Makenzy Mizera
Liberty Track Headed to El Paso for CUSA Outdoor Championship Debut
5/8/2024 7:34:00 AM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty will make its first appearance at the CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Friday through Sunday at UTEP's Kidd Field in El Paso, Texas.
The decathlon 100-meter dash will get things started Friday at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, and the meet will wrap up Sunday at 11 p.m. Eastern with the women's 4 x 400 relay.
The Liberty men's team has captured 16 consecutive outdoor conference titles, including a dozen in the Big South (2007-18) and four in the ASUN (2019, 2021-23). That marks the longest active NCAA Division I men's outdoor track & field conference championship streak in the nation.
Meanwhile, the Lady Flames will look to make it back-to-back outdoor titles after closing out their stay in the ASUN Conference with a team championship in 2023.
Competing at home, Liberty swept the men's and women's team crowns at the 2023 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships in February. If the Flames and Lady Flames can repeat the feat in El Paso, Liberty would join Houston (1998 and 2005) as the only schools ever to claim all four CUSA track & field titles in one year.
This meet is being contested in Texas for the third year in a row but is making its first visit to UTEP since 2017. It will mark the longest Liberty has ever traveled to compete in an outdoor track & field conference meet (1,788 miles), more than tripling the 563 miles it traveled for the ASUN Championship in Jacksonville, Fla. (its previous long).
First-year Liberty assistant Kristian Dillard is well acquainted with El Paso, having run track for UTEP as an undergraduate in 2012 and 2013.
Between El Paso's altitude (3,740 feet) and projected warm, windy conditions, this event will provide athletes in many events with a great final opportunity to post qualifying marks for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds. The meet will be contested at the UK Track & Field Complex, May 22-25 in Lexington, Ky.
How to Follow the Action
Live video streaming will be available on ESPN+ each evening, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Friday, 8 p.m. Eastern Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Live results will be provided by the Black Squirrel Timing Company throughout the meet.
Weather Report
The preliminary forecast for El Paso calls for high temperatures in the mid to upper-80s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with increasing sunshine as the meet progresses. Friday is projected to be the windiest day of the meet, with winds between 15-25 mph out of the east southeast.
Men's Meet Preview
As mentioned previously, the Liberty men's squad is in search of its 17th consecutive outdoor conference title this week. The Flames' road to a championship got a bit easier with five-time defending CUSA outdoor victor Charlotte leaving the conference following last season.
Liberty defeated runner-up Sam Houston by 78 points to capture the CUSA indoor crown in February. The last three years, the CUSA men's indoor team champion went on to hoist the trophy outdoors as well.
The last first-year CUSA member to capture the men's outdoor track & field team championship was UTSA in 2014.
Liberty boasts the No. 1 seed in the following events this week: 200 (Omari Lewis), 800 (Brendan Pitcher), 1,500 (Kyle Harkabus), 5K (Edwin Kiprop), triple jump (Joshua Smith), shot put (Warren Barrett), discus (Desmond Coleman), hammer (John Hicks) and javelin (Ben Shughart).
Eight Flames who captured CUSA indoor event titles in February will attempt to win the corresponding outdoor disciplines this week in El Paso, including Omari Lewis (60/100), Brendan Pitcher (800), Kyle Harkabus (mile/1,500), Edwin Kiprop (5K), Joshua Smith (triple jump), Warren Barrett (shot put), John Hicks (weight throw/hammer) and Anthony Bryan (heptathlon/decathlon).
Women's Meet Preview
Liberty won the CUSA women's indoor track & field team title by 70 points, but the Lady Flames expect a much tougher battle this week in El Paso.
Host UTEP has been ranked among the nation's top 25 teams for most of the season. The Miners were victorious in 2017, the last time UTEP hosted the CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. That year also marked the last time the same CUSA women's team was victorious both indoors and outdoors.
New Mexico State also figures to contend, coming off a WAC championship season in 2023. Both the Aggies and Lady Flames hope to become the first CUSA newcomers to capture the women's outdoor conference title since 2015 (Western Kentucky).
The Lady Flames own CUSA's top marks this season in the 800 (Katelyn Locker), 1,500 (Katelyn Locker), steeplechase (Calli Doan), triple jump (Makenzy Mizera), hammer (Paola Bueno) and heptathlon (Patasha Bryan).
Four different Lady Flames will try to win the corresponding outdoor events after claiming CUSA indoor titles: Reese Webster (60/100), Katelyn Locker (800), Makenzy Mizera (long jump and triple jump) and Patasha Bryan (pentathlon/heptathlon).
Webster is coming off a successful showing at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, where she helped Trinidad and Tobago qualify its women's 4 x 100 relay squad to this summer's Paris Olympics.
Men's 100-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 9:45 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:05 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 10.05 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 10.43
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Rodney Heath Jr. (Louisiana Tech) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 10.04 by Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) in 2022
Liberty Record: 10.08 by Omari Lewis in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Meters): Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 6.67
2024 Leader: Rodney Heath Jr. (Louisiana Tech) – 10.07
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis and Revell Webster
Outlook: Liberty's Omari Lewis has reigned as his conference's "fastest man" at each of his first three conference championship meets to begin the Trinidad and Tobago native's collegiate career, racing to victory in the 2023 ASUN indoor 60, 2023 ASUN outdoor 100 and 2024 CUSA indoor 60. Lewis has twice lowered the Liberty men's 100 record this season, including his 10.08 effort at the Virginia Grand Prix on April 13 which ranks No. 14 nationally. However, Lewis is looking up at 2023 CUSA third-place finisher Rodney Heath Jr. (10.07 season best) of Louisiana Tech on this year's CUSA performance list. A different Liberty Flame has claimed the conference men's 100 title each of the last three years, including Diamantae Griffin – 2021 ASUN, Christian Lyon – 2022 ASUN and Lewis – 2023 ASUN. Lewis will attempt to become the first Flame to win back-to-back conference men's 100 titles since Jeremy Wagner in 2000 and 2001 (Big South). Heath Jr. is one of four Louisiana Tech runners among the top six seeds as the Bulldogs chase their first CUSA crown in this event in a decade.
Men's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 9:40 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:50 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 20.43 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Donald McClinton (Liberty) – 20.58
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Abdulraof Rashid (UTEP) – 8th place
Meet Record: 20.28 by Julius Morris (Western Kentucky) in 2017
Liberty Record: 20.38 by Diamantae Griffin in 2022
2024 Indoor Champion: Jayden Jones (Sam Houston) – 20.88
2024 Leader: Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 20.56
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis and Revell Webster
Outlook: Liberty Flames have raced to the men's 200 title at six consecutive outdoor conference championships, dating back to Stephen Racanelli's 2017 Big South crown. Looking to extend that impressive streak is Omari Lewis, who arrives in El Paso as the top seed at 20.56. However, Lewis has yet to capture a 200 conference title in his career. He has finished second, third and fourth in his first three conference 200 finals, including indoor and outdoor. Behind Lewis, three of the next four fastest times belong to freshmen, topped by the 20.69 posted by CUSA indoor champ Jayden Jones of Sam Houston. The last two years, the CUSA 100 champion has gone on to claim the 200 title later in the day. The last Liberty runner to successfully sweep the men's 100 and 200 conference championships was Diamantae Griffin in 2021 (ASUN).
Men's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 9:10 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:50 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Michael Roth (UTSA) – 46.80
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Joshua Hill (UTEP) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 44.53 by Emmanuel Korir (UTEP) in 2017
Liberty Record: 44.86 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata in 2018
2024 Indoor Champion: Julio Pacheco Estrada (UTEP) – 47.22
2024 Leader: Raynell Chambers (FIU) – 46.70
Liberty Entrants: Simon Lamparelli
Outlook: Liberty has struggled in the men's 400 in recent years, as Michael Rose (2021 ASUN) was the last Flame to qualify for an outdoor conference final and Alejandro Perlaza (2019 ASUN, first place) was the Flames' last outdoor all-conference performer. Freshman Simon Lamparelli is the Flames' lone entrant this time around, seeded No. 9 at 48.90. He will be making his first conference meet appearance after missing the CUSA indoor championship due to injury. UTEP has claimed four of the last six CUSA outdoor 400 crowns and boasts the indoor champion (Julio Pacheco Estrada) and the top returnee from 2023 (Joshua Hill – runner-up). However, FIU's Raynell Chambers (46.70) owns the top seed and will seek his school's first-ever CUSA 400 title on Sunday.
Men's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:20 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Yusuf Mohamud (UTEP) – 1:51.17
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 1:47.48 by Michael Saruni (UTEP) in 2017
Liberty Record: 1:48.26 by Brendan Pitcher in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion: Brendan Pitcher (Liberty) – 1:51.77
2024 Leader: Brendan Pitcher (Liberty) – 1:48.26
Liberty Entrants: Brendan Pitcher and Kyle Thrush
Outlook: Fresh off a Liberty-record 1:48.26 clocking at The Hill City Twilight on May 3, Brendan Pitcher owns the fastest time among an anticipated three-way battle with UTEP's Aron Tanui (1:48.93 season best) and Middle Tennessee's Wail Bourahli (1:50.06). Pitcher came from behind to edge Bourahli on the final straightaway to claim his second consecutive indoor conference title in this event in February. Michael Todd was Liberty's most recent outdoor 800 champion (2019 ASUN), while Chris Lyons was the last Flame to sweep the indoor and outdoor 800 titles in the same year (2005 Big South). The last CUSA indoor/outdoor men's 800 champion within the same year was UTEP great Michael Saruni in 2017. UTEP (five titles) and Middle Tennessee (four titles) have combined to capture the last nine CUSA outdoor men's 800 championships.
Men's 1,500-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:15 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alec Esposito (Charlotte) – 3:44.29
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 3:42.24 by Jacob Choge (Middle Tennessee) in 2021
Liberty Record: 3:40.78 by Kyle Harkabus in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion (Mile): Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 4:06.79
2024 Leader: Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 3:40.28
Liberty Entrants: Kyle Harkabus and Edwin Kiprop
Outlook: The reigning CUSA men's mile champion, Liberty's Kyle Harkabus closed out the regular season with a flourish. He posted three men's 1,500 victories in eight days, punctuated by a program-record 3:40.78 effort at The Hill City Twilight on May 3. If Harkabus is able to keep his winning streak alive on Sunday, he would become Liberty's first conference 1,500 titlist since Caleb Edmonds in 2014 (Big South) and the first Flame to sweep a conference's indoor mile and outdoor 1,500 championships in one year since Sam Chelanga in 2009 (Big South). Edwin Kiprop posted a big personal-best time of 3:44.39 last week at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier to set a Liberty freshman record and claim the event's No. 3 seed. The top returnee from last season's CUSA final (fifth place), Middle Tennessee's Habtamu Geta is sandwiched between Harkabus and Kiprop on the CUSA performance list at 3:42.20. UTEP has won the CUSA men's 1,500 title at seven of the last 10 conference championships. CUSA indoor mile third-place finisher Aron Tanui and 2022 CUSA 1,500 champ Kenneth Talavera possess the host team's top chances in the "metric mile" this time around.
Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Victor Kibiego (UTEP) – 8:51.93
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Carmelo Cannizzaro (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 8:39.44 by Anthony Rotich (UTEP) in 2013
Liberty Record: 8:32.95 by Felix Kandie in 2021
2024 Leader: Carmelo Cannizzaro (Middle Tennessee) – 8:49.93
Liberty Entrants: Sean Aiken and Gavin Sweeney
Outlook: Middle Tennessee's Carmelo Cannizzaro, last season's fifth-place finisher, is a considerable favorite in Saturday night's steeplechase final with a season-best time of 8:49.93 to his credit. Cannizzarro, who has also lowered his personal bests in the 1,500 (3:50.55) and 5K (14:37.20) since then, will try to earn Middle Tennessee's fifth steeplechase crown in the last eight CUSA championships. Liberty freshmen Sean Aiken (9:21.11) and Gavin Sweeney (9:23.27) are the only other two conference runners to break 9:30 thus far in 2024 in one of CUSA's weaker events.
Men's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 10:05 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Nick Scudder (Charlotte) – 13:51.64
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 4th place
Meet Record: 13:51.64 by Nick Scudder (Charlotte) in 2023
Liberty Record: 13:20.43 by Josh McDougal in 2007
2024 Indoor Champion: Edwin Kiprop (Liberty) – 14:07.46
2024 Leader: Edwin Kiprop (Liberty) – 13:47.63
Liberty Entrants: Edwin Kiprop, Kyle Harkabus, Nicholas Kiprotich, Jacob Hess, Sean Aiken and Gavin Sweeney
Outlook: If Liberty needs team points late in the meet on Sunday, it is well positioned with the conference's only two sub-14:00 5K runners this season (Edwin Kiprop – 13:47.63 and Kyle Harkabus – 13:58.38) at its disposal. Kiprop, whose 13:47.63 effort at the Bryan Clay Invitational set a Liberty freshman record, raced to the CUSA indoor 5K title. Fellow Kenya native Azaria Kirwa (2019 ASUN) was the most recent Flame to sweep the indoor and outdoor 5K conference titles. Jordan McDougal (2006 Big South) was Liberty's last freshman to win an outdoor 5K conference crown. Middle Tennessee's Brian Kiptoo and Habtamu Geta, who placed 2-3 behind Kiprop indoors, also figure to contend for the Blue Raiders' first CUSA outdoor 5K victory since 2019.
