Friday, January 17
Blacksburg, Va.
4:00 PM ET
Liberty University
at
Virginia Tech Invitational
Isaiah Idore
Fresh Faces Flourish on Friday at VT
1/17/2025 9:27:00 PM | Track and Field
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A number of Liberty athletes made a good early impression on Friday, the opening day of the Virginia Tech Invitational. Isaiah Idore won the men's 60 hurdles in his first indoor meet in a Flames uniform, while three Liberty freshmen records went down at Rector Field House (women's 1,000 – Allie Zealand, men's weight throw – Kellen Kimes and men's pole vault – Todd Benhase).
Benhase (unseeded men's pole vault) and Katie Sigerud (unseeded women's 3K) joined Idore as event champions on Friday.
Men's Day 1 Recap
After competing unattached during his first two indoor track & field seasons on campus, Idore earned a spot on the official roster with a men's 60 hurdles victory in a personal-best 8.00 at last month's Liberty Kickoff.
Idore made the most of his opportunity on Friday in Blacksburg, claiming the men's 60 hurdles title in a new personal-best clocking of 7.90. That ranks No. 2 in program history behind only All-American Jovaine Atkinson's 7.64 from 2018.
A redshirt freshman, Kimes finished a team-best fourth in Friday's men's weight throw competition. His top mark of 62-5 from round five shattered the Liberty freshman standard, John Hicks' 59-10.5 winning throw from the 2020 ASUN Championship.
One week after tying All-American Kolby Shepherd's Liberty freshman record with his 16-4.75 clearance at The Burg Open, Benhase claimed the record to himself. The reigning CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week made it over 16-5.5 on his second try, taking top honors in the men's pole vault's unseeded section.
Freshman Dale Hall (4:08.79) was one of two Flames to clock sub-4:10 miles on the day, joining Kyle Harkabus (4:08.68). Hall moves into 10th place on Liberty's all-time mile list, becoming the fifth current Flame on the list.
Jack Cottrell started off the Flames' successful day by winning his heat of the men's 3K and placing overall in a personal-best 8:11.98.
Women's Day 1 Recap
Zealand has now set Liberty freshman records in each of her first two collegiate track races following Friday's 2:45.63 effort in the women's 1,000. She had previously blazed a Liberty overall and freshman 3K record of 9:07.33 at last month's Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston.
Friday's performance eclipsed the mark of 2:51.47 set by Anna Van Wyk at the 2017 Liberty Elite Invitational. It very nearly broke the program record as well, but Kate Goodyear's 2:45.61 from last season's Penn State National Open lives to see another day.
Zealand was the top collegiate finisher in the race, placing second to current Liberty assistant Calli Doan (2:45.44). Jessica Palisca won her heat and took sixth place overall in 2:50.84, moving up to No. 4 all-time for the Lady Flames.
Sigerud's big personal-best 3K time of 9:47.58 led a 1-2-3 Liberty finish in the unseeded women's 3K. She was followed by reigning CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week Rachel Hill (10:12.32) and fellow freshman Emma Unger (10:14.88).
Adelyn Fairley (9:38.18), Marie Hostetler (9:49.52) and Katrina Schlenker (9:56.73) each broke 10:00 in the event's seeded section. One hour later, Fairley paced the Lady Flames' milers with a 5:01.65 performance.
Making her senior season debut, Indea Cartwright finished as the women's 60 hurdles runner-up in 8.52.
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Todd Benhase – Unseeded Pole Vault – 16-5.5 (5.02m)
Isaiah Idore – 60 Hurdles – 7.90
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Katie Sigerud – Unseeded 3K – 9:47.58
Men's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Weight Throw – Kellen Kimes – 62-5
Previous Record: 59-10.5 by John Hicks at the 2020 ASUN Championship (Feb. 29, 2020)
Liberty Freshman Record – Pole Vault – Todd Benhase – 16-5.5
Previous Record: 16-4.75 by Kolby Shepherd at the 2008 Big South Championship (Feb. 29, 2008) and Benhase at The Burg Open (Jan. 10, 2025)
Women's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – 1,000 – Allie Zealand – 2:45.63
Previous Record: 2:51.47 by Anna Van Wyk at the 2017 Liberty Elite Invitational (Feb. 11, 2017)
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
60 Hurdles – No. 2 – Isaiah Idore – 7.90
Pole Vault – No. 8 – Todd Benhase – 16-5.5
Mile – No. 10 – Dale Hall – 4:08.79
Weight Throw – No. 10 – Kellen Kimes – 62-5
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
1,000 – No. 2 – Allie Zealand – 2:45.63
1,000 – No. 4 – Jessica Palisca – 2:50.84
Up Next
The Virginia Tech Invitational will conclude on Saturday. The day's opening events include the seeded women's pole vault and the women's high jump, both set to begin at 11 a.m.
