Friday, January 10
Lynchburg, Va.
11:35 AM ET
Liberty University
at
The Burg Open
Todd Benhase
Benhase, Hill Headline Big Day for Liberty Freshmen
1/10/2025 6:35:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Freshmen had a hand in six of Liberty's eight event victories during Friday's The Burg Open, contested at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. Leading the way were Todd Benhase, who tied the Liberty men's pole vault freshman record of 16-4.75, and Rachel Hill, who swept the women's 800 and mile crowns.
Freshmen Elijah Sherard (men's 400 – 48.53) and Trevor Veenstra (men's shot put – 53-2.75) also claimed event titles, while freshmen Marianah Scott and Shania Adderley comprised half of the Lady Flames' victorious 4 x 400 relay quartet (3:56.97).
Mia Bowers (women's pole vault – 12-11.75) and Eva Whiteman (women's high jump – 5-3) rounded out Liberty's event champions during the Flames' first competition in over a month.
Women's Recap
Hill set the tone for the day by winning Liberty's first track event, the women's mile, in 5:04.92. She outdistanced teammate Sophia Park (5:07.82) for the first event victory of her young collegiate career.
About an hour and a half later, Hill completed the women's mid-distance double by taking the 800 crown in 2:17.65. After capturing field hockey All-America honors during the fall, Reagan Underwood made her collegiate track & field debut on Friday, placing fifth of 18 runners in the 800 in 2:23.03.
Scott and Adderley were joined on the winning 4 x 400 squad by sophomores Maddy Merritt and Elle Bass. For Adderley, it was her first competition since being part of the Bahamas' mixed 4 x 400 relay pool at the Paris Olympics.
Bowers captured the women's pole vault title with a CUSA-leading 12-11.75 clearance that was just a half inch off the senior's lifetime best. Sarah Gassman tied for second place at 11-9.75, the top mark of her collegiate career.
Whiteman successfully defended her women's pole vault crown from the 2024 edition of The Burg Open, making it over 5-3.
Men's Recap
Benhase's 16-4.75 pole vault clearance shattered the freshman's previous best of 16-0 and led a 1-2 Liberty finish (also Hunter Flack – 15-5). Benhase equaled the Liberty freshman record set by All-American Kolby Shepherd at the 2008 Big South Championship.
The top mark in CUSA this season, Benhase's 16-4.75 effort ties him with Michael Prettyman for eighth place in program history.
Sherard's first collegiate race saw him clock a lifetime-best 48.53 400 for first place on the same track where he won three state titles for Rustburg High School a year ago. His three closest pursuers were teammates Simon Lamparelli (second place – 49.19), Revell Webster (third – 49.33) and Eddy Vu (fourth – 50.58).
Veenstra posted the three longest throws of the men's shot put competition, led by his personal-best 53-2.75 performance in round five. Christian Hicks joined him on the podium in third place, thanks to a personal-best 50-9.5 put.
Freshman Dale Hall paced a trio of Flames who clocked sub-4:20 miles, finishing second with a time of 4:12.18.
Women's Event Winners
Mia Bowers – Pole Vault – 12-11.75
Rachel Hill – 800 – 2:17.65
Rachel Hill – Mile – 5:04.92
Eva Whiteman – High Jump – 5-3
Maddy Merritt, Marianah Scott, Elle Bass, Shania Adderley – 4 x 400 – 3:56.97
Men's Event Winners
Todd Benhase – Pole Vault – 16-4.75
Elijah Sherard – 400 – 48.53
Trevor Veenstra – Shot Put – 53-2.75
Men's Record Breakers
Shared Liberty Freshman Record – Pole Vault – Todd Benhase – 16-4.75
Shared Record: 16-4.75 by Kolby Shepherd at the 2008 Big South Championship
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Pole Vault – Tie for No. 8 – Todd Benhase – 16-4.75
Up Next
Liberty will take to the road for the first time this season, heading west on Route 460 for the Virginia Tech Invitational. Events are slated for Jan. 17 & 18 at Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va.
Freshmen Elijah Sherard (men's 400 – 48.53) and Trevor Veenstra (men's shot put – 53-2.75) also claimed event titles, while freshmen Marianah Scott and Shania Adderley comprised half of the Lady Flames' victorious 4 x 400 relay quartet (3:56.97).
Mia Bowers (women's pole vault – 12-11.75) and Eva Whiteman (women's high jump – 5-3) rounded out Liberty's event champions during the Flames' first competition in over a month.
Women's Recap
Hill set the tone for the day by winning Liberty's first track event, the women's mile, in 5:04.92. She outdistanced teammate Sophia Park (5:07.82) for the first event victory of her young collegiate career.
About an hour and a half later, Hill completed the women's mid-distance double by taking the 800 crown in 2:17.65. After capturing field hockey All-America honors during the fall, Reagan Underwood made her collegiate track & field debut on Friday, placing fifth of 18 runners in the 800 in 2:23.03.
Scott and Adderley were joined on the winning 4 x 400 squad by sophomores Maddy Merritt and Elle Bass. For Adderley, it was her first competition since being part of the Bahamas' mixed 4 x 400 relay pool at the Paris Olympics.
Bowers captured the women's pole vault title with a CUSA-leading 12-11.75 clearance that was just a half inch off the senior's lifetime best. Sarah Gassman tied for second place at 11-9.75, the top mark of her collegiate career.
Whiteman successfully defended her women's pole vault crown from the 2024 edition of The Burg Open, making it over 5-3.
Men's Recap
Benhase's 16-4.75 pole vault clearance shattered the freshman's previous best of 16-0 and led a 1-2 Liberty finish (also Hunter Flack – 15-5). Benhase equaled the Liberty freshman record set by All-American Kolby Shepherd at the 2008 Big South Championship.
The top mark in CUSA this season, Benhase's 16-4.75 effort ties him with Michael Prettyman for eighth place in program history.
Sherard's first collegiate race saw him clock a lifetime-best 48.53 400 for first place on the same track where he won three state titles for Rustburg High School a year ago. His three closest pursuers were teammates Simon Lamparelli (second place – 49.19), Revell Webster (third – 49.33) and Eddy Vu (fourth – 50.58).
Veenstra posted the three longest throws of the men's shot put competition, led by his personal-best 53-2.75 performance in round five. Christian Hicks joined him on the podium in third place, thanks to a personal-best 50-9.5 put.
Freshman Dale Hall paced a trio of Flames who clocked sub-4:20 miles, finishing second with a time of 4:12.18.
Women's Event Winners
Mia Bowers – Pole Vault – 12-11.75
Rachel Hill – 800 – 2:17.65
Rachel Hill – Mile – 5:04.92
Eva Whiteman – High Jump – 5-3
Maddy Merritt, Marianah Scott, Elle Bass, Shania Adderley – 4 x 400 – 3:56.97
Men's Event Winners
Todd Benhase – Pole Vault – 16-4.75
Elijah Sherard – 400 – 48.53
Trevor Veenstra – Shot Put – 53-2.75
Men's Record Breakers
Shared Liberty Freshman Record – Pole Vault – Todd Benhase – 16-4.75
Shared Record: 16-4.75 by Kolby Shepherd at the 2008 Big South Championship
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Pole Vault – Tie for No. 8 – Todd Benhase – 16-4.75
Up Next
Liberty will take to the road for the first time this season, heading west on Route 460 for the Virginia Tech Invitational. Events are slated for Jan. 17 & 18 at Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
High Jump
/ Track and FieldWednesday, June 03
Thursday, May 21
Thursday, January 29
Wednesday, January 21