Men's 10,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 10:20 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Nick Scudder (Charlotte) – 30:12.99 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Tristian Merchant (Liberty) – 29:26.15
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 28:58.29 by Jacob Choge (Middle Tennessee) in 2021
Liberty Record: 27:08.39 by Sam Chelanga in 2010
2024 Leader: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 30:04.96
Liberty Entrants: Nicholas Kiprotich and Jacob Hess
Outlook: Middle Tennessee's Vincent Yegon is both the top returnee from last year's CUSA 10K final (third place) and the top seed in 2024 (30:04.96). With 2023 ASUN 10K champion Tristian Merchant redshirting this season, Liberty's top hopes lie with 2023 NCAA Division I cross country national qualifier Nicholas Kiprotich (30:21.86 season best). Jacob Hess will also make his first collegiate conference track championship appearance following successful showings in cross country in both 2022 (ASUN Freshman of the Year) and 2023 (CUSA 12th place).
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:35 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 13.50
Defending Champion (ASUN): Felix Lawrence (Liberty) – 14.44
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Eloji
Meet Record: 13.50 by Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) in 2023
Liberty Record: 13.66 by Prosper Ekporere in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Hurdles): Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 7.77
2024 Leader: Jordani Woodley (UTEP) – 13.44
Liberty Entrants: Albrey Gossett, Luke Anderson and Rayshawn Johnson
Outlook: Middle Tennessee's Stephen Eloji is the defending champion in both the CUSA indoor 60 hurdles and outdoor 110 hurdles. This week, he will try to become the first back-to-back champion in this event since 2017 and 2018 (UTSA's Patrick Prince). However, Eloji is seeded second at 13.55 behind UTEP's Jordani Woodley (13.44) in an event where CUSA owns two of the nation's top 25 performers. Albrey Gossett (14.29) and Luke Anderson (14.31) have both joined Liberty's all-time 110 hurdles top 10 list this season. Gossett placed fourth in the indoor 60 hurdles final in February. Best known as a 400 hurdler, Anderson came in fifth in the ASUN 110 hurdles final in 2022.
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 9:05 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:35 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 52.65 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Rayan Holmes (Liberty) – 51.03
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Eloji
Meet Record: 49.82 by Shakeem Smith (UTEP) in 2021
Liberty Record: 50.27 by Rayan Holmes in 2023
2024 Leader: Laeden Tucker (Louisiana Tech) – 52.92
Liberty Entrants: Jacob Torres, Josh Blalock and Luke Anderson
Outlook: Stephen Eloji of Middle Tennessee is the two-time defending CUSA men's 400 hurdles champion. However, he has not contested the event since crossing the finish line at last year's CUSA meet. If Eloji does run, he will attempt to join Houston's Jason Perez (2008-10) as the only CUSA athletes ever to claim three straight 400 hurdles crowns. If Eloji does not compete, the event could shape up as a dual meet between Liberty and Louisiana Tech. The top five names on the conference performance list are either Flames or Bulldogs, topped by Louisiana Tech's Laeden Tucker at 52.92. First-year Flame Jacob Torres, the No. 2 seed at 53.19, raced to a personal-best 51.90 to win last year's SCIAC championship while competing for Occidental. Luke Anderson's most recent conference 400 hurdles final for Liberty resulted in a personal-best 52.90 clocking for third place in 2022 (ASUN). Liberty Flames have won three straight conference titles in this event, while Louisiana Tech is chasing its first-ever CUSA 400 hurdles crown.
Men's 4 x 100 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: UTSA – 39.59
Meet Record: 38.89 by Southern Miss in 2018
Liberty Record: 39.08 in 2022
2024 Leader: UTEP – 39.71
Outlook: Liberty's men's 4 x 100 relay quartet includes half of Trinidad and Tobago's squad from the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Omari Lewis and Revell Webster. Just last weekend in the Bahamas, Lewis anchored his Trinidad and Tobago team to a 38.46 clocking, just missing Olympics qualification. However, the Flames' top time this season (40.61) ranks only fifth in CUSA. UTEP (39.71) and Sam Houston (39.99) have both dipped below 40 seconds this season. With four sprinters who have run 10.24 or faster in 2024, Louisiana Tech is certainly a threat for its first CUSA 4 x 100 crown since 2014 as well.
Men's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 10:50 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Charlotte – 3:09.76 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Liberty – 3:11.77
Meet Record: 3:04.50 by Western Kentucky in 2019
Liberty Record: 3:07.28 in 1997
2024 Indoor Champion: Louisiana Tech – 3:13.08
2024 Leader: UTEP – 3:12.13
Outlook: Liberty punctuated its time in the ASUN Conference with an improbable victory in last year's men's 4 x 400 relay final. However, only Brendan Pitcher returns from that squad, and it would be even more unlikely for the Flames to win again Sunday night. Host UTEP owns the top seed at 3:12.13, while indoor champion Louisiana Tech aims for its first CUSA outdoor victory in this event.
Men's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Christiaan Le Roux (UTSA) – 25-0.5 (7.63m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 7th place
Meet Record: 26-2.75 (7.99m) by Desmond Mobley (Western Kentucky) in 2018
Liberty Record: 25-6.75 (7.79m) by Chad Wilson in 2004
2024 Indoor Champion: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 24-2.5 (7.38m)
2024 Leader: Derrick Warren Jr. (Sam Houston) – 24-11.25 (7.60m)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Ilesanmi
Outlook: Liberty's lone entrant in the long jump, Michael Ilesanmi has yet to record a legal mark this outdoor season. However, the first-year Flame has stepped up during championship season in recent years. His season-best 23-4 leap earned sixth place in the CUSA indoor final. Last May, while competing for Saint Peter's, Ilesanmi sailed over 24 feet on back-to-back weeks to claim MAAC and IC4A long jump titles. Louisiana Tech's Mateo Smith is the top returnee from 2023 (seventh place) and won the CUSA indoor title in February. The last two CUSA indoor long jump champions have gone on to win outdoors too. Derrick Warren Jr. enters as the top seed at 24-11.25 and is one of three Sam Houston athletes among the conference's top six. A different school has won this event each of the last five times it has been contested at the CUSA outdoor championship, a streak which would continue if either Liberty or Sam Houston is victorious on Friday.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Dylan James (UTSA) – 50-10 (15.49m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Justin Eugene (Middle Tennessee) – 10th place
Meet Record: 52-10 (16.10m) by Raphel Martin (Charlotte) in 2000
Liberty Record: 52-1.25 (15.88m) by Clarence Powell in 2010
2024 Indoor Champion: Joshua Smith (Liberty) – 50-0.5 (15.25m)
2024 Leader: Joshua Smith (Liberty) – 48-9 (14.86m)
Liberty Entrants: Joshua Smith, Shane Wang and Michael Ilesanmi
Outlook: Liberty's Joshua Smith has opened his career with back-to-back conference titles in the indoor triple jump. Most recently, he reached a personal-best 50-0.5 to put an exclamation mark on his 2024 CUSA indoor crown. Smith, who is seeking his first outdoor conference title, owns CUSA's top mark of the season by a foot and a half at 48-9. The last Flame to sweep a conference's indoor and outdoor crowns in this event was Darrel Jones in 2018 (Big South), the season he later advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Smith's classmate Shane Wang also figures to contend. He has placed second, third and fourth at his first three collegiate conference triple jump competitions.
Men's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-1 (2.16m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Belik
Meet Record: 7-6.5 (2.30m) by Mickael Hanany (UTEP) in 2006 and 2008
Liberty Record: 7-1 (2.16m) by Kennedy Sauder in 2022, Kyle Wheeler in 2012 and Matt Parker in 2009
2024 Indoor Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 6-11.5 (2.12m)
2024 Leader: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-1.5 (2.17m)
Liberty Entrants: Cole Peterlin
Outlook: Host UTEP will enter a significant favorite in Saturday evening's men's high jump, Jakub Belik. The only CUSA athlete to go over seven feet this season (7-1.5), Belik is the reigning CUSA indoor and outdoor champion. No one has won back-to-back outdoors since Southern Miss' Caleb Parker in 2018 and 2019. Behind junior Belik, the conference's next four highest clearances of this season belong to freshmen. Liberty's only entry is Cole Peterlin, who also plays wide receiver for the Flames' football team. He is making his outdoor season debut in the high jump but cleared 6-6 indoors. Peterlin's best conference finish in this event is fifth at the 2020 ASUN indoor meet.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alexander Slinkman (Rice) – 17-9.75 (5.43m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Kayden Cecil (FIU) – 4th place
Meet Record: 17-9.75 (5.43m) by Alexander Slinkman (Rice) in 2023
Liberty Record: 17-8.5 (5.40m) by Kolby Shepherd in 2012
2024 Indoor Champion: Rylan Olguin (Sam Houston) – 16-8 (5.08m)
2024 Leader: Rylan Olguin (Sam Houston) – 17-5.5 (5.32m)
Liberty Entrants: Hunter Flack
Outlook: As was the case indoors, pole vault is arguably Sam Houston's strongest outdoor event. Led by indoor champion and top seed Rylan Olguin (17-5.5), three Bearkats rank among the conference's top four seeds. The lone interloper is FIU's Ethan Riley, the No. 2 seed (16-11) in search of the Panthers' first CUSA championship in this event. Liberty's Hunter Flack stepped up for a third-place finish indoors and has since improved his personal best to 16-0.75 at the Florida Relays. Flack is a three-time all-conference pole vaulter for his career, including twice in the ASUN and once in CUSA.
Men's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:45 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Sam Welsh (Rice) – 57-10.25 (17.63m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Cobe Graham (Sam Houston) – 58-10 (17.93m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Kaison Barton (Western Kentucky) – 10th place
Meet Record: 65-9.75 (20.06m) by Richard Garrett (UTSA) in 2014
Liberty Record: 64-9.75 (19.75m) by Kyle Mitchell in 2021
2024 Indoor Champion: Warren Barrett (Liberty) – 61-2 (18.64m)
2024 Leader: Warren Barrett (Liberty) – 61-9 (18.82m)
Liberty Entrants: Warren Barrett, Jordae Edwards and Beau Backes
Outlook: Interestingly, Liberty's Warren Barrett owns more All-America honors (2) than conference titles (1) in the shot put during his career, and all of those accolades have been achieved indoors. Barrett's lone conference shot put crown came at the CUSA indoor championship in February, and he will now attempt to become the first Flame since Ryan Smith in 2013 to claim indoor and outdoor shot put titles during the same year. Barrett currently ranks No. 28 nationally with a season best of 61-9. That puts him more than four feet past second seed Dominykas Cepys of Sam Houston. Liberty freshman Jordae Edwards stepped up with a big personal-best mark of 55-6.25 at the Virginia High Performance, putting him into contention for a podium finish after coming in ninth indoors.
Men's Discus
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Sam Welsh (Rice) – 195-5 (59.56m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Luke Stegman (Western Kentucky) – 11th place
Meet Record: 195-5 (59.56m) by Sam Welsh (Rice) in 2023
Liberty Record: 204-3 (62.26m) by Clendon Henderson in 2008
2024 Leader: Desmond Coleman (Liberty) – 198-7 (60.53m)
Liberty Entrants: Desmond Coleman, Christian Hicks, Beau Backes, Jason Hayes and John Hicks
Outlook: Gone (and now part of Liberty's coaching staff) is two-time men's discus All-American Kevin Nedrick. But this is still a strong event for the Flames, as Desmond Coleman (198-7), Christian Hicks (178-1) and Beau Backes (177-7) rank 1-4-5 in the CUSA standings. Hicks (No. 42 in the East Region) and Backes (No. 44 in the East Region) would not mind improving their chances at qualifying to the NCAA Division I East First Rounds. No. 2 seed Aleks Hristov of UTEP won this event in 2022, one of two CUSA discus titles the Miners have claimed. UTEP is the only current conference member ever to win a CUSA men's discus competition, and all of last year's top 10 CUSA men's discus finishers have departed.
Men's Javelin
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Zion Hill (North Texas) – 221-7 (67.53m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Ethan Mylin (Liberty) – 215-2 (65.59m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Blake Orr (FIU) – 5th place
Meet Record: 254-4 (77.53m) by John Ampomah (Middle Tennessee) in 2016
Liberty Record: 234-11 (71.61m) by Steve Feister in 2016
2024 Leader: Ben Shughart (Liberty) – 226-9 (69.11m)
Liberty Entrants: Ben Shughart and Cole Peterlin
Outlook: Liberty's Ethan Mylin was a surprise ASUN men's javelin champion a year ago. He will be unable to chase another conference title on Friday, but last year's ASUN runner-up (the Flames' Ben Shughart) enters as a significant favorite. His personal-best mark of 226-9 at UCLA on April 13 is tops in the conference by over 17 feet. Blake Orr, the only other CUSA thrower over 200 feet (209-8) will attempt to become FIU's first CUSA champion in this event.
Men's Hammer
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Shaun Kerry (Rice) – 210-8 (64.21m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Luke Thielemann (Sam Houston) – 201-0 (61.26m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Kaison Barton (Western Kentucky) – 5th place
Meet Record: 225-11 (68.86m) by Steffen Nerdal (Memphis) in 2010
Liberty Record: 222-4 (67.76m) by Jon Hart in 2008
2024 Indoor Champion (Weight): John Hicks (Liberty) – 68-4.5 (20.84m)
2024 Leader: John Hicks (Liberty) – 218-6 (66.59m)
Liberty Entrants: John Hicks, Kellen Kimes, Desmond Coleman, Christian Hicks and Jason Hayes
Outlook: Liberty's John Hicks, who captured ASUN men's hammer titles in 2021 and 2022, will aim to become the Flames' first-ever three-time conference champion in this event. He owns CUSA's top seed at 218-6. That puts him 10.5 feet ahead of teammate Kellen Kimes, who has taken down Hicks' Liberty freshman record with a mark of 208-0 that ranks No. 2 in CUSA this season and No. 3 in program history. After just two hammer competitions, Desmond Coleman already ranks No. 4 on Liberty's all-time list at 200-4. Sam Houston also boasts a pair of title contenders in seniors Brian Orlando (205-2 season best) and Luke Thielemann (203-6). Thielemann was last year's WAC men's hammer champion.
