(L-R): Four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team members Calli Doan, John Hicks and Makenzy Mizera
19 Flames, Both Liberty Teams Earn USTFCCCA Academic Awards
7/15/2024 2:33:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The 2023-24 Liberty men's and women's track & field squads were each honored as U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams. Meanwhile, 19 individual Flames and Lady Flames garnered USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition of their own.
The Lady Flames posted a 3.52 team GPA, while the men's squad recorded a 3.33 team GPA.
Liberty's 19 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honorees are the second most in program history, trailing only the 20 Flames who garnered this honor in 2021.
Ten men's athletes earned this award, including Beau Backes, Warren Barrett, Kyle Harkabus, Christian Hicks, John Hicks, Kellen Kimes, Omari Lewis, Brendan Pitcher, Ben Shughart and Joshua Smith.
They were joined by nine Lady Flames, including Patasha Bryan, Paola Bueno, Calli Doan, Annika Hantho, Katelyn Locker, Megan Mann, Makenzy Mizera, Katie Urbine and Addilae Watts.
John Hicks, Doan and Mizera each made the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the fourth time. They join Jovaine Atkinson and Taylen Langin as the only Flames ever to make four appearances in program history.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team individually, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met at least one of the following athletic standards. For the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or in the national top 48 in a relay event. For the outdoor season, a student athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including the NCAA Division I East First Rounds).
Liberty's 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Members
Beau Backes (Throws, Lindstrom, Minn.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.28
Major: Business (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2022, 2024
Warren Barrett (Throws, Montego Bay, Jamaica)
Cumulative GPA: 3.27
Major: Sport Management (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2024
Kyle Harkabus (Distance, Senoia, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.65
Major: Sport Management
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Christian Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.54
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
John Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.60
Major: MBA
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Kellen Kimes (Throws, Ludington, Mich.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Biomedical Sciences
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Omari Lewis (Sprints, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago)
Cumulative GPA: 3.49
Major: Economics
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Brendan Pitcher (Mid-Distance, Mason, Ohio)
Cumulative GPA: 3.59
Major: Developmental Psychology
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Ben Shughart (Javelin, Shippensburg, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Sport Management
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Joshua Smith (Jumps, South Fulton, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.61
Major: Biomedical Sciences
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Patasha Bryan (Heptathlon, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.78
Major: Sport Management
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Paola Bueno (Throws, Nayarit, Mexico)
Cumulative GPA: 3.96
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Calli Doan (Distance, Apex, N.C.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Health Sciences (Ph.D.)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Annika Hantho (Throws, Mannington, N.J.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.89
Major: Nursing
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Katelyn Locker (Mid-Distance, Elizabethtown, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.51
Major: Health Promotion
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Megan Mann (Throws, Mechanicsville, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.55
Major: Nursing
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Makenzy Mizera (Jumps, Maryville, Mo.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.91
Major: Human Performance (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
Katie Urbine (Pole Vault, Quarryville, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Mechanical Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Addilae Watts (Javelin, New Castle, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Business Administration and Data Analytics
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023 (at Youngstown State), 2024
The Lady Flames posted a 3.52 team GPA, while the men's squad recorded a 3.33 team GPA.
Liberty's 19 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honorees are the second most in program history, trailing only the 20 Flames who garnered this honor in 2021.
Ten men's athletes earned this award, including Beau Backes, Warren Barrett, Kyle Harkabus, Christian Hicks, John Hicks, Kellen Kimes, Omari Lewis, Brendan Pitcher, Ben Shughart and Joshua Smith.
They were joined by nine Lady Flames, including Patasha Bryan, Paola Bueno, Calli Doan, Annika Hantho, Katelyn Locker, Megan Mann, Makenzy Mizera, Katie Urbine and Addilae Watts.
John Hicks, Doan and Mizera each made the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the fourth time. They join Jovaine Atkinson and Taylen Langin as the only Flames ever to make four appearances in program history.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team individually, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met at least one of the following athletic standards. For the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or in the national top 48 in a relay event. For the outdoor season, a student athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including the NCAA Division I East First Rounds).
Liberty's 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Members
Beau Backes (Throws, Lindstrom, Minn.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.28
Major: Business (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2022, 2024
Warren Barrett (Throws, Montego Bay, Jamaica)
Cumulative GPA: 3.27
Major: Sport Management (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2024
Kyle Harkabus (Distance, Senoia, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.65
Major: Sport Management
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Christian Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.54
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
John Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.60
Major: MBA
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Kellen Kimes (Throws, Ludington, Mich.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Biomedical Sciences
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Omari Lewis (Sprints, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago)
Cumulative GPA: 3.49
Major: Economics
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Brendan Pitcher (Mid-Distance, Mason, Ohio)
Cumulative GPA: 3.59
Major: Developmental Psychology
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Ben Shughart (Javelin, Shippensburg, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Sport Management
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Joshua Smith (Jumps, South Fulton, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.61
Major: Biomedical Sciences
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Patasha Bryan (Heptathlon, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.78
Major: Sport Management
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Paola Bueno (Throws, Nayarit, Mexico)
Cumulative GPA: 3.96
Major: Finance
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Calli Doan (Distance, Apex, N.C.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Health Sciences (Ph.D.)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Annika Hantho (Throws, Mannington, N.J.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.89
Major: Nursing
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023, 2024
Katelyn Locker (Mid-Distance, Elizabethtown, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.51
Major: Health Promotion
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Megan Mann (Throws, Mechanicsville, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.55
Major: Nursing
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Makenzy Mizera (Jumps, Maryville, Mo.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.91
Major: Human Performance (Graduate)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
Katie Urbine (Pole Vault, Quarryville, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Mechanical Engineering
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2024
Addilae Watts (Javelin, New Castle, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Business Administration and Data Analytics
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Appearances for Track & Field: 2023 (at Youngstown State), 2024
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Hammer
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Javelin
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