Benhase (unseeded men's pole vault) and Katie Sigerud (unseeded women's 3K) joined Idore as event champions on Friday.
Men's Day 1 Recap
After competing unattached during his first two indoor track & field seasons on campus, Idore earned a spot on the official roster with a men's 60 hurdles victory in a personal-best 8.00 at last month's Liberty Kickoff.
Idore made the most of his opportunity on Friday in Blacksburg, claiming the men's 60 hurdles title in a new personal-best clocking of 7.90. That ranks No. 2 in program history behind only All-American Jovaine Atkinson's 7.64 from 2018.
A redshirt freshman, Kimes finished a team-best fourth in Friday's men's weight throw competition. His top mark of 62-5 from round five shattered the Liberty freshman standard, John Hicks' 59-10.5 winning throw from the 2020 ASUN Championship.
One week after tying All-American Kolby Shepherd's Liberty freshman record with his 16-4.75 clearance at The Burg Open, Benhase claimed the record to himself. The reigning CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week made it over 16-5.5 on his second try, taking top honors in the men's pole vault's unseeded section.
Freshman Dale Hall (4:08.79) was one of two Flames to clock sub-4:10 miles on the day, joining Kyle Harkabus (4:08.68). Hall moves into 10th place on Liberty's all-time mile list, becoming the fifth current Flame on the list.
Jack Cottrell started off the Flames' successful day by winning his heat of the men's 3K and placing overall in a personal-best 8:11.98.
Women's Day 1 Recap
Zealand has now set Liberty freshman records in each of her first two collegiate track races following Friday's 2:45.63 effort in the women's 1,000. She had previously blazed a Liberty overall and freshman 3K record of 9:07.33 at last month's Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston.
Friday's performance eclipsed the mark of 2:51.47 set by Anna Van Wyk at the 2017 Liberty Elite Invitational. It very nearly broke the program record as well, but Kate Goodyear's 2:45.61 from last season's Penn State National Open lives to see another day.
Zealand was the top collegiate finisher in the race, placing second to current Liberty assistant Calli Doan (2:45.44). Jessica Palisca won her heat and took sixth place overall in 2:50.84, moving up to No. 4 all-time for the Lady Flames.
Sigerud's big personal-best 3K time of 9:47.58 led a 1-2-3 Liberty finish in the unseeded women's 3K. She was followed by reigning CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week Rachel Hill (10:12.32) and fellow freshman Emma Unger (10:14.88).
Adelyn Fairley (9:38.18), Marie Hostetler (9:49.52) and Katrina Schlenker (9:56.73) each broke 10:00 in the event's seeded section. One hour later, Fairley paced the Lady Flames' milers with a 5:01.65 performance.
Making her senior season debut, Indea Cartwright finished as the women's 60 hurdles runner-up in 8.52.
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Todd Benhase – Unseeded Pole Vault – 16-5.5 (5.02m)
Isaiah Idore – 60 Hurdles – 7.90
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Katie Sigerud – Unseeded 3K – 9:47.58
Men's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Weight Throw – Kellen Kimes – 62-5
Previous Record: 59-10.5 by John Hicks at the 2020 ASUN Championship (Feb. 29, 2020)
Liberty Freshman Record – Pole Vault – Todd Benhase – 16-5.5
Previous Record: 16-4.75 by Kolby Shepherd at the 2008 Big South Championship (Feb. 29, 2008) and Benhase at The Burg Open (Jan. 10, 2025)
Women's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – 1,000 – Allie Zealand – 2:45.63
Previous Record: 2:51.47 by Anna Van Wyk at the 2017 Liberty Elite Invitational (Feb. 11, 2017)
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
60 Hurdles – No. 2 – Isaiah Idore – 7.90
Pole Vault – No. 8 – Todd Benhase – 16-5.5
Mile – No. 10 – Dale Hall – 4:08.79
Weight Throw – No. 10 – Kellen Kimes – 62-5
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
1,000 – No. 2 – Allie Zealand – 2:45.63
1,000 – No. 4 – Jessica Palisca – 2:50.84
Up Next
The Virginia Tech Invitational will conclude on Saturday. The day's opening events include the seeded women's pole vault and the women's high jump, both set to begin at 11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
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