Men's Decathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at 11:30 a.m. Eastern; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 11 a.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Jack Turner (UTSA) – 8,011 (Third in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Daniel Van Duren (Liberty) – 6,617
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Jalen Cadet (UTEP) – 6th place
Meet Record: 8,011 by Jack Turner (UTSA) in 2023
Liberty Record: 7,800 by Brandon Hoskins in 2008
2024 Indoor Champion (Heptathlon): Anthony Bryan (Liberty) – 5,187
2024 Leader: Jack Johnston (Sam Houston) – 5,824
Liberty Entrants: Samuel O'Regan and Anthony Bryan
Outlook: CUSA heptathlon champion Anthony Bryan will contest his first decathlon since winning the 2022 ASUN title with a personal-best score of 6,956. He fared well at last week's Liberty Twilight Qualifier at his home facility, recording a lifetime-best 44-11.5 shot put while pole vaulting 15-0 and clocking a season-best 110 hurdles time of 14.42. Sam Houston freshman Jack Johnston (5,824 points) owns the best mark among the CUSA athletes who have completed a decathlon in 2024. Bryan and younger sister Patasha swept the CUSA indoor combined event titles for Liberty, something they will attempt to do in El Paso as well.
Women's 100-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:10 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 11.34
Defending Champion (ASUN): Isis Brooks (Liberty) – 11.40
Defending Champion (WAC): Rajer Gurode (Sam Houston) – 11.41
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Burgher
Meet Record: 11.09 by Octavious Freeman (UCF) in 2012
Liberty Record: 11.23 by Isis Brooks in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Meters): Reese Webster (Liberty) – 7.32
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 11.12
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster and Elle Bass
Outlook: Liberty won the women's 100 each of its last three years in the ASUN Conference. Coming back from a successful World Athletics Relays appearance, first-year Lady Flame Reese Webster (personal-best 11.36 at the Florida Relays) ranks No. 2 in program history behind only 2022 and 2023 ASUN champ Isis Brooks (11.23). Webster raced to the CAA 100 title a year ago as an Elon freshman, but she is only seeded No. 4 in CUSA heading to El Paso. Defending champion Niesha Burgher of host UTEP clocked 11.12 at the Texas Relays, ranking No. 9 nationally. As a result, she is favored to become the first repeat champion of this event since 2012 and 2013 (UCF's Octavious Freeman). If Webster is victorious Sunday evening, she would become the first CUSA woman to win the indoor 60 and outdoor 100 in the same year since 2019 (FAU's Natalliah Whyte).
Women's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 10 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:55 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Ta-Halia Fairman (Charlotte) – 23.05 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Isis Brooks (Liberty) – 23.09
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 23.37
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 22.66 by Ebonie Floyd (Houston) in 2006
Liberty Record: 23.09 by Isis Brooks in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.97
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.85
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster, Amy Ambelang and Elle Bass
Outlook: The 200 is another event where Liberty's Reese Webster (23.29) already ranks No. 2 in program history behind 2023 ASUN champion Isis Brooks (23.09). However, Webster again sits No. 4 in CUSA this season. Indoor CUSA champion and All-American Niesha Burgher of UTEP leads the way at 22.85. She was the runner-up a year ago and will chase the Miners' first outdoor 200 title since 2016. No. 3 seed Jhana Downie of New Mexico State (23.18 season best) raced to the WAC outdoor 200 championship a year ago.
Women's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 9:25 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:55 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Maya Singletary (Charlotte) – 52.03 (Third in a row)
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 52.72
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Leonie Beu (Middle Tennessee) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 51.74 by Ebonie Floyd (Houston) in 2007
Liberty Record: 53.28 by Ty'Asia Dansbury in 2019
2024 Indoor Champion: Jackeria Woodkins (Sam Houston) – 54.38
2024 Leader: Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 53.45
Liberty Entrants: Maddy Merritt
Outlook: New Mexico State's Jhana Downie, the 2023 WAC outdoor 400 titlist, is the only CUSA runner to break 54 seconds so far this season. The junior has done so all three times she has contested the event, including a season best of 53.45. Middle Tennessee's Leonie Beu (runner-up) is the top returnee from the 2023 CUSA final and is seeded third at 54.25. Indoor champion Jackeria Woodkins of Sam Houston has not competed at all outdoors. Liberty's lone entrant, freshman Maddy Merrit owns CUSA's 18th-fastest time of the year at 57.41. As a result, the Lady Flames are unlikely to record their first podium finish in this event since Ty'Asia Dansbury raced to the 2019 ASUN tile.
Women's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 8:40 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:25 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Jessica Lambert (Florida Atlantic) – 2:06.95
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Pamela Milano (Middle Tennessee) – 4th place
Meet Record: 2:04.54 by Abike Egbeniyi (Middle Tennessee) in 2019
Liberty Record: 2:04.46 by Katelyn Locker in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 2:06.99
2024 Leader: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 2:04.46
Liberty Entrants: Katelyn Locker and Jessica Palisca
Outlook: The last two CUSA indoor 800 champions have gone on to collect the outdoor title, a trend Katelyn Locker hopes to continue in El Paso. She has enjoyed a record-breaking year, taking down the CUSA indoor meet record with a 2:06.99 and breaking Jaime Watson's 14-year-old Liberty outdoor standard with her 2:04.46 effort at the Bryan Clay Invitational. With the fastest time by a CUSA runner since 2019, Locker has put herself in position to become the first Lady Flame since Delaney McDowell (2017 Big South) to win indoor and outdoor 800 titles during the same year. Locker has won one outdoor conference title at the 800 distance during her career, taking the MAAC championship as a Monmouth freshman in 2021. Last year's CUSA fourth-place finisher outdoors and the indoor runner-up to Locker, Middle Tennessee's Pamela Milano has clocked 2:08.87 this season. Middle Tennessee had recorded six consecutive CUSA outdoor 800 victories before FAU's Jessica Lambert ended the streak in 2023.
Women's 1,500-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8:15 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:25 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alyssa Balandran (Rice) – 4:33.75
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Ruth Jerubet (UTEP) – 6th place
Meet Record: 4:14.42 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Liberty Record: 4:14.71 by Heather Sagan in 2002
2024 Indoor Champion (Mile): Valerie Lastra (FIU) – 4:39.98
2024 Leader: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 4:19.04
Liberty Entrants: Katelyn Locker, Ryann Aycock and Ava Gordon
Outlook: With teammate Calli Doan focusing on other events, Katelyn Locker also enters as a favorite in the 1,500 with her personal best of 4:19.04 from the Virginia Challenge. Doan was Liberty's last conference champion in the "metric mile," nabbing ASUN victory as a freshman in 2019. Coach Heather (Sagan) Zealand is the only Lady Flame who has won conference titles in both the 800 and 1,500 at the same meet, doing so in the Big South in 2000 and 2002. FIU's Valerie Lastra was dominant in the CUSA indoor mile final and has clocked 4:21.35 outdoors. The Panthers are seeking their first CUSA 1,500 crown. Liberty freshman Ryann Aycock will look to continue her impressive progression in the 1,500 this season. Her times have progressed from 4:44.21 to 4:39.15 to 4:33.92 to 4:30.07. Aycock took seventh in the CUSA indoor mile final in February.
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 11 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Karoline Daland (Charlotte) – 10:34.47 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Calli Doan (Liberty) – 10:12.31
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Ruth Jerubet (UTEP) – 5th place
Meet Record: 10:00.77 by Brianna Dahm (Marquette) in 2002
Liberty Record: 9:52.15 by Calli Doan in 2023
2024 Leader: Calli Doan (Liberty) – 10:03.90
Liberty Entrants: Calli Doan, Katrina Schlenker, Kristiana Young and Sophia Park
Outlook: One of the largest favorites at this meet, Liberty's Calli Doan is a returning All-American in the steeplechase after placing 11th in last year's NCAA national final. Her lone steeplechase thus far in 2024 resulted in a 10:03.90 at the Bryan Clay Invitational. That ranks No. 21 nationally, was the fastest time by a CUSA runner in 15 years and tops the conference leaderboard by 39 seconds this season. Doan is already the only Lady Flame to collect multiple conference titles in the steeplechase, winning ASUN crowns in 2021 and 2023. Middle Tennessee's Tshwanelo Maruping (10:42.71) is the only other CUSA athlete to break 11 minutes this season. Liberty also hopes for additional points in this event. Kristiana Young took eighth in the ASUN final a year ago in a personal-best 11:12.16. Teammate Katrina Schlenker's promising steeplechase debut resulted in a victory in 11:31.22 at the Hornet Open.
Women's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 10:25 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Faith Nyathi (Middle Tennessee) – 16:50.26
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Nyathi
Meet Record: 16:05.29 by Elinor Kirk (UAB) in 2014
Liberty Record: 15:48.63 by Ednah Kurgat in 2016
2024 Indoor Champion: Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 16:46.52
2024 Leader: Odilia Jepchumba (Middle Tennessee) – 16:00.00
Liberty Entrants: Ryann Aycock, Sophia Park, Calli Doan, Ava Gordon, Katrina Schlenker and Kristiana Young and Jamie Anderson
Outlook: Liberty's Calli Doan is set to contest the outdoor 5K for just the third time in her career. The first saw her place sixth in the ASUN final as a freshman in 2019 and the second was a 15:51.38 (No. 2 in program history) at Wake Forest a year ago. Doan could be trying to join SMU's Silje Fjortoft (2008) as the only CUSA women's runner ever to win both the steeplechase and 5K at the same meet. Middle Tennessee ranks 1-2-3 in CUSA this season, including Odilia Jepchumba (16:00.00), Faith Nyathi (16:03.77) and Purity Sanga (16:19.68). Jepchumba was overtaken at the finish line for the win by Liberty's Adelyn Fairley (who is redshirting outdoors) in the CUSA indoor 5K. Nyathi is the defending outdoor champion in this event. Sanga was the CUSA women's cross country individual champion this past fall.
Women's 10,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Caitlin Wosika (Rice) – 36:10.93
Defending Champion (ASUN): Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 35:44.07
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Faith Nyathi (Middle Tennessee) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 33:50.06 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Liberty Record: 33:49.00 by Adelyn Ackley-Fairley in 2022
2024 Leader: Odilia Jepchumba (Middle Tennessee) – 33:16.76
Liberty Entrants: Jamie Anderson
Outlook: Middle Tennessee has never won the CUSA women's 10K, somewhat remarkably given its tradition of distance success. That could change late Friday night, as Odilia Jepchumba (33:16.76), Purity Sanga (33:23.07) and Faith Nyathi (33:27.42) rank 1-2-3 in the conference this season. Nyathi was the runner-up a year ago. Liberty's only entry is sixth-year senior Jamie Anderson. She owns a 38:21.04 personal best and scored points in the ASUN 10K twice (fifth place in 2019 and seventh in 2021). Teammate Adelyn Fairley won the ASUN 10K final a year ago but is redshirting the current season.
Women's 100-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8:50 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:40 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 13.27
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Simpson
Meet Record: 12.80 by Tobi Amusan (UTEP) in 2017
Liberty Record: 13.15 by Indea Cartwright in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Hurdles): Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.12
2024 Leader: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 12.92
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright and Amani Hankton
Outlook: Prior to this season, Olivia Charnuski's 13.65 clocking had stood as Liberty's women's 100 hurdles record since 2010. Indea Cartwright has shaved a half second off the mark, taking it all the way down to 13.15 at last week's Liberty Twilight Qualifier. She ranks No. 3 in CUSA this year, trailing two-time hurdles All-American Marissa Simpson of UTEP (12.92) and Aliyah Logan of New Mexico State (13.06). Simpson is the reigning CUSA indoor 60 hurdles and outdoor 100 hurdles champion. She will try to become the first back-to-back CUSA victor in this event since UTEP great and 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan in 2016 and 2017. UTEP is the only current conference member to win a CUSA women's 100 hurdles title. Liberty is seeking its first 100 hurdles crown since Jada Thomas was victorious in 2019, the Lady Flames' first year of ASUN membership. The last time Cartwright raced the 100 hurdles at a conference meet, she was the Summit League runner-up for Oral Roberts in 2022.
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 9:20 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:40 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alanah Yukich (UTSA) – 57.55 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Loubna Benhadja (UTEP) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 56.89 by Faith Roberson (UTSA) in 2021
Liberty Record: 58.46 by Kimone Green in 2018
2024 Leader: Loubna Benhadja (UTEP) – 58.03
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright
Outlook: UTEP's Loubna Benhadja, the 2023 CUSA 400 hurdles runner-up, is the top seed entering this year's meet. Her time of 58.03 is just ahead of New Mexico State's Terice Steen (58.59). Liberty will enter Indea Cartwright. Her lone 400 hurdles effort of the season, a 1:02.78 at the Virginia Grand Prix, ranks No. 10 in CUSA. But Cartwright owns a 1:00.55 personal best and was the 2021 Summit League runner-up for Oral Roberts.
Women's 4 x 100 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 8:05 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Charlotte – 44.53
Meet Record: 43.42 by UCF in 2011 and 2012
Liberty Record: 44.80 in 2018
2024 Leader: UTEP – 44.18
Outlook: After helping Trinidad and Tobago punch its 4 x 100 relay ticket to the Paris Olympics, Reese Webster will try to help the Lady Flames improve upon their season best of 46.83 and No. 7 CUSA seed. UTEP (44.18) and New Mexico State (44.64) have both broken 45 seconds this season. The Miners are in search of their first conference 4 x 100 victory since 2017.
