilian Koech posted a 2:03.73.
Earlier in the day, teammates Jessica Palisca (2:11.73) and Katrina Schlenker (2:13.64) each notched their fastest 800 times of the season.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Kiprop and Harkabus, who combined to win the three longest races at the CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, competed in the same 5K race Friday night. Kiprop took third place in the section, while Harkabus was the heat's 17th and final sub-14:00 runner.
Both Flames made significant improvements upon their previous 5K bests, with Kiprop going from 14:07.41 to 13:47.63 and Harkabus dropping from 14:05.34 to 13:58.38.
Kiprop's effort improved upon McDougal's 13:52.94 performance from the NCAA Division I East Regional Championships on May 27, 2005 in New York, N.Y. That race took place almost a year before the 17-year-old Kiprop was born.
Kiprop now ranks No. 4 in program history and Harkabus moves up to No. 9. They join redshirting teammates Will Jefferson (No. 6) and Tristian Merchant (No. 8) among the Flames' all-time top 10 for the outdoor 5K.
Kiprop qualifies for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet, while Harkabus puts himself in contention for a trip to Lexington, Ky., next month.
About 11 hours earlier, Nathan Moore recorded a 5K time of 14:18.24, lopping 10 seconds off his previous 5K best.
Brendan Pitcher won his heat of the invitational men's 800 in 1:49.67, placing 39th of 119 competitors overall. He came from behind to edge Middle Tennessee's Wail Bourahli late in a finish reminiscent of the duo's battle during the CUSA indoor 800 final.
Women's Day 2 Record Breakers
Program Record – Katelyn Locker – 800 – 2:04.46
Previous Record: 2:06.09 by Jaime Watson at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Stanford, Calif., on May 1, 2010
Men's Day 2 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Edwin Kiprop – 5K – 13:47.63
Previous Record: 13:52.94 by Josh McDougal at the NCAA Division I East Regional in New York, N.Y., on May 27, 2005
New Men's NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Edwin Kiprop – 5K – 13:47.63
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
800 – No. 1 – Katelyn Locker – 2:04.46
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
5K – No. 4 – Edwin Kiprop – 13:47.63
5K – No. 9 – Kyle Harkabus – 13:58.38
Up Next
Liberty will complete its busy week of competition with three meets on Saturday, including two in California (Bryan Clay Invitational and Jim Bush Legends Invitational) and one back home in the Commonwealth (Virginia Grand Prix).
Meanwhile, Edwin Kiprop (13:47.63) and Kyle Harkabus (13:58.38) became the ninth and 10th Flames ever to break 14:00 for a 5K. Kiprop's effort took down Josh McDougal's Liberty freshman record from 2005 in the process.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Last time out (March 30 at the Florida Relays), Locker had come within six hundredths of a second of the Liberty women's 800 standard with her then personal-best 2:06.15 effort.
On Friday, Locker left no doubt. She clocked a 2:04.46 to finish 30th of the 120 entrants in the women's 800 invitational sections, including 12th among collegiate runners.
Locker took down the long-standing Liberty standard of 2:06.09, set by Jaime Watson at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Stanford, Calif., on May 1, 2010.
Locker has now broken three Liberty records in 2024, also including the indoor 1,000 (2:45.61 on Jan. 27) and the indoor distance medley relay (11:32.82 on Feb. 23).
Locker's 2:04.46 performance represented the fastest time by a CUSA runner since 2019, when UTEP's Lilian Koech posted a 2:03.73.
Earlier in the day, teammates Jessica Palisca (2:11.73) and Katrina Schlenker (2:13.64) each notched their fastest 800 times of the season.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Kiprop and Harkabus, who combined to win the three longest races at the CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, competed in the same 5K race Friday night. Kiprop took third place in the section, while Harkabus was the heat's 17th and final sub-14:00 runner.
Both Flames made significant improvements upon their previous 5K bests, with Kiprop going from 14:07.41 to 13:47.63 and Harkabus dropping from 14:05.34 to 13:58.38.
Kiprop's effort improved upon McDougal's 13:52.94 performance from the NCAA Division I East Regional Championships on May 27, 2005 in New York, N.Y. That race took place almost a year before the 17-year-old Kiprop was born.
Kiprop now ranks No. 4 in program history and Harkabus moves up to No. 9. They join redshirting teammates Will Jefferson (No. 6) and Tristian Merchant (No. 8) among the Flames' all-time top 10 for the outdoor 5K.
Kiprop qualifies for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet, while Harkabus puts himself in contention for a trip to Lexington, Ky., next month.
About 11 hours earlier, Nathan Moore recorded a 5K time of 14:18.24, lopping 10 seconds off his previous 5K best.
Brendan Pitcher won his heat of the invitational men's 800 in 1:49.67, placing 39th of 119 competitors overall. He came from behind to edge Middle Tennessee's Wail Bourahli late in a finish reminiscent of the duo's battle during the CUSA indoor 800 final.
Women's Day 2 Record Breakers
Program Record – Katelyn Locker – 800 – 2:04.46
Previous Record: 2:06.09 by Jaime Watson at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Stanford, Calif., on May 1, 2010
Men's Day 2 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Edwin Kiprop – 5K – 13:47.63
Previous Record: 13:52.94 by Josh McDougal at the NCAA Division I East Regional in New York, N.Y., on May 27, 2005
New Men's NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Edwin Kiprop – 5K – 13:47.63
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
800 – No. 1 – Katelyn Locker – 2:04.46
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
5K – No. 4 – Edwin Kiprop – 13:47.63
5K – No. 9 – Kyle Harkabus – 13:58.38
Up Next
Liberty will complete its busy week of competition with three meets on Saturday, including two in California (Bryan Clay Invitational and Jim Bush Legends Invitational) and one back home in the Commonwealth (Virginia Grand Prix).
Players Mentioned
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