Saturday, January 17
Blacksburg, Va.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
at
Virginia Tech Invitational
Marianah Scott helped the Lady Flames' 4 x 400 relay squad clock 3:43.45, their fastest indoor time since 2020.
Liberty’s Men’s Pole Vaulters, Women’s 4 x 400 Relay Stand Out on Saturday
1/17/2026 8:33:00 PM | Track and Field
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Liberty's men's pole vault duo of Todd Benhase and Reagan Wise and the women's 4 x 400 quartet of Maddy Merritt, Marianah Scott, Shelby Smith and Mahogany Mobley provided the Flames' top performances on Saturday, the Virginia Tech Invitational's final day of competition at Rector Field House.
Benhase (lifetime-best 16-8.75) and Wise (indoor personal-best 16-8.75) both climbed the Flames' all-time pole vault chart, while the Lady Flames' runner-up 4 x 400 relay time of 3:43.45 was the team's fastest indoor effort in six years.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Wise made it over 16-8.75 on his first try to place sixth in Saturday's men's pole vault competition, while Benhase's third-attempt clearance at 16-8.75 earned eighth place. The pair is now tied with Ken Ritchey for sixth in program history.
Add in Chase Johnson's career-best 16-11 effort from last week's The Burg Open, and three of the top eight indoor men's pole vaulters in program history are part of this year's team. Johnson tops the CUSA leaderboard this season, while Benhase and Wise share the third spot.
Racing the 200-meter distance for the first time in his collegiate career, Isaac Yarnell posted a 21.98 for fourth place in the event and the fastest clocking by a CUSA freshman this year.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Merritt, Scott, Smith and Mobley teamed up to finish second with their 4 x 400 time of 3:43.45. The No. 8 effort in program history was the Lady Flames' fastest since a 3:43.24 effort at the 2020 ASUN Championship.
Smith (54.95) and Mobley (54.48) closed things out with back-to-back sub-55.00 splits, one day after both had set records at the 300 distance. Mobley lowered her own program record to 38.67 and Smith slashed her Liberty freshman standard to 39.25 on Friday.
Mobley tuned up for the relay by recording an indoor personal-best 200 time of 24.72 Saturday afternoon, earning a heat victory and a fourth place overall showing in the one-lap event.
Stephanie Robson produced an indoor personal best of her own, a CUSA-leading 39-10.75 triple jump. It placed her fourth in the competition and sits No. 9 in program history for the Lady Flames.
Women's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Maddy Merritt, Marianah Scott, Shelby Smith, Mahogany Mobley – 4 x 400 Relay – 3:43.45
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Tie for No. 6 – Pole Vault – Todd Benhase – 16-8.75
Tie for No. 6 – Pole Vault – Reagan Wise – 16-8.75
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
No. 8 – 4 x 400 – Merritt, Scott, Smith, Mobley – 3:43.45
No. 9 – Triple Jump – Stephanie Robson – 39-10.75
Up Next
The Flames and Lady Flames will return home for the Liberty Open. The meet will take place Jan. 23-24 at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Benhase (lifetime-best 16-8.75) and Wise (indoor personal-best 16-8.75) both climbed the Flames' all-time pole vault chart, while the Lady Flames' runner-up 4 x 400 relay time of 3:43.45 was the team's fastest indoor effort in six years.
Men's Day 2 Recap
Wise made it over 16-8.75 on his first try to place sixth in Saturday's men's pole vault competition, while Benhase's third-attempt clearance at 16-8.75 earned eighth place. The pair is now tied with Ken Ritchey for sixth in program history.
Add in Chase Johnson's career-best 16-11 effort from last week's The Burg Open, and three of the top eight indoor men's pole vaulters in program history are part of this year's team. Johnson tops the CUSA leaderboard this season, while Benhase and Wise share the third spot.
Racing the 200-meter distance for the first time in his collegiate career, Isaac Yarnell posted a 21.98 for fourth place in the event and the fastest clocking by a CUSA freshman this year.
Women's Day 2 Recap
Merritt, Scott, Smith and Mobley teamed up to finish second with their 4 x 400 time of 3:43.45. The No. 8 effort in program history was the Lady Flames' fastest since a 3:43.24 effort at the 2020 ASUN Championship.
Smith (54.95) and Mobley (54.48) closed things out with back-to-back sub-55.00 splits, one day after both had set records at the 300 distance. Mobley lowered her own program record to 38.67 and Smith slashed her Liberty freshman standard to 39.25 on Friday.
Mobley tuned up for the relay by recording an indoor personal-best 200 time of 24.72 Saturday afternoon, earning a heat victory and a fourth place overall showing in the one-lap event.
Stephanie Robson produced an indoor personal best of her own, a CUSA-leading 39-10.75 triple jump. It placed her fourth in the competition and sits No. 9 in program history for the Lady Flames.
Women's Day 2 Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Maddy Merritt, Marianah Scott, Shelby Smith, Mahogany Mobley – 4 x 400 Relay – 3:43.45
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
Tie for No. 6 – Pole Vault – Todd Benhase – 16-8.75
Tie for No. 6 – Pole Vault – Reagan Wise – 16-8.75
Day 2 Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
No. 8 – 4 x 400 – Merritt, Scott, Smith, Mobley – 3:43.45
No. 9 – Triple Jump – Stephanie Robson – 39-10.75
Up Next
The Flames and Lady Flames will return home for the Liberty Open. The meet will take place Jan. 23-24 at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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