Women's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 11 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: UTEP – 3:38.87
Meet Record: 3:34.76 by Charlotte in 2019
Liberty Record: 3:33.20 in 2019
2024 Indoor Champion: UTEP – 3:38.55
2024 Leader: New Mexico State – 3:35.78
Outlook: New Mexico State owns CUSA's fastest 4 x 400 time of 2024 at 3:35.78. Meanwhile, UTEP is the reigning CUSA indoor and outdoor champion, entering with a 3:38.00 season best. The Miners hope to become the first repeat titlist in this event since Middle Tennessee in 2017 and 2018.
Women's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Oreoluwa Adamson (UTSA) – 20-5 (6.22m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Lynnika Vance (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 22-7.75 (6.90m) by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2009
Liberty Record: 20-8 (6.30m) by Ayanna Johnson in 2022
2024 Indoor Champion: Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 19-9.5 (6.03m)
2024 Leader: A'reil Williams (Louisiana Tech) – 19-10.25 (6.05m)
Liberty Entrants: Makenzy Mizera and Rebecca Allen
Outlook: CUSA's top three women's long jumpers this season (Louisiana Tech's A'reil Williams – 19-10.25, Liberty's Makenzy Mizera – 19-9 and New Mexico State's Cameron Hodges – 19-8.75) are separated by just 1.5 inches. The indoor conference champion (who needed only one attempt to claim the victory), Mizera will aim for her first career outdoor conference title of any kind. Liberty has not won an outdoor conference long jump crown since 2003 (Danielle McNaney – Big South), and it has been since 2000 (Robin Williams – Big South) that a Lady Flame was victorious both indoors and outdoors the same year. Lady Flames sophomore Rebecca Allen could also contend for her first career all-conference medal. She placed fourth indoors and has climbed to No. 7 on Liberty's all-time outdoor long jump list with a 19-4 leap at the Virginia Challenge. If Williams wins on Friday, she would be Louisiana Tech's first CUSA champion in this event in a decade.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Oreoluwa Adamson (UTSA) – 41-7.75 (12.69m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Tia Reder (Louisiana Tech) – 9th place
Meet Record: 46-0.5 (14.03m) by Ganna Demydova (Southern Miss) in 2012
Liberty Record: 42-6 (12.95m) by Makenzy Mizera in 2021
2024 Indoor Champion: Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 39-10.75 (12.16m)
2024 Leader: Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 41-6 (12.65m)
Liberty Entrants: Makenzy Mizera, Rebecca Allen, Kacy Cox and Maddy Hunt
Outlook: Liberty's Makenzy Mizera owns a triple jump season best of 41-6, putting her nearly two feet in front of any other CUSA athlete and making her the favorite to claim the Lady Flames' first outdoor conference title in this event since 2015 (Janae Jones – Big South). If Mizera is successful on Sunday, she would become the first Lady Flame to sweep the indoor and outdoor conference long jump crowns since 2011 (Mia Aghaji – Big South). The last five CUSA outdoor women's long jump champions have also won the triple jump, dating back to 2018. No Lady Flame has pulled off the double victory in the horizontal jumps outdoors since 1995 (Anna-Kate Jarman – Big South). Middle Tennessee has a pair of talented freshmen in this event, including indoor runner-up Viktoria Rusnakova and outdoor No. 2 seed Laura Odivwri (39-8.5). Liberty's Kacy Cox and Rebecca Allen placed 4-5 in this event indoors.
Women's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Katie Isenbarger (Western Kentucky) – 5-10.5 (1.79m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Isenbarger
Meet Record: 6-3.5 (1.92m) by Gaelle Niare (SMU) in 2006
Liberty Record: 5-10 (1.78m) by Kena Butts in 2005
2024 Indoor Champion: Emilia Lesniak (Western Kentucky) – 5-8.75 (1.75m)
2024 Leader: Katie Isenbarger (Western Kentucky) – 6-2 (1.88m)
Liberty Entrants: Eva Whiteman, Paige Greenhagel and Kacy Cox
Outlook: The women's high jump is Western Kentucky's strongest event, led by two-time CUSA outdoor champion (2019 and 2023) Katie Isenbarger. She is tied for No. 6 nationally with a personal-best 6-2 clearance at the Music City Challenge and is favored to become this event's first back-to-back winner since FIU's Clarissa Cutliff took three in a row between 2016-18. The Lady Toppers' impressive high jump group also features indoor runner-up Grace Turner (5-9.25 season best) and indoor victor Emilia Lesniak (5-8.75). Louisiana Tech freshman A'reil Williams (5-9.25) owns the best opportunity on paper of preventing a possible Western Kentucky podium sweep Sunday evening during the meet's final field event. Liberty freshman Eva Whiteman cleared 5-8 a year ago as a high school senior. She made it over a collegiate-best 5-6 at last week's Liberty Twilight Qualifier and hopes to improve upon her eighth-place showing in the CUSA indoor high jump. The Lady Flames' Kacy Cox tied for third in the 2023 ASUN indoor high jump and is entered in Sunday's competition. However, she has not high jumped in a meet since January.
Women's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Filippa Miller (FIU) – 14-3.25 (4.35m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Taylen Langin (Liberty) – 13-3.75 (4.06m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Rachel Maciejeski (Sam Houston) – 13-2.25 (4.02m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 14-3.25 (4.35m) by Filippa Miller (FIU) in 2023
Liberty Record: 14-3.25 (4.35m) by Andrea Wildrick in 2002
2024 Indoor Champion: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-4.5 (4.08m)
2024 Leader: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-11.75 (4.26m)
Liberty Entrants: Katie Urbine, Mia Bowers and Colleen Schaner
Outlook: The women's pole vault could see a three-way battle between one veteran (FIU's Nicole Janse Van Rensburg with a 13-11.75 season best) and a pair of freshmen (UTEP's Alla Parnov – 13-11.25 and Liberty's Katie Urbine – 13-9.25). Janse Van Rensburg was the indoor champion in February and is the top returnee from the 2023 CUSA outdoor pole vault competition (third place). Parnov will aim for UTEP's first CUSA title in this event, while Urbine hopes to bring Liberty its fourth straight outdoor women's pole vault conference crown. Current assistant Taylen (Langin) Rey claimed the last three ASUN outdoor pole vault titles. Urbine has broken Rey's Liberty freshman record and already matched her career-best clearance of 13-9.25. A Liberty freshman has never won an outdoor women's pole vault conference title. Charlotte's Riley Felts was the last CUSA freshman to do so in 2019. The field also includes last year's WAC champion (Sam Houston's Rachel Maciejeski) and a pair of Lady Flames who have previously earned all-conference honors. Mia Bowers was a two-time All-ASUN pole vaulter, while Colleen Schaner stepped up for a third-place CUSA finish indoors behind Janse Van Rensburg and Parnov following the only no-height to date in Urbine's collegiate career.
Women's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: KeAyla Dove (North Texas) – 62-2.25 (18.95m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Lizbeth Fierro (UTEP) – 11th place
Meet Record: 62-2.25 (18.95m) by KeAyla Dove (North Texas) in 2023
Liberty Record: 53-0.75 (16.17m) by Naomi Mojica in 2021
2024 Indoor Champion: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 52-2.75 (15.92m)
2024 Leader: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 54-5.25 (16.59m)
Liberty Entrants: Megan Mann, Efe Latham and Kali Grayson
Outlook: In an event where the top 10 finishers from the 2023 CUSA championship have departed, the first seven names on this year's conference shot put list hail from first-year CUSA members. Rebecca Green paces a group of four New Mexico State Aggies among CUSA's top seven women's shot putters. CUSA indoor champion Green's mark of 54-5.25 ranks No. 1 in the conference by more than four feet and sits No. 34 nationally. Liberty's Megan Mann extended her personal best to 48-11 at the Pacific Coast Invitational a month ago. That puts Mann No. 3 on the CUSA list this season as the indoor runner-up aims for her fifth career all-conference medal in the shot put. First-year Lady Flame Efe Latham has made significant improvements in the shot put this season. Most recently, her personal-best 46-1.5 performance at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier moved Latham up to No. 6 in CUSA this year and No. 7 all-time at Liberty.
Women's Discus
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Sarah Pullium (Charlotte) – 171-1 (52.16m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Megan Mann (Liberty) – 162-4 (49.49m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Fabrienne Foster (FIU) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 191-9 (58.44m) by Dayana Octavian (South Florida) in 2004
Liberty Record: 179-6 (54.71m) by Chelsea Igberaese in 2019
2024 Leader: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 191-4 (58.32m)
Liberty Entrants: Megan Mann and Annika Hantho
Outlook: The Lady Flames have been victorious in seven of their last 11 conference discus competitions, including Megan Mann's ASUN victory a year ago. No Lady Flame has captured back-to-back discus titles since Jennifer Nicholson Smith in 2014 and 2015. Mann's personal-best 166-3 mark from her season opener at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge has her listed No. 3 in CUSA and a tenuous No. 45 in the East Region. Teammate Annika Hantho's 157-7 season best sits No. 7 in CUSA and No. 75 in the East, so she will need a big improvement to throw the discus at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds for the second year in a row. FIU's Michaelle Valentin ranks No. 14 nationally at 191-4 and tops the CUSA performance list by 22 feet. She is favored to win FIU's first CUSA discus crown since 2016. Last year, Valentin came in just 10th at this meet. But she rebounded to place 10th at the NCAA national championship a month later to earn second team All-America honors.
Women's Javelin
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Arianne Morais (UTEP) – 179-3 (54.65m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Morais
Meet Record: 185-2 (56.45m) by Erma Gene Evans (UTEP) in 2007
Liberty Record: 161-7 (49.26m) by Brenna Smith in 2018
2024 Leader: Arianne Morais (UTEP) – 187-10 (57.26m)
Liberty Entrants: Addilae Watts and Kali Grayson
Outlook: The women's javelin is one of CUSA's best and deepest events. Addilae Watts (158-3 season best) and Kali Grayson (156-5) are two of Liberty's top three javelin throwers in program history, but they rank just No. 5 and 6, respectively, in CUSA this season. Watts only needed a 140-3 effort to win the Horizon League javelin title as a Youngstown State freshman a year ago. Defending CUSA champion Arianne Morais leads the conference and ranks No. 3 nationally with her 187-10 bomb at the Mt. SAC Relays. The last CUSA thrower to claim back-to-back javelin titles was FIU's Rhema Otabor in 2021 and 2022. Notably, Otabor is currently the NCAA's national leader at 193-11 as a senior at Nebraska. Even with Otabor's departure, this is still a strong event for FIU. Four of the conference's top 10 javelin throwers this season are Panthers, led by Christiana Ellina (172-2). She sits No. 2 behind Morais in CUSA and No. 22 nationally.
Women's Hammer
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) – 222-8 (67.86m) (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 227-8 (69.39m) by Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) in 2022
Liberty Record: 209-4 (63.80m) by Paola Bueno in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion (Weight): Elizabeth Alfred (FIU) – 68-2.25 (20.78m)
2024 Leader: Paola Bueno (Liberty) – 206-2 (62.83m)
Liberty Entrants: Paola Bueno, Annika Hantho, Megan Mann and Efe Latham
Outlook: CUSA's top three performers in the women's hammer this season are separated by only eight inches, including Liberty's Paola Bueno (206-2), Western Kentucky's Ajla Basic (206-1) and FIU's Michaelle Valentin (205-6). Valentin, who came in third a year ago, hopes to give FIU its first CUSA hammer crown since 2018. Basic is chasing WKU's first CUSA hammer victory since 2015. Annika Hantho has made significant strides in the hammer for Liberty this season, pushing her personal best from 170-11 to 199-4. Her best career conference finish in the hammer is seventh, but she enters Saturday's competition as the No. 4 seed. Teammate Megan Mann is seeded No. 5 at 190-2 but sits a precarious No. 45 in the East Region in a second event (also discus). Efe Latham gives the Lady Flames a fourth potential scorer, as her personal best of 174-8 is good for the No. 9 seed. Latham came in third in the hammer at the 2023 NJCAA national meet for Barton County Community College.
Women's Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at Noon Eastern; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Eliza Kraule (Rice) – 5,501
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Fabiola Declet (FIU) – 4th place
Meet Record: 5,832 by Elizabeth Dadzie (Middle Tennessee) in 2017
Liberty Record: 5,504 by Danielle McNaney in 2005
2024 Indoor Champion (Pentathlon): Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 3,791
2024 Leader: Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 5,217
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel and Sofia Van Arsdale
Outlook: Somewhat surprisingly given Liberty's history of success in the combined events, the Lady Flames are seeking their first conference heptathlon title since 2019 (Kylie Polsgrove – ASUN). Liberty does boast the reigning CUSA pentathlon champion (Patasha Bryan), who is the only CUSA heptathlete to score 5,000 points thus far in 2024 (5,217 at the Virginia Grand Prix). The last Lady Flame to win conference titles in the pentathlon and heptathlon the same year was Polsgrove (2018 – Big South). That same year saw UTEP's Lucia Mokrasova achieve the same feat in CUSA. FIU's Fabiola Declet was the runner-up behind Bryan in the pentathlon and is also the top returnee from last year's CUSA heptathlon (third place). Louisiana Tech's Johannon Murray claimed the 2022 CUSA heptathlon title before finishing sixth a year ago.
The decathlon 100-meter dash will get things started Friday at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, and the meet will wrap up Sunday at 11 p.m. Eastern with the women's 4 x 400 relay.
The Liberty men's team has captured 16 consecutive outdoor conference titles, including a dozen in the Big South (2007-18) and four in the ASUN (2019, 2021-23). That marks the longest active NCAA Division I men's outdoor track & field conference championship streak in the nation.
