Friday, February 27
Lynchburg, Va.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
vs
Conference USA Indoor Track Championships
Gabriel Willis will attempt to defend his CUSA heptathlon title this week.
Liberty to Host CUSA Indoor Track Championships, Friday and Saturday
2/24/2026 5:04:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty is preparing to host the Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships for the third consecutive season, Friday and Saturday at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
The Lady Flames are aiming for their fifth straight indoor conference title, as they were victorious during their last two years of ASUN competition (2022 and 2023) and their first two seasons of CUSA membership (2024 and 2025).
Meanwhile, the Liberty men's squad will look to return to the top of the conference standings. The Flames had captured 27 consecutive indoor conference crowns, dating back to the 1998 Big South Championship, before finishing second to Kennesaw State at this meet a year ago.
The 31st edition of the CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships will begin Friday at 10 a.m. with the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles. Saturday's action will commence at 10:30 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.
Liberty will host its conference's indoor track & field championship for the ninth consecutive year, spanning three leagues (Big South – 2018, ASUN – 2019-23 and CUSA – 2024-26), to punctuate the 10th season of competition at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Liberty hopes its home track advantage continues this weekend. The Flames and Lady Flames have won 30 of a possible 32 conference men's and women's indoor and outdoor team titles in Lynchburg.
This year's meet will feature 12 women's teams (Delaware, FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky) and seven men's squads (Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky). Delaware and Missouri State will debut at the CUSA meet this week, while UTEP will make its 20th and final appearance at this event before departing for the Mountain West Conference next season.
How to Follow the Action
Admission is free of charge to both days of the 2026 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Live video streaming will be available on ESPN+ with the broadcasting team consisting of Claire Geary, Todd Patulski and Annette Cory. The live broadcast windows include Friday from 3-8 p.m. and Saturday from 2 p.m. through the conclusion of the post-meet awards ceremony.
Live results will be available throughout the meet, featuring live splits in the running events and throw-by-throw and jump-by-jump updates in the field events, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing.
Women's Meet Preview
The Lady Flames successfully defended their CUSA indoor team title last season, topping then conference newcomer Kennesaw State by 28 points (145-117).
This week, Liberty will look to become the first CUSA women's squad to capture three consecutive indoor titles since UTEP (2015-17). A victory would also mark the Lady Flames' 20th indoor conference title in the last 29 years.
Kennesaw State is expected to be Liberty's top challenger once again this season. The Owls were the most recent team to defeat the Lady Flames indoors, defeating Liberty by five points to win the 2021 ASUN indoor crown. Since then, the Lady Flames have won four consecutive indoor team titles.
The Lady Flames own CUSA's top performance in four events this season: mile (Allie Zealand), 3K (Zealand), shot put (Bethany Tate) and pentathlon (Patasha Bryan). Zealand will attempt to defend her CUSA mile title from 2025, while Bryan was the 2024 CUSA pentathlon champion.
Zealand currently ranks No. 9 nationally for the 3K and No. 18 for the mile, putting the sophomore All-American in strong position to make her debut at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Bryan sits No. 22 in the pentathlon and will try to follow the example of teammate Meredith Engle, who qualified to last year's NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships with her score from the CUSA meet.
The top 16 athletes in each event following this week's meets will be invited to compete in the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, slated for March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's Meet Preview
Kennesaw State made quite a debut at the 2025 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, defeating host Liberty by 14.5 points (154-139.5) to end the Flames' nation-best streak of 27 consecutive indoor team titles which dated back to the inaugural Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships in 1998.
Liberty and Kennesaw State are expected to battle for first place again this week, something the two teams have become accustomed to, dating back to their five years together in the ASUN Conference (2019-23). The Flames were victorious each of those five seasons, with the Owls finishing as the runners-up every time.
The Flames own CUSA's top mark of the season to date in eight of 17 events, including the mile (Michael Long), 3K (Jack Cottrell), 60 hurdles (Tahj Brown), long jump (Markus White), triple jump (Gilles Ouedraogo), shot put (Trevor Veenstra), weight throw (Kellen Kimes) and heptathlon (Jake Nicholson).
Liberty only won two events at this meet in 2025, but both of those victors are back including Kimes (weight throw) and Gabriel Wilis (heptathlon).
White (25-6.25 long jump) and Ouedraogo (52-7.25 triple jump) both recorded program records at the Tiger Paw Invitational two weeks ago, putting them on the cusp of NCAA national qualification. The nation's top 16 athletes in each event after the conclusion of conference championship weekend will advance to the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, set for March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark. Ouedraogo is currently tied for No. 19 in the triple jump, while White ranks No. 22 in the long jump.
Event Capsules
Women's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:50 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:05 p.m.
