Thursday, January 29
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
vs
Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational Sponsored by Beynon
Jack Cottrell and the Liberty distance squad will chase the Wavelights and some high-level competition on Friday.
Brant Tolsma Elite Invite Shifts to Thursday-Friday
1/27/2026 9:13:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – With the threat of wintry weather on Saturday, the highly anticipated sixth annual Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational sponsored by Beynon has been shifted up a day. The pentathlon and day one of the heptathlon will be contested on Thursday with the remainder of events being completed Friday at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Liberty will be part of a small, high-quality field which also includes Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Northern Arizona, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, High Point and North Carolina A&T.
The meet will begin with the pentathlon 60 hurdles, Thursday at 1 p.m.
The lower section of women's pole vault will get things started on Friday at 11 a.m.
FloTrack will televise most of Friday's events beginning at 12:45 p.m., just prior to the loaded invitational sections of the men's and women's mile.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Admission is free of charge for the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational sponsored by Beynon.
FloTrack will air Friday's events from 12:45 p.m. through the conclusion of the meet. This will mark the first of three consecutive televised home meets for the Flames. The 12th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational (Feb. 13-14) and CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 27-28) will both air on ESPN+.
Live results will be available throughout the meet, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing
Touting Tolsma
Brant Tolsma served as Liberty's track & field and cross country head coach for 34 years (1986-2020) before retiring following the 2020 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships. He coached Liberty's teams to 116 conference championships and coached six NCAA Division I individual national champions. Tolsma was a 77-time conference coach of the year and coached Liberty athletes to 61 All-America honors.
Liberty's previous indoor track facility was named the Tolsma Indoor Track Center in his honor. The current indoor track oval was officially dedicated as the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track during the 2022 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.
The inaugural Brant Tolsma Invitational took place on Feb. 5 & 6, 2021 during the first season of competition following Tolsma's retirement.
Celebrating a Decade
The Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, which opened its doors in January 2017, is celebrating its 10th season of competition in 2025-26. This season, Wavelight technology is being utilized at the facility for the first time.
The Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational sponsored by Beynon is the third of Liberty's five home meets this season, with the 12th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational (Feb. 13-14) and CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 27-28) still to come.
Amazing Allie
Sophomore All-American Allie Zealand will be racing on Friday for the first time since Dec. 6. That day, her 8:44.71 3K in Boston shattered her own program record and bettered the existing USATF U20 standard.
Zealand is set to race the invitational women's mile at 1:05 p.m. before coming back to pace the 5K at 5:55.
Zealand's second career collegiate meet at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex (following the 2025 CUSA Championship) could see her challenge a couple records. NC State's Bethany Michalak clocked a facility record of 4:35.91 at last week's Liberty Open. Meanwhile, Calli Doan has owned the Liberty record of 4:36.52 since Feb. 10, 2023.
Zealand will have no shortage of competition on the mile start line, headlined by the NC State duo of Sadie Engelhardt and Angelina Napoleon. Zealand's high school rival, Engelhardt ranks No. 3 nationally for the mile this season at 4:27.54. Napoleon, a World Championships finalist in the steeplechase, finished one spot behind Zealand in the Boston 3K race last month.
Chasing Sub-4:00
Although not nearly as uncommon these days, running a sub-4:00 mile is still one of the most recognizable accomplishments in track & field.
The meet's first running event final will consist of two sections of the invitational men's mile, Friday at 12:50 p.m., and most of the competitors will be looking to dip under 4:00.
Northern Arizona figures to be well represented up front, paced by 3K national leader Colin Sahlman (who boasts a 3:52.82 personal best) and two of this year's top four milers (Tor Hotung-Davidsen and Ford Washburn).
North Carolina's Colton Sands, who ranks No. 5 nationally in the 5K at 13:17.88, will step down in distance.
Two of the nine fastest milers in Liberty history (Michael Long and Dale Hall) are also entered. The program record is 4:01.27, set by Ryan Drew on this track in 2022.
That same day, Virginia Tech's Antonio Lopez Segura clocked a facility record time of 3:56.79. That certainly figures to be threatened Friday afternoon.
Welcome Home
Northern Arizona will make its debut at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex this week. The national power in distance running features two Liberty alumni on staff, including Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jarred Cornfield and assistant coach Jake Reed.
NAU boasts the national leader in the women's mile (Hayley Burns) and men's 3K (Colin Sahlman), both of whom are slated to race on Friday.