Meanwhile, the Lady Flames will look to make it back-to-back outdoor titles after closing out their stay in the ASUN Conference with a team championship in 2023.
Competing at home, Liberty swept the men's and women's team crowns at the 2023 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships in February. If the Flames and Lady Flames can repeat the feat in El Paso, Liberty would join Houston (1998 and 2005) as the only schools ever to claim all four CUSA track & field titles in one year.
This meet is being contested in Texas for the third year in a row but is making its first visit to UTEP since 2017. It will mark the longest Liberty has ever traveled to compete in an outdoor track & field conference meet (1,788 miles), more than tripling the 563 miles it traveled for the ASUN Championship in Jacksonville, Fla. (its previous long).
First-year Liberty assistant Kristian Dillard is well acquainted with El Paso, having run track for UTEP as an undergraduate in 2012 and 2013.
Between El Paso's altitude (3,740 feet) and projected warm, windy conditions, this event will provide athletes in many events with a great final opportunity to post qualifying marks for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds. The meet will be contested at the UK Track & Field Complex, May 22-25 in Lexington, Ky.
How to Follow the Action
Live video streaming will be available on ESPN+ each evening, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Friday, 8 p.m. Eastern Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Live results will be provided by the Black Squirrel Timing Company throughout the meet.
Weather Report
The preliminary forecast for El Paso calls for high temperatures in the mid to upper-80s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with increasing sunshine as the meet progresses. Friday is projected to be the windiest day of the meet, with winds between 15-25 mph out of the east southeast.
Men's Meet Preview
As mentioned previously, the Liberty men's squad is in search of its 17th consecutive outdoor conference title this week. The Flames' road to a championship got a bit easier with five-time defending CUSA outdoor victor Charlotte leaving the conference following last season.
Liberty defeated runner-up Sam Houston by 78 points to capture the CUSA indoor crown in February. The last three years, the CUSA men's indoor team champion went on to hoist the trophy outdoors as well.
The last first-year CUSA member to capture the men's outdoor track & field team championship was UTSA in 2014.
Liberty boasts the No. 1 seed in the following events this week: 200 (Omari Lewis), 800 (Brendan Pitcher), 1,500 (Kyle Harkabus), 5K (Edwin Kiprop), triple jump (Joshua Smith), shot put (Warren Barrett), discus (Desmond Coleman), hammer (John Hicks) and javelin (Ben Shughart).
Eight Flames who captured CUSA indoor event titles in February will attempt to win the corresponding outdoor disciplines this week in El Paso, including Omari Lewis (60/100), Brendan Pitcher (800), Kyle Harkabus (mile/1,500), Edwin Kiprop (5K), Joshua Smith (triple jump), Warren Barrett (shot put), John Hicks (weight throw/hammer) and Anthony Bryan (heptathlon/decathlon).
Women's Meet Preview
Liberty won the CUSA women's indoor track & field team title by 70 points, but the Lady Flames expect a much tougher battle this week in El Paso.
Host UTEP has been ranked among the nation's top 25 teams for most of the season. The Miners were victorious in 2017, the last time UTEP hosted the CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. That year also marked the last time the same CUSA women's team was victorious both indoors and outdoors.
New Mexico State also figures to contend, coming off a WAC championship season in 2023. Both the Aggies and Lady Flames hope to become the first CUSA newcomers to capture the women's outdoor conference title since 2015 (Western Kentucky).
The Lady Flames own CUSA's top marks this season in the 800 (Katelyn Locker), 1,500 (Katelyn Locker), steeplechase (Calli Doan), triple jump (Makenzy Mizera), hammer (Paola Bueno) and heptathlon (Patasha Bryan).
Four different Lady Flames will try to win the corresponding outdoor events after claiming CUSA indoor titles: Reese Webster (60/100), Katelyn Locker (800), Makenzy Mizera (long jump and triple jump) and Patasha Bryan (pentathlon/heptathlon).
Webster is coming off a successful showing at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, where she helped Trinidad and Tobago qualify its women's 4 x 100 relay squad to this summer's Paris Olympics.
Men's 100-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 9:45 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:05 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 10.05 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 10.43
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Rodney Heath Jr. (Louisiana Tech) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 10.04 by Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) in 2022
Liberty Record: 10.08 by Omari Lewis in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Meters): Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 6.67
2024 Leader: Rodney Heath Jr. (Louisiana Tech) – 10.07
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis and Revell Webster
Outlook: Liberty's Omari Lewis has reigned as his conference's "fastest man" at each of his first three conference championship meets to begin the Trinidad and Tobago native's collegiate career, racing to victory in the 2023 ASUN indoor 60, 2023 ASUN outdoor 100 and 2024 CUSA indoor 60. Lewis has twice lowered the Liberty men's 100 record this season, including his 10.08 effort at the Virginia Grand Prix on April 13 which ranks No. 14 nationally. However, Lewis is looking up at 2023 CUSA third-place finisher Rodney Heath Jr. (10.07 season best) of Louisiana Tech on this year's CUSA performance list. A different Liberty Flame has claimed the conference men's 100 title each of the last three years, including Diamantae Griffin – 2021 ASUN, Christian Lyon – 2022 ASUN and Lewis – 2023 ASUN. Lewis will attempt to become the first Flame to win back-to-back conference men's 100 titles since Jeremy Wagner in 2000 and 2001 (Big South). Heath Jr. is one of four Louisiana Tech runners among the top six seeds as the Bulldogs chase their first CUSA crown in this event in a decade.
Men's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 9:40 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:50 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) – 20.43 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Donald McClinton (Liberty) – 20.58
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Abdulraof Rashid (UTEP) – 8th place
Meet Record: 20.28 by Julius Morris (Western Kentucky) in 2017
Liberty Record: 20.38 by Diamantae Griffin in 2022
2024 Indoor Champion: Jayden Jones (Sam Houston) – 20.88
2024 Leader: Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 20.56
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis and Revell Webster
Outlook: Liberty Flames have raced to the men's 200 title at six consecutive outdoor conference championships, dating back to Stephen Racanelli's 2017 Big South crown. Looking to extend that impressive streak is Omari Lewis, who arrives in El Paso as the top seed at 20.56. However, Lewis has yet to capture a 200 conference title in his career. He has finished second, third and fourth in his first three conference 200 finals, including indoor and outdoor. Behind Lewis, three of the next four fastest times belong to freshmen, topped by the 20.69 posted by CUSA indoor champ Jayden Jones of Sam Houston. The last two years, the CUSA 100 champion has gone on to claim the 200 title later in the day. The last Liberty runner to successfully sweep the men's 100 and 200 conference championships was Diamantae Griffin in 2021 (ASUN).
Men's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 9:10 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:50 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Michael Roth (UTSA) – 46.80
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Joshua Hill (UTEP) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 44.53 by Emmanuel Korir (UTEP) in 2017
Liberty Record: 44.86 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata in 2018
2024 Indoor Champion: Julio Pacheco Estrada (UTEP) – 47.22
2024 Leader: Raynell Chambers (FIU) – 46.70
Liberty Entrants: Simon Lamparelli
Outlook: Liberty has struggled in the men's 400 in recent years, as Michael Rose (2021 ASUN) was the last Flame to qualify for an outdoor conference final and Alejandro Perlaza (2019 ASUN, first place) was the Flames' last outdoor all-conference performer. Freshman Simon Lamparelli is the Flames' lone entrant this time around, seeded No. 9 at 48.90. He will be making his first conference meet appearance after missing the CUSA indoor championship due to injury. UTEP has claimed four of the last six CUSA outdoor 400 crowns and boasts the indoor champion (Julio Pacheco Estrada) and the top returnee from 2023 (Joshua Hill – runner-up). However, FIU's Raynell Chambers (46.70) owns the top seed and will seek his school's first-ever CUSA 400 title on Sunday.
Men's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:20 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Yusuf Mohamud (UTEP) – 1:51.17
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 1:47.48 by Michael Saruni (UTEP) in 2017
Liberty Record: 1:48.26 by Brendan Pitcher in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion: Brendan Pitcher (Liberty) – 1:51.77
2024 Leader: Brendan Pitcher (Liberty) – 1:48.26
Liberty Entrants: Brendan Pitcher and Kyle Thrush
Outlook: Fresh off a Liberty-record 1:48.26 clocking at The Hill City Twilight on May 3, Brendan Pitcher owns the fastest time among an anticipated three-way battle with UTEP's Aron Tanui (1:48.93 season best) and Middle Tennessee's Wail Bourahli (1:50.06). Pitcher came from behind to edge Bourahli on the final straightaway to claim his second consecutive indoor conference title in this event in February. Michael Todd was Liberty's most recent outdoor 800 champion (2019 ASUN), while Chris Lyons was the last Flame to sweep the indoor and outdoor 800 titles in the same year (2005 Big South). The last CUSA indoor/outdoor men's 800 champion within the same year was UTEP great Michael Saruni in 2017. UTEP (five titles) and Middle Tennessee (four titles) have combined to capture the last nine CUSA outdoor men's 800 championships.
Men's 1,500-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:15 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alec Esposito (Charlotte) – 3:44.29
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Habtamu Geta (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 3:42.24 by Jacob Choge (Middle Tennessee) in 2021
Liberty Record: 3:40.78 by Kyle Harkabus in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion (Mile): Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 4:06.79
2024 Leader: Kyle Harkabus (Liberty) – 3:40.28
Liberty Entrants: Kyle Harkabus and Edwin Kiprop
Outlook: The reigning CUSA men's mile champion, Liberty's Kyle Harkabus closed out the regular season with a flourish. He posted three men's 1,500 victories in eight days, punctuated by a program-record 3:40.78 effort at The Hill City Twilight on May 3. If Harkabus is able to keep his winning streak alive on Sunday, he would become Liberty's first conference 1,500 titlist since Caleb Edmonds in 2014 (Big South) and the first Flame to sweep a conference's indoor mile and outdoor 1,500 championships in one year since Sam Chelanga in 2009 (Big South). Edwin Kiprop posted a big personal-best time of 3:44.39 last week at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier to set a Liberty freshman record and claim the event's No. 3 seed. The top returnee from last season's CUSA final (fifth place), Middle Tennessee's Habtamu Geta is sandwiched between Harkabus and Kiprop on the CUSA performance list at 3:42.20. UTEP has won the CUSA men's 1,500 title at seven of the last 10 conference championships. CUSA indoor mile third-place finisher Aron Tanui and 2022 CUSA 1,500 champ Kenneth Talavera possess the host team's top chances in the "metric mile" this time around.
Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Victor Kibiego (UTEP) – 8:51.93
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Carmelo Cannizzaro (Middle Tennessee) – 5th place
Meet Record: 8:39.44 by Anthony Rotich (UTEP) in 2013
Liberty Record: 8:32.95 by Felix Kandie in 2021
2024 Leader: Carmelo Cannizzaro (Middle Tennessee) – 8:49.93
Liberty Entrants: Sean Aiken and Gavin Sweeney
Outlook: Middle Tennessee's Carmelo Cannizzaro, last season's fifth-place finisher, is a considerable favorite in Saturday night's steeplechase final with a season-best time of 8:49.93 to his credit. Cannizzarro, who has also lowered his personal bests in the 1,500 (3:50.55) and 5K (14:37.20) since then, will try to earn Middle Tennessee's fifth steeplechase crown in the last eight CUSA championships. Liberty freshmen Sean Aiken (9:21.11) and Gavin Sweeney (9:23.27) are the only other two conference runners to break 9:30 thus far in 2024 in one of CUSA's weaker events.
Men's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 10:05 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Nick Scudder (Charlotte) – 13:51.64
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 4th place
Meet Record: 13:51.64 by Nick Scudder (Charlotte) in 2023
Liberty Record: 13:20.43 by Josh McDougal in 2007
2024 Indoor Champion: Edwin Kiprop (Liberty) – 14:07.46
2024 Leader: Edwin Kiprop (Liberty) – 13:47.63
Liberty Entrants: Edwin Kiprop, Kyle Harkabus, Nicholas Kiprotich, Jacob Hess, Sean Aiken and Gavin Sweeney
Outlook: If Liberty needs team points late in the meet on Sunday, it is well positioned with the conference's only two sub-14:00 5K runners this season (Edwin Kiprop – 13:47.63 and Kyle Harkabus – 13:58.38) at its disposal. Kiprop, whose 13:47.63 effort at the Bryan Clay Invitational set a Liberty freshman record, raced to the CUSA indoor 5K title. Fellow Kenya native Azaria Kirwa (2019 ASUN) was the most recent Flame to sweep the indoor and outdoor 5K conference titles. Jordan McDougal (2006 Big South) was Liberty's last freshman to win an outdoor 5K conference crown. Middle Tennessee's Brian Kiptoo and Habtamu Geta, who placed 2-3 behind Kiprop indoors, also figure to contend for the Blue Raiders' first CUSA outdoor 5K victory since 2019.
Men's 10,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 10:20 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Nick Scudder (Charlotte) – 30:12.99 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Tristian Merchant (Liberty) – 29:26.15
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 28:58.29 by Jacob Choge (Middle Tennessee) in 2021
Liberty Record: 27:08.39 by Sam Chelanga in 2010
2024 Leader: Vincent Yegon (Middle Tennessee) – 30:04.96
Liberty Entrants: Nicholas Kiprotich and Jacob Hess
Outlook: Middle Tennessee's Vincent Yegon is both the top returnee from last year's CUSA 10K final (third place) and the top seed in 2024 (30:04.96). With 2023 ASUN 10K champion Tristian Merchant redshirting this season, Liberty's top hopes lie with 2023 NCAA Division I cross country national qualifier Nicholas Kiprotich (30:21.86 season best). Jacob Hess will also make his first collegiate conference track championship appearance following successful showings in cross country in both 2022 (ASUN Freshman of the Year) and 2023 (CUSA 12th place).
