Wednesday, May 28
Jacksonville, Fla.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
at
NCAA Division I East First Rounds
Coach Luke Johnson and Kellen Kimes celebrate Kimes' NCAA national qualification.
Kimes Qualifies for Eugene in Men’s Hammer
5/29/2025 1:43:00 AM | Track and Field
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Liberty did not have to wait long to punch its first ticket to Eugene on Wednesday, the opening day of the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. Kellen Kimes successfully qualified to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the men's hammer, while Omari Lewis advanced to Friday's quarterfinal round in both of his events (men's 100 and 200).
The Flames' first athlete to compete in Jacksonville, Kimes got the team off to a flying start. His second men's hammer throw measured 213-4, a mark which held up for 11th place among the 12 Eugene qualifiers.
Kimes, who improved from a 44th-place showing at this meet a year ago, becomes the first Flame ever to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships as a sophomore. Kimes was one of two underclassmen to successfully advance from Jacksonville to Eugene in the men's hammer on Wednesday (also Duke sophomore Christian Toro).
Kimes will give Liberty a men's hammer thrower at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the second year in a row, following John Hicks in 2024. Kimes will be the first Flame to compete at Hayward Field in two weeks, throwing on June 11 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Kimes completed his event during a hot, sunny early afternoon, while the other three Flames in action had to wait out a nearly five-hour weather delay (5:15-10:00 p.m.) to get their chance.
Lewis overcame numerous challenges to earn the third and final automatic qualifying position in both of his races, running a 10.34 100 and a 21.02 200 into headwinds. His heat of the 100 was contested following a late false start recall, while Lewis drew the tight lane two assignment for the 200, which concluded the Flames' day at 12:45 a.m.
Lewis will return to the men's 100 quarterfinal round for the second year in a row, while he became just the second Flame to reach the men's 200 quarterfinals in this meet's 15-year history (also Donald McClinton in 2023).
Markus White placed 34th in his NCAA Division I East First Rounds men's long jump debut. The program record holder's top mark of the night measured 23-5.25.
Also making his debut at this meet was freshman Elijah Sherard in the men's 400. He finished off an impressive rookie campaign by coming in 42nd overall in 47.38.
Men's NCAA Division I National Qualifiers
Kellen Kimes – Hammer – 213-4
Men's Qualifiers to Friday's Quarterfinal Round
Omari Lewis – 100 – 10.34
Omari Lewis – 200 – 21.02
Up Next
The women's portion of the meet will begin on Thursday with All-American Paola Bueno getting things started in the hammer at 8 a.m.
The Flames' first athlete to compete in Jacksonville, Kimes got the team off to a flying start. His second men's hammer throw measured 213-4, a mark which held up for 11th place among the 12 Eugene qualifiers.
Kimes, who improved from a 44th-place showing at this meet a year ago, becomes the first Flame ever to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships as a sophomore. Kimes was one of two underclassmen to successfully advance from Jacksonville to Eugene in the men's hammer on Wednesday (also Duke sophomore Christian Toro).
Kimes will give Liberty a men's hammer thrower at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the second year in a row, following John Hicks in 2024. Kimes will be the first Flame to compete at Hayward Field in two weeks, throwing on June 11 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Kimes completed his event during a hot, sunny early afternoon, while the other three Flames in action had to wait out a nearly five-hour weather delay (5:15-10:00 p.m.) to get their chance.
Lewis overcame numerous challenges to earn the third and final automatic qualifying position in both of his races, running a 10.34 100 and a 21.02 200 into headwinds. His heat of the 100 was contested following a late false start recall, while Lewis drew the tight lane two assignment for the 200, which concluded the Flames' day at 12:45 a.m.
Lewis will return to the men's 100 quarterfinal round for the second year in a row, while he became just the second Flame to reach the men's 200 quarterfinals in this meet's 15-year history (also Donald McClinton in 2023).
Markus White placed 34th in his NCAA Division I East First Rounds men's long jump debut. The program record holder's top mark of the night measured 23-5.25.
Also making his debut at this meet was freshman Elijah Sherard in the men's 400. He finished off an impressive rookie campaign by coming in 42nd overall in 47.38.
Men's NCAA Division I National Qualifiers
Kellen Kimes – Hammer – 213-4
Men's Qualifiers to Friday's Quarterfinal Round
Omari Lewis – 100 – 10.34
Omari Lewis – 200 – 21.02
Up Next
The women's portion of the meet will begin on Thursday with All-American Paola Bueno getting things started in the hammer at 8 a.m.
Players Mentioned
Hammer
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
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