Meanwhile, longtime Liberty assistant Mark Fairley will return to Lynchburg in his new role as Taylor's distance coach. One of his new team's top runners (Jaynie Halterman) is entered in the women's 5K. She is the NAIA defending national champion at that distance both indoors and outdoors.
Record Breakers
Numerous Liberty program records and freshman records have been eclipsed already this season. Below is a summary.
Program Records
Mahogany Mobley – Women's 300 – 38.70 on Dec. 5 and 38.67 on Jan. 16
Joshua Smith – Men's Triple Jump – 51-3.5 on Dec. 5 (broken by Gilles Ouedraogo at 51-7.75 on Jan. 23)
Allie Zealand – Women's 3K – 8:44.71 on Dec. 6
Elijah Sherard – Men's 300 – 33.60 on Jan. 16
Freshman Records
Shelby Smith – Women's 300 – 40.22 on Dec. 5 and 39.25 on Jan. 16
Chase Johnson – Men's Pole Vault – 16-11 on Jan. 9
Jacob Tarkington – Men's 800 – 1:50.76 on Jan. 9
Alivia Rivera-Norman – Women's 60 Hurdles – 8.59 on Jan. 23
Tahj Brown – Men's 60 Hurdles – 7.93 on Jan. 23
Conference USA Contenders
Liberty's third season as a Conference USA member will culminate with the 2026 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Feb. 27-28 at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. With a month remaining until the conference meet, Liberty ranks No. 1 in the following events:
Women's 3K – Allie Zealand – 8:44.71
Pentathlon – Patasha Bryan – 3,950
Men's 800 – Jacob Tarkington – 1:50.76
Men's Mile – Michael Long – 4:05.46
Men's 3K – Jack Cottrell – 8:05.86
Men's 60 Hurdles – Tahj Brown – 7.93
Men's Long Jump – Markus White – 24-11.25
Men's Triple Jump – Gilles Ouedraogo – 51-7.75
Men's Shot Put – Trevor Veenstra – 59-1.5
Men's Weight Throw – Kellen Kimes – 67-7.5
Heptathlon – Jake Nicholson – 4,930
Among the Nation's Elite
At season's end, the nation's top 16 performers in each event will qualify to the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. The meet is scheduled for March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark.
The following Flames currently rank among the top 16 in their respective events:
No. 3 – Allie Zealand – Women's 3K – 8:44.71
No. 15 – Patasha Bryan – Pentathlon – 3,950
Up Next
After taking next weekend off from competition, the Flames will return to action with another annual schedule highlight, the 12th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. The meet is slated for Feb. 13-14 at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, and portions of both days' competition will air on ESPN+.
Liberty will be part of a small, high-quality field which also includes Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Northern Arizona, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, High Point and North Carolina A&T.
The meet will begin with the pentathlon 60 hurdles, Thursday at 1 p.m.
The lower section of women's pole vault will get things started on Friday at 11 a.m.
FloTrack will televise most of Friday's events beginning at 12:45 p.m., just prior to the loaded invitational sections of the men's and women's mile.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Admission is free of charge for the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational sponsored by Beynon.
FloTrack will air Friday's events from 12:45 p.m. through the conclusion of the meet. This will mark the first of three consecutive televised home meets for the Flames. The 12th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational (Feb. 13-14) and CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 27-28) will both air on ESPN+.
Live results will be available throughout the meet, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing
Touting Tolsma
Brant Tolsma served as Liberty's track & field and cross country head coach for 34 years (1986-2020) before retiring following the 2020 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships. He coached Liberty's teams to 116 conference championships and coached six NCAA Division I individual national champions. Tolsma was a 77-time conference coach of the year and coached Liberty athletes to 61 All-America honors.
Liberty's previous indoor track facility was named the Tolsma Indoor Track Center in his honor. The current indoor track oval was officially dedicated as the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track during the 2022 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.
The inaugural Brant Tolsma Invitational took place on Feb. 5 & 6, 2021 during the first season of competition following Tolsma's retirement.
Celebrating a Decade
The Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, which opened its doors in January 2017, is celebrating its 10th season of competition in 2025-26. This season, Wavelight technology is being utilized at the facility for the first time.
The Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational sponsored by Beynon is the third of Liberty's five home meets this season, with the 12th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational (Feb. 13-14) and CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 27-28) still to come.
Amazing Allie
Sophomore All-American Allie Zealand will be racing on Friday for the first time since Dec. 6. That day, her 8:44.71 3K in Boston shattered her own program record and bettered the existing USATF U20 standard.
Zealand is set to race the invitational women's mile at 1:05 p.m. before coming back to pace the 5K at 5:55.
