Saturday, April 5
Gainesville, Fla.
9:00 AM ET
Liberty University
at
Florida Relays
Elijah Sherard
Sherard, Lewis Drop Blazing Times at Florida Relays
4/5/2025 6:11:00 PM | Track and Field
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Elijah Sherard (Liberty freshman record 46.65 men's 400) and Omari Lewis (10.05 men's 100, tied for fifth in NCAA this season) provided two of the Flames' many strong performances on Saturday at the Florida Relays.
It was a successful visit to the Sunshine State, which began with a pair of program records on Friday (212-8 women's hammer by Paola Bueno and 44.61 women's 4 x 100 relay by the squad of Indea Cartwright, Reese Webster, Mahogany Mobley and Akilah Lewis).
Men's Day 2 Recap
After splitting 46.67 during the 4 x 400 relay on Friday, Sherard did even better in the open men's 400 Saturday afternoon. He won his heat in 46.65 out of lane nine, dipping below 47.00 for the first time to set a program freshman record and claim the No. 5 spot in program history. Sherard already owned the indoor freshman record for the 400 with his 47.45 clocking at the CUSA meet.
Lewis improved his season best from 10.24 to 10.05 for third place in a speedy men's 100. He is currently tied for fifth fastest in the NCAA at this early stage of the outdoor season.
Isaiah Idore lowered his 110 hurdles personal best to 14.28, tying him with Juan Pablo Germain Ronco for seventh all-time for the Flames.
Joshua Smith recorded three triple jumps over 15 meters, culminating with a personal-best 50-8 performance in round five. He placed fourth in the event, climbed to fifth in program history and likely punched his first-ever ticket to the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet in May.
Liberty's throwers excelled on Saturday, paced by Christian Hicks' fourth-place finish in the men's discus invitational section. His top mark of 188-3 set a new personal best by 3.5 feet.
Earlier in the morning, Beau Backes had placed third in the men's discus collegiate section with a 170-2.
Trevor Veenstra came in ninth overall and second among freshmen in the men's shot put collegiate section, thanks to a 54-3.25 put.
Fellow freshman Todd Benhase tied for sixth place in the men's pole vault, clearing a season-best 16-4.75.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Three members of the Lady Flames' record-setting women's 4 x 100 relay team performed well in individual events on Saturday. Akilah Lewis won her heat of the women's 100 in a season-best 11.48, jumping up to No. 3 on the Lady Flames' all-time list. Webster, who ranks one spot ahead of her on that chart, clocked 11.57 for her 100 season opener Saturday afternoon.
The relay's leadoff leg, Indea Cartwright sped to a season-best 13.32 during the women's 100 hurdles prelims. Unfortunately, she just missed the final by two thousandths of a second.
Freshmen Bethany Tate (eighth place, 48-5.25) and Tabby DeJong (13th, personal-best 45-6.5) both threw well in Liberty's final event of the meet, the women's shot put collegiate section. DeJong claimed the No. 10 spot in program history in the process.
Men's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
3rd – Beau Backes – Discus Collegiate Section – 170-2
3rd – Omari Lewis – 100 – 10.05
Men's Day 2 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Elijah Sherard – 400 – 46.65
Previous Record: Unknown
New Men's NCAA Division I East First Rounds Qualifiers
Omari Lewis – 100 – 10.05
Joshua Smith – Triple Jump – 50-8
New Women's NCAA Division I East First Rounds Qualifiers
Indea Cartwright – 100 Hurdles – 13.32
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
400 – No. 5 – Elijah Sherard – 46.65
Triple Jump – No. 5 – Joshua Smith – 50-8
Discus – No. 5 – Christian Hicks – 188-3
110 Hurdles – Tie for No. 7 – Isaiah Idore – 14.28
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
100 – No. 3 – Akilah Lewis – 11.48
Shot Put – No. 10 – Tabby DeJong – 45-6.5
Up Next
Liberty will send a group of decathletes and heptathletes to the Duke Invitational, April 10-11.
