Friday, February 14
Lynchburg, Va.
1:40 PM ET
Liberty University
vs
Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
Kellen Kimes won the men's weight throw on Friday.
4 Victories, 1 Record Highlight Darius Dixon Day 1
2/14/2025 10:58:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Friday's opening day action at the 11th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational featured no shortage of record-breaking performances. Liberty's top highlights on the day at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex included four event victories and one new program record.
The Flames' first-place finishers included Kate Goodyear (women's 800 invitational section – 2:09.37), Reagan Underwood (women's 5K open section – 17:35.59), Jack Cottrell (men's 3K invitational section – 8:06.00) and Kellen Kimes (men's weight throw – 66-5.25).
Meanwhile, Reese Webster blazed to a time of 7.30 in the women's 60 dash semifinals, lowering her own mark of 7.31 set during the 2024 CUSA Championship semifinals (Feb. 23, 2024).
Women's Day 1 Recap
Goodyear made a successful final tuneup to defend her CUSA women's 800 title in two weeks. She posted a winning time of 2:09.37, holding off Coastal Carolina's Amilia Wise-Sweat (2:09.56) on the final straightaway.
The fifth individual race of Underwood's collegiate track & field career following five seasons as a Liberty field hockey player resulted in her first victory. In her first track 5K, Underwood closed the final 400 meters in 74.75 seconds to come from behind and win in 17:35.59.
Webster's 7.30 effort earned her a lane in the final and the opportunity to defend her 2024 Darius Dixon women's 60 title on Saturday at 12:20 p.m. However, she will be challenged by high schooler Dana Wilson, who shattered the meet and facility records with a 7.16 clocking in her semifinal section.
Five Lady Flames dipped under 10:00 in the 3K on Friday, including Ava Gordon (personal-best 9:26.62), Marie Hostetler (personal-best 9:26.72), Katrina Schlenker (personal-best 9:42.68), Isabela Ross (season-best 9:45.82) and Rachel Hill (personal-best 9:52.59). Gordon and Hostetler became the fourth and fifth Liberty runners ever to post sub-9:30 3Ks while finishing second and third overall in the invitational section. Hill joined the sub-10:00 club for the first time on Friday.
Paola Bueno finished as the women's weight throw runner-up at 62-8, defeated only by a facility-record 73-2.75 from VCU's Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir.
Men's Day 1 Recap
The first race shown within ESPN+'s live TV window, the invitational men's 5K produced a similar result to the same event at the 2024 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Cottrell overtook NC State's Jimmy Mullarkey on the final lap to win in a personal-best 8:06.00, reminiscent of teammate Kyle Harkabus' 3K victory from a year ago.
A week after winning the Liberty Open men's weight throw with a program-record 70-5.75 heave, Kimes found victory again. His top mark of 66-5.25 was 2.5 feet superior to runner-up Christian Toro of Duke. Kimes is the Flames' second Darius Dixon men's weight throw victor in as many years, following Desmond Coleman's title in 2024.
Liberty will be represented in both of Saturday's men's finals on the straightaway, thanks to Eddy Vu in the 60 (6.77 in prelims, 6.87 in semifinals) and Isaiah Idore (7.96 in prelims, personal-best 7.85 in semifinals).
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Kate Goodyear – 800 Invitational – 2:09.37
Reagan Underwood – 5K Open – 17:35.59
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Jack Cottrell – 3K Invitational – 8:06.00
Kellen Kimes – Weight Throw – 66-5.25
Women's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Record – 60 – Reese Webster – 7.30
Previous Record: 7.31 by Webster at the CUSA Championship on Feb. 23, 2024
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
60 – No. 1 – Reese Webster – 7.30
3K – No. 4 – Ava Gordon – 9:26.62
3K – No. 5 – Marie Hostetler – 9:26.72
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
60 Hurdles – No. 2 – Isaiah Idore – 7.85
3K – No. 8 – Jack Cottrell – 8:06.00
Up Next
The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational will resume Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with the open women's high jump. ESPN+ will air live coverage of the meet's second and final day from Noon-4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Lady Flames' distance duo of Allie Zealand (mile) and Adelyn Fairley (5K) will race at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston. The first heat of the women's mile is slated for 1:45 p.m., and all races will be televised on FloTrack.