Zealand's second career collegiate meet at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex (following the 2025 CUSA Championship) could see her challenge a couple records. NC State's Bethany Michalak clocked a facility record of 4:35.91 at last week's Liberty Open. Meanwhile, Calli Doan has owned the Liberty record of 4:36.52 since Feb. 10, 2023.
Zealand will have no shortage of competition on the mile start line, headlined by the NC State duo of Sadie Engelhardt and Angelina Napoleon. Zealand's high school rival, Engelhardt ranks No. 3 nationally for the mile this season at 4:27.54. Napoleon, a World Championships finalist in the steeplechase, finished one spot behind Zealand in the Boston 3K race last month.
Chasing Sub-4:00
Although not nearly as uncommon these days, running a sub-4:00 mile is still one of the most recognizable accomplishments in track & field.
The meet's first running event final will consist of two sections of the invitational men's mile, Friday at 12:50 p.m., and most of the competitors will be looking to dip under 4:00.
Northern Arizona figures to be well represented up front, paced by 3K national leader Colin Sahlman (who boasts a 3:52.82 personal best) and two of this year's top four milers (Tor Hotung-Davidsen and Ford Washburn).
North Carolina's Colton Sands, who ranks No. 5 nationally in the 5K at 13:17.88, will step down in distance.
Two of the nine fastest milers in Liberty history (Michael Long and Dale Hall) are also entered. The program record is 4:01.27, set by Ryan Drew on this track in 2022.
That same day, Virginia Tech's Antonio Lopez Segura clocked a facility record time of 3:56.79. That certainly figures to be threatened Friday afternoon.
Welcome Home
Northern Arizona will make its debut at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex this week. The national power in distance running features two Liberty alumni on staff, including Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jarred Cornfield and assistant coach Jake Reed.
NAU boasts the national leader in the women's mile (Hayley Burns) and men's 3K (Colin Sahlman), both of whom are slated to race on Friday.
Meanwhile, longtime Liberty assistant Mark Fairley will return to Lynchburg in his new role as Taylor's distance coach. One of his new team's top runners (Jaynie Halterman) is entered in the women's 5K. She is the NAIA defending national champion at that distance both indoors and outdoors.
Record Breakers
Numerous Liberty program records and freshman records have been eclipsed already this season. Below is a summary.
Program Records
Mahogany Mobley – Women's 300 – 38.70 on Dec. 5 and 38.67 on Jan. 16
Joshua Smith – Men's Triple Jump – 51-3.5 on Dec. 5 (broken by Gilles Ouedraogo at 51-7.75 on Jan. 23)
Allie Zealand – Women's 3K – 8:44.71 on Dec. 6
Elijah Sherard – Men's 300 – 33.60 on Jan. 16
Freshman Records
Shelby Smith – Women's 300 – 40.22 on Dec. 5 and 39.25 on Jan. 16
Chase Johnson – Men's Pole Vault – 16-11 on Jan. 9
Jacob Tarkington – Men's 800 – 1:50.76 on Jan. 9
Alivia Rivera-Norman – Women's 60 Hurdles – 8.59 on Jan. 23
Tahj Brown – Men's 60 Hurdles – 7.93 on Jan. 23
Conference USA Contenders
Liberty's third season as a Conference USA member will culminate with the 2026 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Feb. 27-28 at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. With a month remaining until the conference meet, Liberty ranks No. 1 in the following events:
Women's 3K – Allie Zealand – 8:44.71
Pentathlon – Patasha Bryan – 3,950
Men's 800 – Jacob Tarkington – 1:50.76
Men's Mile – Michael Long – 4:05.46
Men's 3K – Jack Cottrell – 8:05.86
Men's 60 Hurdles – Tahj Brown – 7.93
Men's Long Jump – Markus White – 24-11.25
Men's Triple Jump – Gilles Ouedraogo – 51-7.75
Men's Shot Put – Trevor Veenstra – 59-1.5
Men's Weight Throw – Kellen Kimes – 67-7.5
Heptathlon – Jake Nicholson – 4,930
Among the Nation's Elite
At season's end, the nation's top 16 performers in each event will qualify to the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. The meet is scheduled for March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark.
The following Flames currently rank among the top 16 in their respective events:
No. 3 – Allie Zealand – Women's 3K – 8:44.71
No. 15 – Patasha Bryan – Pentathlon – 3,950
Up Next
After taking next weekend off from competition, the Flames will return to action with another annual schedule highlight, the 12th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. The meet is slated for Feb. 13-14 at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, and portions of both days' competition will air on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and FieldJumps
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
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