Friday, March 28
Lynchburg, Va.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
at
Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational
Katie Urbine
Flames Win 3 Friday Events Across Town
3/28/2025 9:58:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Competing across town at the University of Lynchburg's Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational on Friday, Liberty athletes posted a trio of first-place finishes. Katie Urbine and Todd Benhase swept the women's and men's pole vault crowns, while Nicholas Kiprotich led a 1-2 Flames finish in the men's 5K.
Women's Day 1 Recap
After becoming a women's pole vault All-American as a freshman in 2024, Katie Urbine opened her sophomore outdoor season with a victory. Her 13-0.25 clearance was the best of the day by more than a foot.
Teammate Sarah Gassman followed in third place at 11-11.75, the highest outdoor effort of her collegiate career to date.
Reagan Underwood led for most of the women's 5K before ending up as the runner-up in a personal-best 17:31.98. Freshman teammates Jessica Cox (fourth place, 18:29.79) and Emma Unger (fifth, 18:40.42) joined Underwood inside the top five with both of them making track 5K debuts.
Five Lady Flames freshmen crossed the line among the top 11 women's 1,500 runners, including Rachel Hill (second place, 4:40.36), Raini Mayo (fifth, 4:43.02), Emily Atha (sixth, 4:44.09), Anna Fletcher (eighth, 4:47.35) and birthday girl Emma Ervi (11th, 4:49.18).
Men's Day 1 Recap
Benhase was victorious in the first outdoor men's pole vault competition of his collegiate career thanks to a 15-3 clearance.
Kiprotich (14:43.44) and Nathan Moore (14:48.40) controlled the tempo throughout the men's 5K, claiming the top two spots.
The Flames collected three of the first six places in the evening's deepest event, the men's 1,500. Edwin Kiprop led the way in third place (3:47.35), followed by Brendan Pitcher (fifth, 3:51.82) and Dale Hall (sixth, 3:52.56).
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Katie Urbine – Pole Vault – 13-0.25
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Todd Benhase – Pole Vault – 15-3
Nicholas Kiprotich – 5K – 14:43.44
Other Women's Day 1 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Rachel Hill – 1,500 – 4:40.36
2nd – Reagan Underwood – 5K – 17:31.98
3rd – Sarah Gassman – Pole Vault – 11-11.75
Other Men's Day 1 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Nathan Moore – 5K – 14:48.40
3rd – Edwin Kiprop – 1,500 – 3:47.35
Up Next
Liberty will close out its week of competition at both the Raleigh Relays and Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational on Saturday.
First up in Raleigh will be the men's hammer at 9:30 a.m. Meanwhile, the Flames competing in the Hill City will get started at 11 a.m. with the men's 4 x 100 relay.
Women's Day 1 Recap
After becoming a women's pole vault All-American as a freshman in 2024, Katie Urbine opened her sophomore outdoor season with a victory. Her 13-0.25 clearance was the best of the day by more than a foot.
Teammate Sarah Gassman followed in third place at 11-11.75, the highest outdoor effort of her collegiate career to date.
Reagan Underwood led for most of the women's 5K before ending up as the runner-up in a personal-best 17:31.98. Freshman teammates Jessica Cox (fourth place, 18:29.79) and Emma Unger (fifth, 18:40.42) joined Underwood inside the top five with both of them making track 5K debuts.
Five Lady Flames freshmen crossed the line among the top 11 women's 1,500 runners, including Rachel Hill (second place, 4:40.36), Raini Mayo (fifth, 4:43.02), Emily Atha (sixth, 4:44.09), Anna Fletcher (eighth, 4:47.35) and birthday girl Emma Ervi (11th, 4:49.18).
Men's Day 1 Recap
Benhase was victorious in the first outdoor men's pole vault competition of his collegiate career thanks to a 15-3 clearance.
Kiprotich (14:43.44) and Nathan Moore (14:48.40) controlled the tempo throughout the men's 5K, claiming the top two spots.
The Flames collected three of the first six places in the evening's deepest event, the men's 1,500. Edwin Kiprop led the way in third place (3:47.35), followed by Brendan Pitcher (fifth, 3:51.82) and Dale Hall (sixth, 3:52.56).
Women's Day 1 Event Winners
Katie Urbine – Pole Vault – 13-0.25
Men's Day 1 Event Winners
Todd Benhase – Pole Vault – 15-3
Nicholas Kiprotich – 5K – 14:43.44
Other Women's Day 1 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Rachel Hill – 1,500 – 4:40.36
2nd – Reagan Underwood – 5K – 17:31.98
3rd – Sarah Gassman – Pole Vault – 11-11.75
Other Men's Day 1 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Nathan Moore – 5K – 14:48.40
3rd – Edwin Kiprop – 1,500 – 3:47.35
Up Next
Liberty will close out its week of competition at both the Raleigh Relays and Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational on Saturday.
First up in Raleigh will be the men's hammer at 9:30 a.m. Meanwhile, the Flames competing in the Hill City will get started at 11 a.m. with the men's 4 x 100 relay.
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Pole Vault
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Mid-distance
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Mid-distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
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