Saturday, March 22
High Point, N.C.
11:00 AM ET
Liberty University
at
Bob Davidson Team Challenge
Christian Hicks
Liberty Wins 3 Events on Saturday at High Point
3/22/2025 8:38:00 PM | Track and Field
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Liberty picked up its first three event victories of the 2025 outdoor track & field season on Saturday, the final day of the Bob Davidson Team Challenge. Christian Hicks and Bethany Tate swept the men's and women's discus crowns, while Jacob Torres led a 1-2 Liberty finish in the men's 400 hurdles at Vert Stadium.
The Liberty men's squad totaled 94 points, tying North Carolina A&T for third place of nine teams despite entering only 12 of the two-day meet's 19 men's events. Host High Point dominated the men's team competition with 235.5 points.
The defending Bob Davidson Team Challenge champion Lady Flames came in fifth of 10 women's teams with 82.5 points. Akron (142.5 points) topped High Point by 19 tallies to claim the women's team trophy.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Hicks unleashed a personal-best discus mark of 184-8 in round six, leapfrogging teammate Beau Backes (177-11) for the victory and climbing to fifth in program history. Hicks, who became the first Flame to punch his ticket to the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet in the process, was also joined in the top five by Jason Hayes (fifth place, 156-8).
Liberty's other 1-2 showing came in the men's 400 hurdles. Torres (53.06) notched his fastest time as a Flame to overtake fellow Flame Josh Blalock (personal-best 53.17) just before the finish line. Willem Huizenga added a fourth-place finish in 55.95, making it the Flames' highest-scoring event of the day (23 points).
The Flames' sprinters enjoyed a successful Saturday, garnering top-three finishes in the men's 100 (Troy McKnight – second, 10.37), 200 (Omari Lewis – third, 21.08), 400 (Simon Lamparelli – third, 48.11) and the 4 x 100 relay (Eddy Vu, McKnight, Revell Webster, Lewis – third, 40.50).
McKnight was impressive throughout his Liberty debut. The Little Rock transfer now ranks No. 9 in program history for the men's 100 and is part of the eighth-fastest 4 x 100 relay grouping all-time at Liberty.
Isaiah Idore (men's 110 hurdles – 14.31) and Joshua Smith (men's triple jump – 49-2.5) finished as the runners-up in their respective events with personal-best efforts that landed them inside the Flames' top 10 lists.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Tate jumped from fifth place to first in the freshman's first collegiate discus competition with a personal-best 154-11 heave in round four. That stood up for the event victory and 10th place in program history.
The steeplechase was the Lady Flames' highest-scoring event (21 points). Katrina Schlenker led the way with a personal-best 10:50.01 clocking for second place while first-time steeplers Marie Hostetler (10:52.41), Raini Mayo (11:34.46) and Sophia Mast (11:42.27) placed 3-5-6 behind her.
Schlenker and Hostetler now rank third and fourth, respectively, in program history with Hostetler sitting one spot ahead of older sister Anna on the list.
The quartet of Maddy Merritt, Mahogany Mobley, Marianah Scott and Shania Adderley punctuated a successful Saturday for the Liberty sprinters, placing second in the women's 4 x 400 relay in 3:44.28. It marked the Lady Flames' fastest 4 x 400 since 2019 and ranks No. 9 in program history.
About an hour earlier, Mobley (24.19) and Merritt (24.28) had both recorded big personal bests in the 200. Mobley, making her Liberty debut after transferring from Kentucky, is now tied with Andrea Beckles for seventh place on the Lady Flames' women's 200 ledger.
Indea Cartwright clocked 13.55 for second place in the women's 100 hurdles, while Meredith Engle won her heat in a personal-best 14.25 to come in eighth overall.
Fellow heptathlete Paige Greenhagel finished third in the women's long jump with a personal-best 18-8.75 leap.