The remainder of the Flames and Lady Flames will stay close to home for the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic, April 11-12 at the University of Lynchburg.
It was a successful visit to the Sunshine State, which began with a pair of program records on Friday (212-8 women's hammer by Paola Bueno and 44.61 women's 4 x 100 relay by the squad of Indea Cartwright, Reese Webster, Mahogany Mobley and Akilah Lewis).
Men's Day 2 Recap
After splitting 46.67 during the 4 x 400 relay on Friday, Sherard did even better in the open men's 400 Saturday afternoon. He won his heat in 46.65 out of lane nine, dipping below 47.00 for the first time to set a program freshman record and claim the No. 5 spot in program history. Sherard already owned the indoor freshman record for the 400 with his 47.45 clocking at the CUSA meet.
Lewis improved his season best from 10.24 to 10.05 for third place in a speedy men's 100. He is currently tied for fifth fastest in the NCAA at this early stage of the outdoor season.
Isaiah Idore lowered his 110 hurdles personal best to 14.28, tying him with Juan Pablo Germain Ronco for seventh all-time for the Flames.
Joshua Smith recorded three triple jumps over 15 meters, culminating with a personal-best 50-8 performance in round five. He placed fourth in the event, climbed to fifth in program history and likely punched his first-ever ticket to the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet in May.
Liberty's throwers excelled on Saturday, paced by Christian Hicks' fourth-place finish in the men's discus invitational section. His top mark of 188-3 set a new personal best by 3.5 feet.
Earlier in the morning, Beau Backes had placed third in the men's discus collegiate section with a 170-2.
Trevor Veenstra came in ninth overall and second among freshmen in the men's shot put collegiate section, thanks to a 54-3.25 put.
Fellow freshman Todd Benhase tied for sixth place in the men's pole vault, clearing a season-best 16-4.75.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Three members of the Lady Flames' record-setting women's 4 x 100 relay team performed well in individual events on Saturday. Akilah Lewis won her heat of the women's 100 in a season-best 11.48, jumping up to No. 3 on the Lady Flames' all-time list. Webster, who ranks one spot ahead of her on that chart, clocked 11.57 for her 100 season opener Saturday afternoon.
The relay's leadoff leg, Indea Cartwright sped to a season-best 13.32 during the women's 100 hurdles prelims. Unfortunately, she just missed the final by two thousandths of a second.
Freshmen Bethany Tate (eighth place, 48-5.25) and Tabby DeJong (13th, personal-best 45-6.5) both threw well in Liberty's final event of the meet, the women's shot put collegiate section. DeJong claimed the No. 10 spot in program history in the process.
Men's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
3rd – Beau Backes – Discus Collegiate Section – 170-2
3rd – Omari Lewis – 100 – 10.05
Men's Day 2 Record Breakers
Liberty Freshman Record – Elijah Sherard – 400 – 46.65
Previous Record: Unknown
New Men's NCAA Division I East First Rounds Qualifiers
Omari Lewis – 100 – 10.05
Joshua Smith – Triple Jump – 50-8
New Women's NCAA Division I East First Rounds Qualifiers
Indea Cartwright – 100 Hurdles – 13.32
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
400 – No. 5 – Elijah Sherard – 46.65
Triple Jump – No. 5 – Joshua Smith – 50-8
Discus – No. 5 – Christian Hicks – 188-3
110 Hurdles – Tie for No. 7 – Isaiah Idore – 14.28
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
100 – No. 3 – Akilah Lewis – 11.48
Shot Put – No. 10 – Tabby DeJong – 45-6.5
Up Next
Liberty will send a group of decathletes and heptathletes to the Duke Invitational, April 10-11.
The remainder of the Flames and Lady Flames will stay close to home for the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic, April 11-12 at the University of Lynchburg.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Hammer
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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