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:35 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 13.50
Defending Champion (ASUN): Felix Lawrence (Liberty) – 14.44
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Eloji
Meet Record: 13.50 by Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) in 2023
Liberty Record: 13.66 by Prosper Ekporere in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Hurdles): Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 7.77
2024 Leader: Jordani Woodley (UTEP) – 13.44
Liberty Entrants: Albrey Gossett, Luke Anderson and Rayshawn Johnson
Outlook: Middle Tennessee's Stephen Eloji is the defending champion in both the CUSA indoor 60 hurdles and outdoor 110 hurdles. This week, he will try to become the first back-to-back champion in this event since 2017 and 2018 (UTSA's Patrick Prince). However, Eloji is seeded second at 13.55 behind UTEP's Jordani Woodley (13.44) in an event where CUSA owns two of the nation's top 25 performers. Albrey Gossett (14.29) and Luke Anderson (14.31) have both joined Liberty's all-time 110 hurdles top 10 list this season. Gossett placed fourth in the indoor 60 hurdles final in February. Best known as a 400 hurdler, Anderson came in fifth in the ASUN 110 hurdles final in 2022.
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 9:05 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:35 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Stephen Eloji (Middle Tennessee) – 52.65 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Rayan Holmes (Liberty) – 51.03
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Eloji
Meet Record: 49.82 by Shakeem Smith (UTEP) in 2021
Liberty Record: 50.27 by Rayan Holmes in 2023
2024 Leader: Laeden Tucker (Louisiana Tech) – 52.92
Liberty Entrants: Jacob Torres, Josh Blalock and Luke Anderson
Outlook: Stephen Eloji of Middle Tennessee is the two-time defending CUSA men's 400 hurdles champion. However, he has not contested the event since crossing the finish line at last year's CUSA meet. If Eloji does run, he will attempt to join Houston's Jason Perez (2008-10) as the only CUSA athletes ever to claim three straight 400 hurdles crowns. If Eloji does not compete, the event could shape up as a dual meet between Liberty and Louisiana Tech. The top five names on the conference performance list are either Flames or Bulldogs, topped by Louisiana Tech's Laeden Tucker at 52.92. First-year Flame Jacob Torres, the No. 2 seed at 53.19, raced to a personal-best 51.90 to win last year's SCIAC championship while competing for Occidental. Luke Anderson's most recent conference 400 hurdles final for Liberty resulted in a personal-best 52.90 clocking for third place in 2022 (ASUN). Liberty Flames have won three straight conference titles in this event, while Louisiana Tech is chasing its first-ever CUSA 400 hurdles crown.
Men's 4 x 100 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: UTSA – 39.59
Meet Record: 38.89 by Southern Miss in 2018
Liberty Record: 39.08 in 2022
2024 Leader: UTEP – 39.71
Outlook: Liberty's men's 4 x 100 relay quartet includes half of Trinidad and Tobago's squad from the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Omari Lewis and Revell Webster. Just last weekend in the Bahamas, Lewis anchored his Trinidad and Tobago team to a 38.46 clocking, just missing Olympics qualification. However, the Flames' top time this season (40.61) ranks only fifth in CUSA. UTEP (39.71) and Sam Houston (39.99) have both dipped below 40 seconds this season. With four sprinters who have run 10.24 or faster in 2024, Louisiana Tech is certainly a threat for its first CUSA 4 x 100 crown since 2014 as well.
Men's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 10:50 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Charlotte – 3:09.76 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Liberty – 3:11.77
Meet Record: 3:04.50 by Western Kentucky in 2019
Liberty Record: 3:07.28 in 1997
2024 Indoor Champion: Louisiana Tech – 3:13.08
2024 Leader: UTEP – 3:12.13
Outlook: Liberty punctuated its time in the ASUN Conference with an improbable victory in last year's men's 4 x 400 relay final. However, only Brendan Pitcher returns from that squad, and it would be even more unlikely for the Flames to win again Sunday night. Host UTEP owns the top seed at 3:12.13, while indoor champion Louisiana Tech aims for its first CUSA outdoor victory in this event.
Men's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Christiaan Le Roux (UTSA) – 25-0.5 (7.63m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 7th place
Meet Record: 26-2.75 (7.99m) by Desmond Mobley (Western Kentucky) in 2018
Liberty Record: 25-6.75 (7.79m) by Chad Wilson in 2004
2024 Indoor Champion: Mateo Smith (Louisiana Tech) – 24-2.5 (7.38m)
2024 Leader: Derrick Warren Jr. (Sam Houston) – 24-11.25 (7.60m)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Ilesanmi
Outlook: Liberty's lone entrant in the long jump, Michael Ilesanmi has yet to record a legal mark this outdoor season. However, the first-year Flame has stepped up during championship season in recent years. His season-best 23-4 leap earned sixth place in the CUSA indoor final. Last May, while competing for Saint Peter's, Ilesanmi sailed over 24 feet on back-to-back weeks to claim MAAC and IC4A long jump titles. Louisiana Tech's Mateo Smith is the top returnee from 2023 (seventh place) and won the CUSA indoor title in February. The last two CUSA indoor long jump champions have gone on to win outdoors too. Derrick Warren Jr. enters as the top seed at 24-11.25 and is one of three Sam Houston athletes among the conference's top six. A different school has won this event each of the last five times it has been contested at the CUSA outdoor championship, a streak which would continue if either Liberty or Sam Houston is victorious on Friday.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Dylan James (UTSA) – 50-10 (15.49m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Justin Eugene (Middle Tennessee) – 10th place
Meet Record: 52-10 (16.10m) by Raphel Martin (Charlotte) in 2000
Liberty Record: 52-1.25 (15.88m) by Clarence Powell in 2010
2024 Indoor Champion: Joshua Smith (Liberty) – 50-0.5 (15.25m)
2024 Leader: Joshua Smith (Liberty) – 48-9 (14.86m)
Liberty Entrants: Joshua Smith, Shane Wang and Michael Ilesanmi
Outlook: Liberty's Joshua Smith has opened his career with back-to-back conference titles in the indoor triple jump. Most recently, he reached a personal-best 50-0.5 to put an exclamation mark on his 2024 CUSA indoor crown. Smith, who is seeking his first outdoor conference title, owns CUSA's top mark of the season by a foot and a half at 48-9. The last Flame to sweep a conference's indoor and outdoor crowns in this event was Darrel Jones in 2018 (Big South), the season he later advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Smith's classmate Shane Wang also figures to contend. He has placed second, third and fourth at his first three collegiate conference triple jump competitions.
Men's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-1 (2.16m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Belik
Meet Record: 7-6.5 (2.30m) by Mickael Hanany (UTEP) in 2006 and 2008
Liberty Record: 7-1 (2.16m) by Kennedy Sauder in 2022, Kyle Wheeler in 2012 and Matt Parker in 2009
2024 Indoor Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 6-11.5 (2.12m)
2024 Leader: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-1.5 (2.17m)
Liberty Entrants: Cole Peterlin
Outlook: Host UTEP will enter a significant favorite in Saturday evening's men's high jump, Jakub Belik. The only CUSA athlete to go over seven feet this season (7-1.5), Belik is the reigning CUSA indoor and outdoor champion. No one has won back-to-back outdoors since Southern Miss' Caleb Parker in 2018 and 2019. Behind junior Belik, the conference's next four highest clearances of this season belong to freshmen. Liberty's only entry is Cole Peterlin, who also plays wide receiver for the Flames' football team. He is making his outdoor season debut in the high jump but cleared 6-6 indoors. Peterlin's best conference finish in this event is fifth at the 2020 ASUN indoor meet.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alexander Slinkman (Rice) – 17-9.75 (5.43m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Kayden Cecil (FIU) – 4th place
Meet Record: 17-9.75 (5.43m) by Alexander Slinkman (Rice) in 2023
Liberty Record: 17-8.5 (5.40m) by Kolby Shepherd in 2012
2024 Indoor Champion: Rylan Olguin (Sam Houston) – 16-8 (5.08m)
2024 Leader: Rylan Olguin (Sam Houston) – 17-5.5 (5.32m)
Liberty Entrants: Hunter Flack
Outlook: As was the case indoors, pole vault is arguably Sam Houston's strongest outdoor event. Led by indoor champion and top seed Rylan Olguin (17-5.5), three Bearkats rank among the conference's top four seeds. The lone interloper is FIU's Ethan Riley, the No. 2 seed (16-11) in search of the Panthers' first CUSA championship in this event. Liberty's Hunter Flack stepped up for a third-place finish indoors and has since improved his personal best to 16-0.75 at the Florida Relays. Flack is a three-time all-conference pole vaulter for his career, including twice in the ASUN and once in CUSA.
Men's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:45 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Sam Welsh (Rice) – 57-10.25 (17.63m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Cobe Graham (Sam Houston) – 58-10 (17.93m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Kaison Barton (Western Kentucky) – 10th place
Meet Record: 65-9.75 (20.06m) by Richard Garrett (UTSA) in 2014
Liberty Record: 64-9.75 (19.75m) by Kyle Mitchell in 2021
2024 Indoor Champion: Warren Barrett (Liberty) – 61-2 (18.64m)
2024 Leader: Warren Barrett (Liberty) – 61-9 (18.82m)
Liberty Entrants: Warren Barrett, Jordae Edwards and Beau Backes
Outlook: Interestingly, Liberty's Warren Barrett owns more All-America honors (2) than conference titles (1) in the shot put during his career, and all of those accolades have been achieved indoors. Barrett's lone conference shot put crown came at the CUSA indoor championship in February, and he will now attempt to become the first Flame since Ryan Smith in 2013 to claim indoor and outdoor shot put titles during the same year. Barrett currently ranks No. 28 nationally with a season best of 61-9. That puts him more than four feet past second seed Dominykas Cepys of Sam Houston. Liberty freshman Jordae Edwards stepped up with a big personal-best mark of 55-6.25 at the Virginia High Performance, putting him into contention for a podium finish after coming in ninth indoors.
Men's Discus
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Sam Welsh (Rice) – 195-5 (59.56m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Luke Stegman (Western Kentucky) – 11th place
Meet Record: 195-5 (59.56m) by Sam Welsh (Rice) in 2023
Liberty Record: 204-3 (62.26m) by Clendon Henderson in 2008
2024 Leader: Desmond Coleman (Liberty) – 198-7 (60.53m)
Liberty Entrants: Desmond Coleman, Christian Hicks, Beau Backes, Jason Hayes and John Hicks
Outlook: Gone (and now part of Liberty's coaching staff) is two-time men's discus All-American Kevin Nedrick. But this is still a strong event for the Flames, as Desmond Coleman (198-7), Christian Hicks (178-1) and Beau Backes (177-7) rank 1-4-5 in the CUSA standings. Hicks (No. 42 in the East Region) and Backes (No. 44 in the East Region) would not mind improving their chances at qualifying to the NCAA Division I East First Rounds. No. 2 seed Aleks Hristov of UTEP won this event in 2022, one of two CUSA discus titles the Miners have claimed. UTEP is the only current conference member ever to win a CUSA men's discus competition, and all of last year's top 10 CUSA men's discus finishers have departed.
Men's Javelin
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Zion Hill (North Texas) – 221-7 (67.53m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Ethan Mylin (Liberty) – 215-2 (65.59m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Blake Orr (FIU) – 5th place
Meet Record: 254-4 (77.53m) by John Ampomah (Middle Tennessee) in 2016
Liberty Record: 234-11 (71.61m) by Steve Feister in 2016
2024 Leader: Ben Shughart (Liberty) – 226-9 (69.11m)
Liberty Entrants: Ben Shughart and Cole Peterlin
Outlook: Liberty's Ethan Mylin was a surprise ASUN men's javelin champion a year ago. He will be unable to chase another conference title on Friday, but last year's ASUN runner-up (the Flames' Ben Shughart) enters as a significant favorite. His personal-best mark of 226-9 at UCLA on April 13 is tops in the conference by over 17 feet. Blake Orr, the only other CUSA thrower over 200 feet (209-8) will attempt to become FIU's first CUSA champion in this event.
Men's Hammer
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Shaun Kerry (Rice) – 210-8 (64.21m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Luke Thielemann (Sam Houston) – 201-0 (61.26m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Kaison Barton (Western Kentucky) – 5th place
Meet Record: 225-11 (68.86m) by Steffen Nerdal (Memphis) in 2010
Liberty Record: 222-4 (67.76m) by Jon Hart in 2008
2024 Indoor Champion (Weight): John Hicks (Liberty) – 68-4.5 (20.84m)
2024 Leader: John Hicks (Liberty) – 218-6 (66.59m)
Liberty Entrants: John Hicks, Kellen Kimes, Desmond Coleman, Christian Hicks and Jason Hayes
Outlook: Liberty's John Hicks, who captured ASUN men's hammer titles in 2021 and 2022, will aim to become the Flames' first-ever three-time conference champion in this event. He owns CUSA's top seed at 218-6. That puts him 10.5 feet ahead of teammate Kellen Kimes, who has taken down Hicks' Liberty freshman record with a mark of 208-0 that ranks No. 2 in CUSA this season and No. 3 in program history. After just two hammer competitions, Desmond Coleman already ranks No. 4 on Liberty's all-time list at 200-4. Sam Houston also boasts a pair of title contenders in seniors Brian Orlando (205-2 season best) and Luke Thielemann (203-6). Thielemann was last year's WAC men's hammer champion.