Final Men's Team Scores
1) High Point – 235.5
2) Akron – 145
3T) Liberty – 94
3T) North Carolina A&T – 94
5) Brown – 66
6) Lafayette – 36
7) Wake Forest – 15.5
8) Virginia Tech – 15
9) UNCG – 7
Final Women's Team Scores
1) Akron – 142.5
2) High Point – 123.5
3) Elon – 95.5
4) Brown – 93
5) Liberty – 82.5
6) North Carolina A&T – 66
7) Wake Forest – 65
8) Lafayette – 29
9) Virginia Tech – 20
Did not score) UNCG
Men's Day 2 Event Winners
Christian Hicks – Discus – 184-8
Jacob Torres – 400 Hurdles – 53.06
Women's Day 2 Event Winners
Bethany Tate – Discus – 154-11
Other Men's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Beau Backes – Discus – 177-11
2nd – Josh Blalock – 400 Hurdles – 53.17
2nd – Isaiah Idore – 110 Hurdles – 14.31
2nd – Troy McKnight – 100 – 10.37
2nd – Joshua Smith – Triple Jump – 49-2.5
3rd – Simon Lamparelli – 400 – 48.11
3rd – Omari Lewis – 200 – 21.08
3rd – Eddy Vu, Troy McKnight, Revell Webster, Omari Lewis – 4 x 100 Relay – 40.50
Other Women's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Indea Cartwright – 100 Hurdles – 13.55
2nd – Katrina Schlenker – Steeplechase – 10:50.01
2nd – Maddy Merritt, Mahogany Mobley, Marianah Scott, Shania Adderley – 4 x 400 Relay – 3:44.28
3rd – Paige Greenhagel – Long Jump – 18-8.75
3rd – Marie Hostetler – Steeplechase – 10:52.41
New Men's NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Christian Hicks – Discus – 184-8
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Discus – No. 5 – Christian Hicks – 184-8
Triple Jump – No. 8 – Joshua Smith – 49-2.5
4 x 100 – No. 8 – Vu, McKnight, Webster, Lewis – 40.50
110 Hurdles – No. 9 – Isaiah Idore – 14.31
100 – No. 9 – Troy McKnight – 10.37
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Steeplechase – No. 3 – Katrina Schlenker – 10:50.01
Steeplechase – No. 4 – Marie Hostetler – 10:52.41
200 – Tie for No. 7 – Mahogany Mobley – 24.19
4 x 400 – No. 9 – Merritt, Mobley, Scott, Adderley – 3:44.28
Discus – No. 10 – Bethany Tate – 154-11
Up Next
A group of Liberty distance runners and throwers will compete in the Raleigh Relays, March 27-29 at NC State. The remainder of the team will remain in the Hill City for the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, March 28-29 at the University of Lynchburg.
The Liberty men's squad totaled 94 points, tying North Carolina A&T for third place of nine teams despite entering only 12 of the two-day meet's 19 men's events. Host High Point dominated the men's team competition with 235.5 points.
The defending Bob Davidson Team Challenge champion Lady Flames came in fifth of 10 women's teams with 82.5 points. Akron (142.5 points) topped High Point by 19 tallies to claim the women's team trophy.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Hicks unleashed a personal-best discus mark of 184-8 in round six, leapfrogging teammate Beau Backes (177-11) for the victory and climbing to fifth in program history. Hicks, who became the first Flame to punch his ticket to the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet in the process, was also joined in the top five by Jason Hayes (fifth place, 156-8).
Liberty's other 1-2 showing came in the men's 400 hurdles. Torres (53.06) notched his fastest time as a Flame to overtake fellow Flame Josh Blalock (personal-best 53.17) just before the finish line. Willem Huizenga added a fourth-place finish in 55.95, making it the Flames' highest-scoring event of the day (23 points).
The Flames' sprinters enjoyed a successful Saturday, garnering top-three finishes in the men's 100 (Troy McKnight – second, 10.37), 200 (Omari Lewis – third, 21.08), 400 (Simon Lamparelli – third, 48.11) and the 4 x 100 relay (Eddy Vu, McKnight, Revell Webster, Lewis – third, 40.50).
McKnight was impressive throughout his Liberty debut. The Little Rock transfer now ranks No. 9 in program history for the men's 100 and is part of the eighth-fastest 4 x 100 relay grouping all-time at Liberty.
Isaiah Idore (men's 110 hurdles – 14.31) and Joshua Smith (men's triple jump – 49-2.5) finished as the runners-up in their respective events with personal-best efforts that landed them inside the Flames' top 10 lists.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Tate jumped from fifth place to first in the freshman's first collegiate discus competition with a personal-best 154-11 heave in round four. That stood up for the event victory and 10th place in program history.