The Flames' first-place finishers included Kate Goodyear (women's 800 invitational section – 2:09.37), Reagan Underwood (women's 5K open section – 17:35.59), Jack Cottrell (men's 3K invitational section – 8:06.00) and Kellen Kimes (men's weight throw – 66-5.25).
Meanwhile, Reese Webster blazed to a time of 7.30 in the women's 60 dash semifinals, lowering her own mark of 7.31 set during the 2024 CUSA Championship semifinals (Feb. 23, 2024).
Women's Day 1 Recap
Goodyear made a successful final tuneup to defend her CUSA women's 800 title in two weeks. She posted a winning time of 2:09.37, holding off Coastal Carolina's Amilia Wise-Sweat (2:09.56) on the final straightaway.
The fifth individual race of Underwood's collegiate track & field career following five seasons as a Liberty field hockey player resulted in her first victory. In her first track 5K, Underwood closed the final 400 meters in 74.75 seconds to come from behind and win in 17:35.59.
Webster's 7.30 effort earned her a lane in the final and the opportunity to defend her 2024 Darius Dixon women's 60 title on Saturday at 12:20 p.m. However, she will be challenged by high schooler Dana Wilson, who shattered the meet and facility records with a 7.16 clocking in her semifinal section.
Five Lady Flames dipped under 10:00 in the 3K on Friday, including Ava Gordon (personal-best 9:26.62), Marie Hostetler (personal-best 9:26.72), Katrina Schlenker (personal-best 9:42.68), Isabela Ross (season-best 9:45.82) and Rachel Hill (personal-best 9:52.59). Gordon and Hostetler became the fourth and fifth Liberty runners ever to post sub-9:30 3Ks while finishing second and third overall in the invitational section. Hill joined the sub-10:00 club for the first time on Friday.
Paola Bueno finished as the women's weight throw runner-up at 62-8, defeated only by a facility-record 73-2.75 from VCU's Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir.
Men's Day 1 Recap
The first race shown within ESPN+'s live TV window, the invitational men's 5K produced a similar result to the same event at the 2024 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Cottrell overtook NC State's Jimmy Mullarkey on the final lap to win in a personal-best 8:06.00, reminiscent of teammate Kyle Harkabus' 3K victory from a year ago.
A week after winning the Liberty Open men's weight throw with a program-record 70-5.75 heave, Kimes found victory again. His top mark of 66-5.25 was 2.5 feet superior to runner-up Christian Toro of Duke. Kimes is the Flames' second Darius Dixon men's weight throw victor in as many years, following Desmond Coleman's title in 2024.
Liberty will be represented in both of Saturday's men's finals on the straightaway, thanks to Eddy Vu in the 60 (6.77 in prelims, 6.87 in semifinals) and Isaiah Idore (7.96 in prelims, personal-best 7.85 in semifinals).
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Kate Goodyear – 800 Invitational – 2:09.37
Reagan Underwood – 5K Open – 17:35.59
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Jack Cottrell – 3K Invitational – 8:06.00
Kellen Kimes – Weight Throw – 66-5.25
Women's Day 1 Record Breakers
Liberty Record – 60 – Reese Webster – 7.30
Previous Record: 7.31 by Webster at the CUSA Championship on Feb. 23, 2024
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
60 – No. 1 – Reese Webster – 7.30
3K – No. 4 – Ava Gordon – 9:26.62
3K – No. 5 – Marie Hostetler – 9:26.72
Day 1 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
60 Hurdles – No. 2 – Isaiah Idore – 7.85
3K – No. 8 – Jack Cottrell – 8:06.00
Up Next
The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational will resume Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with the open women's high jump. ESPN+ will air live coverage of the meet's second and final day from Noon-4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Lady Flames' distance duo of Allie Zealand (mile) and Adelyn Fairley (5K) will race at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston. The first heat of the women's mile is slated for 1:45 p.m., and all races will be televised on FloTrack.
Players Mentioned
Hammer
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Throws
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Distance
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Distance
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Mid-distance
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Distance
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Mid-distance
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Mid-distance
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Mid-distance
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Hurdles
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Throws
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Sprints
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Sprints
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Distance
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