Men's Decathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at 11:30 a.m. Eastern; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 11 a.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Jack Turner (UTSA) – 8,011 (Third in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Daniel Van Duren (Liberty) – 6,617
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Jalen Cadet (UTEP) – 6th place
Meet Record: 8,011 by Jack Turner (UTSA) in 2023
Liberty Record: 7,800 by Brandon Hoskins in 2008
2024 Indoor Champion (Heptathlon): Anthony Bryan (Liberty) – 5,187
2024 Leader: Jack Johnston (Sam Houston) – 5,824
Liberty Entrants: Samuel O'Regan and Anthony Bryan
Outlook: CUSA heptathlon champion Anthony Bryan will contest his first decathlon since winning the 2022 ASUN title with a personal-best score of 6,956. He fared well at last week's Liberty Twilight Qualifier at his home facility, recording a lifetime-best 44-11.5 shot put while pole vaulting 15-0 and clocking a season-best 110 hurdles time of 14.42. Sam Houston freshman Jack Johnston (5,824 points) owns the best mark among the CUSA athletes who have completed a decathlon in 2024. Bryan and younger sister Patasha swept the CUSA indoor combined event titles for Liberty, something they will attempt to do in El Paso as well.
Women's 100-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:10 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 11.34
Defending Champion (ASUN): Isis Brooks (Liberty) – 11.40
Defending Champion (WAC): Rajer Gurode (Sam Houston) – 11.41
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Burgher
Meet Record: 11.09 by Octavious Freeman (UCF) in 2012
Liberty Record: 11.23 by Isis Brooks in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Meters): Reese Webster (Liberty) – 7.32
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 11.12
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster and Elle Bass
Outlook: Liberty won the women's 100 each of its last three years in the ASUN Conference. Coming back from a successful World Athletics Relays appearance, first-year Lady Flame Reese Webster (personal-best 11.36 at the Florida Relays) ranks No. 2 in program history behind only 2022 and 2023 ASUN champ Isis Brooks (11.23). Webster raced to the CAA 100 title a year ago as an Elon freshman, but she is only seeded No. 4 in CUSA heading to El Paso. Defending champion Niesha Burgher of host UTEP clocked 11.12 at the Texas Relays, ranking No. 9 nationally. As a result, she is favored to become the first repeat champion of this event since 2012 and 2013 (UCF's Octavious Freeman). If Webster is victorious Sunday evening, she would become the first CUSA woman to win the indoor 60 and outdoor 100 in the same year since 2019 (FAU's Natalliah Whyte).
Women's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 10 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:55 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Ta-Halia Fairman (Charlotte) – 23.05 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Isis Brooks (Liberty) – 23.09
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 23.37
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 22.66 by Ebonie Floyd (Houston) in 2006
Liberty Record: 23.09 by Isis Brooks in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.97
2024 Leader: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.85
Liberty Entrants: Reese Webster, Amy Ambelang and Elle Bass
Outlook: The 200 is another event where Liberty's Reese Webster (23.29) already ranks No. 2 in program history behind 2023 ASUN champion Isis Brooks (23.09). However, Webster again sits No. 4 in CUSA this season. Indoor CUSA champion and All-American Niesha Burgher of UTEP leads the way at 22.85. She was the runner-up a year ago and will chase the Miners' first outdoor 200 title since 2016. No. 3 seed Jhana Downie of New Mexico State (23.18 season best) raced to the WAC outdoor 200 championship a year ago.
Women's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 9:25 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:55 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Maya Singletary (Charlotte) – 52.03 (Third in a row)
Defending Champion (WAC): Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 52.72
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Leonie Beu (Middle Tennessee) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 51.74 by Ebonie Floyd (Houston) in 2007
Liberty Record: 53.28 by Ty'Asia Dansbury in 2019
2024 Indoor Champion: Jackeria Woodkins (Sam Houston) – 54.38
2024 Leader: Jhana Downie (New Mexico State) – 53.45
Liberty Entrants: Maddy Merritt
Outlook: New Mexico State's Jhana Downie, the 2023 WAC outdoor 400 titlist, is the only CUSA runner to break 54 seconds so far this season. The junior has done so all three times she has contested the event, including a season best of 53.45. Middle Tennessee's Leonie Beu (runner-up) is the top returnee from the 2023 CUSA final and is seeded third at 54.25. Indoor champion Jackeria Woodkins of Sam Houston has not competed at all outdoors. Liberty's lone entrant, freshman Maddy Merrit owns CUSA's 18th-fastest time of the year at 57.41. As a result, the Lady Flames are unlikely to record their first podium finish in this event since Ty'Asia Dansbury raced to the 2019 ASUN tile.
Women's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 8:40 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:25 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Jessica Lambert (Florida Atlantic) – 2:06.95
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Pamela Milano (Middle Tennessee) – 4th place
Meet Record: 2:04.54 by Abike Egbeniyi (Middle Tennessee) in 2019
Liberty Record: 2:04.46 by Katelyn Locker in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 2:06.99
2024 Leader: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 2:04.46
Liberty Entrants: Katelyn Locker and Jessica Palisca
Outlook: The last two CUSA indoor 800 champions have gone on to collect the outdoor title, a trend Katelyn Locker hopes to continue in El Paso. She has enjoyed a record-breaking year, taking down the CUSA indoor meet record with a 2:06.99 and breaking Jaime Watson's 14-year-old Liberty outdoor standard with her 2:04.46 effort at the Bryan Clay Invitational. With the fastest time by a CUSA runner since 2019, Locker has put herself in position to become the first Lady Flame since Delaney McDowell (2017 Big South) to win indoor and outdoor 800 titles during the same year. Locker has won one outdoor conference title at the 800 distance during her career, taking the MAAC championship as a Monmouth freshman in 2021. Last year's CUSA fourth-place finisher outdoors and the indoor runner-up to Locker, Middle Tennessee's Pamela Milano has clocked 2:08.87 this season. Middle Tennessee had recorded six consecutive CUSA outdoor 800 victories before FAU's Jessica Lambert ended the streak in 2023.
Women's 1,500-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8:15 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:25 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alyssa Balandran (Rice) – 4:33.75
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Ruth Jerubet (UTEP) – 6th place
Meet Record: 4:14.42 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Liberty Record: 4:14.71 by Heather Sagan in 2002
2024 Indoor Champion (Mile): Valerie Lastra (FIU) – 4:39.98
2024 Leader: Katelyn Locker (Liberty) – 4:19.04
Liberty Entrants: Katelyn Locker, Ryann Aycock and Ava Gordon
Outlook: With teammate Calli Doan focusing on other events, Katelyn Locker also enters as a favorite in the 1,500 with her personal best of 4:19.04 from the Virginia Challenge. Doan was Liberty's last conference champion in the "metric mile," nabbing ASUN victory as a freshman in 2019. Coach Heather (Sagan) Zealand is the only Lady Flame who has won conference titles in both the 800 and 1,500 at the same meet, doing so in the Big South in 2000 and 2002. FIU's Valerie Lastra was dominant in the CUSA indoor mile final and has clocked 4:21.35 outdoors. The Panthers are seeking their first CUSA 1,500 crown. Liberty freshman Ryann Aycock will look to continue her impressive progression in the 1,500 this season. Her times have progressed from 4:44.21 to 4:39.15 to 4:33.92 to 4:30.07. Aycock took seventh in the CUSA indoor mile final in February.
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 11 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Karoline Daland (Charlotte) – 10:34.47 (Second in a row)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Calli Doan (Liberty) – 10:12.31
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Ruth Jerubet (UTEP) – 5th place
Meet Record: 10:00.77 by Brianna Dahm (Marquette) in 2002
Liberty Record: 9:52.15 by Calli Doan in 2023
2024 Leader: Calli Doan (Liberty) – 10:03.90
Liberty Entrants: Calli Doan, Katrina Schlenker, Kristiana Young and Sophia Park
Outlook: One of the largest favorites at this meet, Liberty's Calli Doan is a returning All-American in the steeplechase after placing 11th in last year's NCAA national final. Her lone steeplechase thus far in 2024 resulted in a 10:03.90 at the Bryan Clay Invitational. That ranks No. 21 nationally, was the fastest time by a CUSA runner in 15 years and tops the conference leaderboard by 39 seconds this season. Doan is already the only Lady Flame to collect multiple conference titles in the steeplechase, winning ASUN crowns in 2021 and 2023. Middle Tennessee's Tshwanelo Maruping (10:42.71) is the only other CUSA athlete to break 11 minutes this season. Liberty also hopes for additional points in this event. Kristiana Young took eighth in the ASUN final a year ago in a personal-best 11:12.16. Teammate Katrina Schlenker's promising steeplechase debut resulted in a victory in 11:31.22 at the Hornet Open.
Women's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 10:25 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Faith Nyathi (Middle Tennessee) – 16:50.26
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Nyathi
Meet Record: 16:05.29 by Elinor Kirk (UAB) in 2014
Liberty Record: 15:48.63 by Ednah Kurgat in 2016
2024 Indoor Champion: Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 16:46.52
2024 Leader: Odilia Jepchumba (Middle Tennessee) – 16:00.00
Liberty Entrants: Ryann Aycock, Sophia Park, Calli Doan, Ava Gordon, Katrina Schlenker and Kristiana Young and Jamie Anderson
Outlook: Liberty's Calli Doan is set to contest the outdoor 5K for just the third time in her career. The first saw her place sixth in the ASUN final as a freshman in 2019 and the second was a 15:51.38 (No. 2 in program history) at Wake Forest a year ago. Doan could be trying to join SMU's Silje Fjortoft (2008) as the only CUSA women's runner ever to win both the steeplechase and 5K at the same meet. Middle Tennessee ranks 1-2-3 in CUSA this season, including Odilia Jepchumba (16:00.00), Faith Nyathi (16:03.77) and Purity Sanga (16:19.68). Jepchumba was overtaken at the finish line for the win by Liberty's Adelyn Fairley (who is redshirting outdoors) in the CUSA indoor 5K. Nyathi is the defending outdoor champion in this event. Sanga was the CUSA women's cross country individual champion this past fall.
Women's 10,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Caitlin Wosika (Rice) – 36:10.93
Defending Champion (ASUN): Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 35:44.07
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Faith Nyathi (Middle Tennessee) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 33:50.06 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Liberty Record: 33:49.00 by Adelyn Ackley-Fairley in 2022
2024 Leader: Odilia Jepchumba (Middle Tennessee) – 33:16.76
Liberty Entrants: Jamie Anderson
Outlook: Middle Tennessee has never won the CUSA women's 10K, somewhat remarkably given its tradition of distance success. That could change late Friday night, as Odilia Jepchumba (33:16.76), Purity Sanga (33:23.07) and Faith Nyathi (33:27.42) rank 1-2-3 in the conference this season. Nyathi was the runner-up a year ago. Liberty's only entry is sixth-year senior Jamie Anderson. She owns a 38:21.04 personal best and scored points in the ASUN 10K twice (fifth place in 2019 and seventh in 2021). Teammate Adelyn Fairley won the ASUN 10K final a year ago but is redshirting the current season.
Women's 100-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 8:50 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 8:40 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 13.27
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Simpson
Meet Record: 12.80 by Tobi Amusan (UTEP) in 2017
Liberty Record: 13.15 by Indea Cartwright in 2024
2024 Indoor Champion (60 Hurdles): Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.12
2024 Leader: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 12.92
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright and Amani Hankton
Outlook: Prior to this season, Olivia Charnuski's 13.65 clocking had stood as Liberty's women's 100 hurdles record since 2010. Indea Cartwright has shaved a half second off the mark, taking it all the way down to 13.15 at last week's Liberty Twilight Qualifier. She ranks No. 3 in CUSA this year, trailing two-time hurdles All-American Marissa Simpson of UTEP (12.92) and Aliyah Logan of New Mexico State (13.06). Simpson is the reigning CUSA indoor 60 hurdles and outdoor 100 hurdles champion. She will try to become the first back-to-back CUSA victor in this event since UTEP great and 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan in 2016 and 2017. UTEP is the only current conference member to win a CUSA women's 100 hurdles title. Liberty is seeking its first 100 hurdles crown since Jada Thomas was victorious in 2019, the Lady Flames' first year of ASUN membership. The last time Cartwright raced the 100 hurdles at a conference meet, she was the Summit League runner-up for Oral Roberts in 2022.
Women's 400-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Saturday at 9:20 p.m. Eastern; Final – Sunday at 9:40 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Alanah Yukich (UTSA) – 57.55 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Loubna Benhadja (UTEP) – 2nd place
Meet Record: 56.89 by Faith Roberson (UTSA) in 2021
Liberty Record: 58.46 by Kimone Green in 2018
2024 Leader: Loubna Benhadja (UTEP) – 58.03
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright
Outlook: UTEP's Loubna Benhadja, the 2023 CUSA 400 hurdles runner-up, is the top seed entering this year's meet. Her time of 58.03 is just ahead of New Mexico State's Terice Steen (58.59). Liberty will enter Indea Cartwright. Her lone 400 hurdles effort of the season, a 1:02.78 at the Virginia Grand Prix, ranks No. 10 in CUSA. But Cartwright owns a 1:00.55 personal best and was the 2021 Summit League runner-up for Oral Roberts.
Women's 4 x 100 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 8:05 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Charlotte – 44.53
Meet Record: 43.42 by UCF in 2011 and 2012
Liberty Record: 44.80 in 2018
2024 Leader: UTEP – 44.18
Outlook: After helping Trinidad and Tobago punch its 4 x 100 relay ticket to the Paris Olympics, Reese Webster will try to help the Lady Flames improve upon their season best of 46.83 and No. 7 CUSA seed. UTEP (44.18) and New Mexico State (44.64) have both broken 45 seconds this season. The Miners are in search of their first conference 4 x 100 victory since 2017.