The steeplechase was the Lady Flames' highest-scoring event (21 points). Katrina Schlenker led the way with a personal-best 10:50.01 clocking for second place while first-time steeplers Marie Hostetler (10:52.41), Raini Mayo (11:34.46) and Sophia Mast (11:42.27) placed 3-5-6 behind her.
Schlenker and Hostetler now rank third and fourth, respectively, in program history with Hostetler sitting one spot ahead of older sister Anna on the list.
The quartet of Maddy Merritt, Mahogany Mobley, Marianah Scott and Shania Adderley punctuated a successful Saturday for the Liberty sprinters, placing second in the women's 4 x 400 relay in 3:44.28. It marked the Lady Flames' fastest 4 x 400 since 2019 and ranks No. 9 in program history.
About an hour earlier, Mobley (24.19) and Merritt (24.28) had both recorded big personal bests in the 200. Mobley, making her Liberty debut after transferring from Kentucky, is now tied with Andrea Beckles for seventh place on the Lady Flames' women's 200 ledger.
Indea Cartwright clocked 13.55 for second place in the women's 100 hurdles, while Meredith Engle won her heat in a personal-best 14.25 to come in eighth overall.
Fellow heptathlete Paige Greenhagel finished third in the women's long jump with a personal-best 18-8.75 leap.
Final Men's Team Scores
1) High Point – 235.5
2) Akron – 145
3T) Liberty – 94
3T) North Carolina A&T – 94
5) Brown – 66
6) Lafayette – 36
7) Wake Forest – 15.5
8) Virginia Tech – 15
9) UNCG – 7
Final Women's Team Scores
1) Akron – 142.5
2) High Point – 123.5
3) Elon – 95.5
4) Brown – 93
5) Liberty – 82.5
6) North Carolina A&T – 66
7) Wake Forest – 65
8) Lafayette – 29
9) Virginia Tech – 20
Did not score) UNCG
Men's Day 2 Event Winners
Christian Hicks – Discus – 184-8
Jacob Torres – 400 Hurdles – 53.06
Women's Day 2 Event Winners
Bethany Tate – Discus – 154-11
Other Men's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Beau Backes – Discus – 177-11
2nd – Josh Blalock – 400 Hurdles – 53.17
2nd – Isaiah Idore – 110 Hurdles – 14.31
2nd – Troy McKnight – 100 – 10.37
2nd – Joshua Smith – Triple Jump – 49-2.5
3rd – Simon Lamparelli – 400 – 48.11
3rd – Omari Lewis – 200 – 21.08
3rd – Eddy Vu, Troy McKnight, Revell Webster, Omari Lewis – 4 x 100 Relay – 40.50
Other Women's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Indea Cartwright – 100 Hurdles – 13.55
2nd – Katrina Schlenker – Steeplechase – 10:50.01
2nd – Maddy Merritt, Mahogany Mobley, Marianah Scott, Shania Adderley – 4 x 400 Relay – 3:44.28
3rd – Paige Greenhagel – Long Jump – 18-8.75
3rd – Marie Hostetler – Steeplechase – 10:52.41
New Men's NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers
Christian Hicks – Discus – 184-8
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Discus – No. 5 – Christian Hicks – 184-8
Triple Jump – No. 8 – Joshua Smith – 49-2.5
4 x 100 – No. 8 – Vu, McKnight, Webster, Lewis – 40.50
110 Hurdles – No. 9 – Isaiah Idore – 14.31
100 – No. 9 – Troy McKnight – 10.37
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
Steeplechase – No. 3 – Katrina Schlenker – 10:50.01
Steeplechase – No. 4 – Marie Hostetler – 10:52.41
200 – Tie for No. 7 – Mahogany Mobley – 24.19
4 x 400 – No. 9 – Merritt, Mobley, Scott, Adderley – 3:44.28
Discus – No. 10 – Bethany Tate – 154-11
Up Next
A group of Liberty distance runners and throwers will compete in the Raleigh Relays, March 27-29 at NC State. The remainder of the team will remain in the Hill City for the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, March 28-29 at the University of Lynchburg.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and FieldCoach Zealand & Ryann Aycock Give An Update On The Cross Country Season
Wednesday, September 17
Emma Unger: Every Step of the Way
Wednesday, May 14
Follow the Leader: Lance Bingham
Tuesday, May 13
Beau Backes: Following God's Calling in Two Worlds
Friday, May 02