Women's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 11 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: UTEP – 3:38.87
Meet Record: 3:34.76 by Charlotte in 2019
Liberty Record: 3:33.20 in 2019
2024 Indoor Champion: UTEP – 3:38.55
2024 Leader: New Mexico State – 3:35.78
Outlook: New Mexico State owns CUSA's fastest 4 x 400 time of 2024 at 3:35.78. Meanwhile, UTEP is the reigning CUSA indoor and outdoor champion, entering with a 3:38.00 season best. The Miners hope to become the first repeat titlist in this event since Middle Tennessee in 2017 and 2018.
Women's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Oreoluwa Adamson (UTSA) – 20-5 (6.22m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Lynnika Vance (Middle Tennessee) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 22-7.75 (6.90m) by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2009
Liberty Record: 20-8 (6.30m) by Ayanna Johnson in 2022
2024 Indoor Champion: Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 19-9.5 (6.03m)
2024 Leader: A'reil Williams (Louisiana Tech) – 19-10.25 (6.05m)
Liberty Entrants: Makenzy Mizera and Rebecca Allen
Outlook: CUSA's top three women's long jumpers this season (Louisiana Tech's A'reil Williams – 19-10.25, Liberty's Makenzy Mizera – 19-9 and New Mexico State's Cameron Hodges – 19-8.75) are separated by just 1.5 inches. The indoor conference champion (who needed only one attempt to claim the victory), Mizera will aim for her first career outdoor conference title of any kind. Liberty has not won an outdoor conference long jump crown since 2003 (Danielle McNaney – Big South), and it has been since 2000 (Robin Williams – Big South) that a Lady Flame was victorious both indoors and outdoors the same year. Lady Flames sophomore Rebecca Allen could also contend for her first career all-conference medal. She placed fourth indoors and has climbed to No. 7 on Liberty's all-time outdoor long jump list with a 19-4 leap at the Virginia Challenge. If Williams wins on Friday, she would be Louisiana Tech's first CUSA champion in this event in a decade.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Oreoluwa Adamson (UTSA) – 41-7.75 (12.69m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Tia Reder (Louisiana Tech) – 9th place
Meet Record: 46-0.5 (14.03m) by Ganna Demydova (Southern Miss) in 2012
Liberty Record: 42-6 (12.95m) by Makenzy Mizera in 2021
2024 Indoor Champion: Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 39-10.75 (12.16m)
2024 Leader: Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 41-6 (12.65m)
Liberty Entrants: Makenzy Mizera, Rebecca Allen, Kacy Cox and Maddy Hunt
Outlook: Liberty's Makenzy Mizera owns a triple jump season best of 41-6, putting her nearly two feet in front of any other CUSA athlete and making her the favorite to claim the Lady Flames' first outdoor conference title in this event since 2015 (Janae Jones – Big South). If Mizera is successful on Sunday, she would become the first Lady Flame to sweep the indoor and outdoor conference long jump crowns since 2011 (Mia Aghaji – Big South). The last five CUSA outdoor women's long jump champions have also won the triple jump, dating back to 2018. No Lady Flame has pulled off the double victory in the horizontal jumps outdoors since 1995 (Anna-Kate Jarman – Big South). Middle Tennessee has a pair of talented freshmen in this event, including indoor runner-up Viktoria Rusnakova and outdoor No. 2 seed Laura Odivwri (39-8.5). Liberty's Kacy Cox and Rebecca Allen placed 4-5 in this event indoors.
Women's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Katie Isenbarger (Western Kentucky) – 5-10.5 (1.79m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Isenbarger
Meet Record: 6-3.5 (1.92m) by Gaelle Niare (SMU) in 2006
Liberty Record: 5-10 (1.78m) by Kena Butts in 2005
2024 Indoor Champion: Emilia Lesniak (Western Kentucky) – 5-8.75 (1.75m)
2024 Leader: Katie Isenbarger (Western Kentucky) – 6-2 (1.88m)
Liberty Entrants: Eva Whiteman, Paige Greenhagel and Kacy Cox
Outlook: The women's high jump is Western Kentucky's strongest event, led by two-time CUSA outdoor champion (2019 and 2023) Katie Isenbarger. She is tied for No. 6 nationally with a personal-best 6-2 clearance at the Music City Challenge and is favored to become this event's first back-to-back winner since FIU's Clarissa Cutliff took three in a row between 2016-18. The Lady Toppers' impressive high jump group also features indoor runner-up Grace Turner (5-9.25 season best) and indoor victor Emilia Lesniak (5-8.75). Louisiana Tech freshman A'reil Williams (5-9.25) owns the best opportunity on paper of preventing a possible Western Kentucky podium sweep Sunday evening during the meet's final field event. Liberty freshman Eva Whiteman cleared 5-8 a year ago as a high school senior. She made it over a collegiate-best 5-6 at last week's Liberty Twilight Qualifier and hopes to improve upon her eighth-place showing in the CUSA indoor high jump. The Lady Flames' Kacy Cox tied for third in the 2023 ASUN indoor high jump and is entered in Sunday's competition. However, she has not high jumped in a meet since January.
Women's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Filippa Miller (FIU) – 14-3.25 (4.35m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Taylen Langin (Liberty) – 13-3.75 (4.06m)
Defending Champion (WAC): Rachel Maciejeski (Sam Houston) – 13-2.25 (4.02m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 14-3.25 (4.35m) by Filippa Miller (FIU) in 2023
Liberty Record: 14-3.25 (4.35m) by Andrea Wildrick in 2002
2024 Indoor Champion: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-4.5 (4.08m)
2024 Leader: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-11.75 (4.26m)
Liberty Entrants: Katie Urbine, Mia Bowers and Colleen Schaner
Outlook: The women's pole vault could see a three-way battle between one veteran (FIU's Nicole Janse Van Rensburg with a 13-11.75 season best) and a pair of freshmen (UTEP's Alla Parnov – 13-11.25 and Liberty's Katie Urbine – 13-9.25). Janse Van Rensburg was the indoor champion in February and is the top returnee from the 2023 CUSA outdoor pole vault competition (third place). Parnov will aim for UTEP's first CUSA title in this event, while Urbine hopes to bring Liberty its fourth straight outdoor women's pole vault conference crown. Current assistant Taylen (Langin) Rey claimed the last three ASUN outdoor pole vault titles. Urbine has broken Rey's Liberty freshman record and already matched her career-best clearance of 13-9.25. A Liberty freshman has never won an outdoor women's pole vault conference title. Charlotte's Riley Felts was the last CUSA freshman to do so in 2019. The field also includes last year's WAC champion (Sam Houston's Rachel Maciejeski) and a pair of Lady Flames who have previously earned all-conference honors. Mia Bowers was a two-time All-ASUN pole vaulter, while Colleen Schaner stepped up for a third-place CUSA finish indoors behind Janse Van Rensburg and Parnov following the only no-height to date in Urbine's collegiate career.
Women's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: KeAyla Dove (North Texas) – 62-2.25 (18.95m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Lizbeth Fierro (UTEP) – 11th place
Meet Record: 62-2.25 (18.95m) by KeAyla Dove (North Texas) in 2023
Liberty Record: 53-0.75 (16.17m) by Naomi Mojica in 2021
2024 Indoor Champion: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 52-2.75 (15.92m)
2024 Leader: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 54-5.25 (16.59m)
Liberty Entrants: Megan Mann, Efe Latham and Kali Grayson
Outlook: In an event where the top 10 finishers from the 2023 CUSA championship have departed, the first seven names on this year's conference shot put list hail from first-year CUSA members. Rebecca Green paces a group of four New Mexico State Aggies among CUSA's top seven women's shot putters. CUSA indoor champion Green's mark of 54-5.25 ranks No. 1 in the conference by more than four feet and sits No. 34 nationally. Liberty's Megan Mann extended her personal best to 48-11 at the Pacific Coast Invitational a month ago. That puts Mann No. 3 on the CUSA list this season as the indoor runner-up aims for her fifth career all-conference medal in the shot put. First-year Lady Flame Efe Latham has made significant improvements in the shot put this season. Most recently, her personal-best 46-1.5 performance at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier moved Latham up to No. 6 in CUSA this year and No. 7 all-time at Liberty.
Women's Discus
Event Schedule: Final – Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Sarah Pullium (Charlotte) – 171-1 (52.16m)
Defending Champion (ASUN): Megan Mann (Liberty) – 162-4 (49.49m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Fabrienne Foster (FIU) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 191-9 (58.44m) by Dayana Octavian (South Florida) in 2004
Liberty Record: 179-6 (54.71m) by Chelsea Igberaese in 2019
2024 Leader: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 191-4 (58.32m)
Liberty Entrants: Megan Mann and Annika Hantho
Outlook: The Lady Flames have been victorious in seven of their last 11 conference discus competitions, including Megan Mann's ASUN victory a year ago. No Lady Flame has captured back-to-back discus titles since Jennifer Nicholson Smith in 2014 and 2015. Mann's personal-best 166-3 mark from her season opener at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge has her listed No. 3 in CUSA and a tenuous No. 45 in the East Region. Teammate Annika Hantho's 157-7 season best sits No. 7 in CUSA and No. 75 in the East, so she will need a big improvement to throw the discus at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds for the second year in a row. FIU's Michaelle Valentin ranks No. 14 nationally at 191-4 and tops the CUSA performance list by 22 feet. She is favored to win FIU's first CUSA discus crown since 2016. Last year, Valentin came in just 10th at this meet. But she rebounded to place 10th at the NCAA national championship a month later to earn second team All-America honors.
Women's Javelin
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Arianne Morais (UTEP) – 179-3 (54.65m)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Morais
Meet Record: 185-2 (56.45m) by Erma Gene Evans (UTEP) in 2007
Liberty Record: 161-7 (49.26m) by Brenna Smith in 2018
2024 Leader: Arianne Morais (UTEP) – 187-10 (57.26m)
Liberty Entrants: Addilae Watts and Kali Grayson
Outlook: The women's javelin is one of CUSA's best and deepest events. Addilae Watts (158-3 season best) and Kali Grayson (156-5) are two of Liberty's top three javelin throwers in program history, but they rank just No. 5 and 6, respectively, in CUSA this season. Watts only needed a 140-3 effort to win the Horizon League javelin title as a Youngstown State freshman a year ago. Defending CUSA champion Arianne Morais leads the conference and ranks No. 3 nationally with her 187-10 bomb at the Mt. SAC Relays. The last CUSA thrower to claim back-to-back javelin titles was FIU's Rhema Otabor in 2021 and 2022. Notably, Otabor is currently the NCAA's national leader at 193-11 as a senior at Nebraska. Even with Otabor's departure, this is still a strong event for FIU. Four of the conference's top 10 javelin throwers this season are Panthers, led by Christiana Ellina (172-2). She sits No. 2 behind Morais in CUSA and No. 22 nationally.
Women's Hammer
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) – 222-8 (67.86m) (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 3rd place
Meet Record: 227-8 (69.39m) by Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) in 2022
Liberty Record: 209-4 (63.80m) by Paola Bueno in 2023
2024 Indoor Champion (Weight): Elizabeth Alfred (FIU) – 68-2.25 (20.78m)
2024 Leader: Paola Bueno (Liberty) – 206-2 (62.83m)
Liberty Entrants: Paola Bueno, Annika Hantho, Megan Mann and Efe Latham
Outlook: CUSA's top three performers in the women's hammer this season are separated by only eight inches, including Liberty's Paola Bueno (206-2), Western Kentucky's Ajla Basic (206-1) and FIU's Michaelle Valentin (205-6). Valentin, who came in third a year ago, hopes to give FIU its first CUSA hammer crown since 2018. Basic is chasing WKU's first CUSA hammer victory since 2015. Annika Hantho has made significant strides in the hammer for Liberty this season, pushing her personal best from 170-11 to 199-4. Her best career conference finish in the hammer is seventh, but she enters Saturday's competition as the No. 4 seed. Teammate Megan Mann is seeded No. 5 at 190-2 but sits a precarious No. 45 in the East Region in a second event (also discus). Efe Latham gives the Lady Flames a fourth potential scorer, as her personal best of 174-8 is good for the No. 9 seed. Latham came in third in the hammer at the 2023 NJCAA national meet for Barton County Community College.
Women's Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at Noon Eastern; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern
Defending Champion: Eliza Kraule (Rice) – 5,501
Top Returnee from 2023 Meet: Fabiola Declet (FIU) – 4th place
Meet Record: 5,832 by Elizabeth Dadzie (Middle Tennessee) in 2017
Liberty Record: 5,504 by Danielle McNaney in 2005
2024 Indoor Champion (Pentathlon): Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 3,791
2024 Leader: Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 5,217
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel and Sofia Van Arsdale
Outlook: Somewhat surprisingly given Liberty's history of success in the combined events, the Lady Flames are seeking their first conference heptathlon title since 2019 (Kylie Polsgrove – ASUN). Liberty does boast the reigning CUSA pentathlon champion (Patasha Bryan), who is the only CUSA heptathlete to score 5,000 points thus far in 2024 (5,217 at the Virginia Grand Prix). The last Lady Flame to win conference titles in the pentathlon and heptathlon the same year was Polsgrove (2018 – Big South). That same year saw UTEP's Lucia Mokrasova achieve the same feat in CUSA. FIU's Fabiola Declet was the runner-up behind Bryan in the pentathlon and is also the top returnee from last year's CUSA heptathlon (third place). Louisiana Tech's Johannon Murray claimed the 2022 CUSA heptathlon title before finishing sixth a year ago.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Hammer
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
High Jump
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and FieldPaola Bueno: Representing Liberty and Mexico
Thursday, January 29
The Sherard Family: On the Court and on the Track
Wednesday, January 21
Allie Zealand Talks About The Cross Country & Indoor Track Season
Friday, December 12
Coach Zealand & Ryann Aycock Give An Update On The Cross Country Season
Wednesday, September 17