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 7.31
Meet Record: 7.18 by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2010
Facility Record: 7.16 by Dana Wilson (Nike Elite) in 2025
Liberty Record: 7.30 by Reese Webster in 2025
2026 Leader: Kenadie Singleton (Kennesaw State) – 7.43
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Reese Webster – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Marianah Scott
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Kenadie Singleton enters as the top seed with a season best of 7.43. She was the ASUN runner-up as a freshman in 2024 and took third place in last year's CUSA 60 final. Singleton is one of only three returnees from last year's final, also including Sam Houston's Ayana Mallard-Smith (fifth place) and Kennesaw State teammate Samiya Wayne (sixth). No. 2 seed Olivia Rogers of Missouri State clocked a personal-best 7.46 to finish fourth in last season's MVC final. The Lady Flames' Marianah Scott ranks No. 10 in program history at 7.64 but is only tied for No. 14 on this year's CUSA chart.
Women's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.73 (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 22.73 by Niesha Burgher (UTEP) in 2025
Facility Record: 22.73 by Niesha Burgher (UTEP) in 2025
Liberty Record: 23.11 by Reese Webster in 2025
2026 Leader: Marlee Cavitt (New Mexico State) – 23.85 (altitude conversion from 23.78)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Abby Pantlitz – 2021 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Iyana Sherard, Mahogany Mobley
Outlook: UTEP All-American Niesha Burgher has graduated as the three-time defending champion, meet record holder and facility record holder in the one-lap event, making things more wide open this week. New Mexico State's Marlee Cavitt (23.78 at altitude) is the only CUSA sprinter to break 24 seconds thus far in 2026. She failed to qualify for the final a year ago but placed third in this event at the 2024 MPSF meet while competing for Portland. Kennesaw State's Samiya Wayne (fourth place) is the top returnee from 2025. Addison Stricklin of UTEP was the only freshman to reach the final a year ago, where she came in sixth. Stricklin clocked 24.00 at altitude her last time out. Liberty's Iyana Sherard will compete at this meet for the first time in her career after a big personal best of 24.25 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational moved her up to No. 6 in CUSA this year and No. 6 all-time for the Lady Flames.
Women's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Osaretin Usenbor (Louisiana Tech) – 53.49
Meet Record: 52.77 by Abike Egbeniyi (Middle Tennessee) in 2018
Facility Record: 52.55 by Athing Mu (Unattached) in 2019
Liberty Record: 53.99 by Cortney Strohman in 2019
2026 Leader: Jamara Patterson (Louisiana Tech) – 53.11
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Cortney Strohman – 2020 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Mahogany Mobley, Shelby Smith, Maddy Merritt
Outlook: Louisiana Tech's Osaretin Usenbor and Jamara Patterson finished 1-2 in the CUSA women's 400 final both indoors and outdoors last year. However, it is Patterson (53.11) who owns this season's fastest time by more than a second. If Usenbor can defend her title, she would become the first back-to-back champion in this event since Charlotte's Maya Singletary in 2020 and 2021. Middle Tennessee's Agu Chidinma is the No. 3 seed at 54.48 after placing third in this event last season while competing for Jacksonville State. Liberty has not entered anyone in the women's 400 during its first two CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships appearances, but that will change this week. Mahogany Mobley (54.54) and Shelby Smith (freshman-record 54.84) rank No. 4 and No. 6 in program history. Mobley took fourth in this event outdoors a year ago. Cortney Strohman (2020 ASUN) was the Lady Flames' most recent conference champion in the indoor 400 and has owned the program record of 53.99 since 2019.
Women's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Emma Sullivan (Kennesaw State) – 2:03.84
Meet Record: 2:03.84 by Emma Sullivan (Kennesaw State) in 2025
Facility Record: 2:03.73 by Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) in 2021
Liberty Record: 2:05.42 by Jaime Watson in 2010
2026 Leader: Emma Sullivan (Kennesaw State) – 2:03.63
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Kate Goodyear – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Rachel Hill, Eden Alexander
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Emma Sullivan swept the CUSA indoor and outdoor 800 titles in meet-record fashion a year ago, and her 2:03.63 clocking is the conference's fastest of 2026 by more than two seconds. She could be aiming for another fast time this week in an effort to qualify for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Sullivan reached the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene in this event a year ago. Sullivan will attempt to become the first CUSA runner to successfully defend her title in this event since Middle Tennessee's Agnes Abu in 2017 and 2018. Privillege Chikara of Middle Tennessee, the No. 2 seed at 2:06.05, was the runner-up to Sullivan at this meet a year ago and took third outdoors. The Lady Flames' Allie Zealand improved her personal best to 2:06.59 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, climbing to No. 3 in CUSA this year and No. 3 on Liberty's all-time top 10 list. But she will focus on other events this week, leaving classmate Rachel Hill as someone else to keep your eyes on. During her three 800s this season, the Liberty sophomore has dropped her time from 2:16.75 to 2:12.34 to 2:09.74 (No. 9 in program history). Lady Flames freshman Eden Alexander notched a season-best 2:10.35 800 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, putting her within reach of Jessica Palisca's Liberty freshman record of 2:09.61 from 2023.
Women's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2 p.m.
Defending Champion: Allie Zealand (Liberty) – 4:41.96
Meet Record: 4:37.53 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Facility Record: 4:28.89 by Allie Zealand (Liberty) in 2026
Liberty Record: 4:28.89 by Allie Zealand in 2026
2026 Leader: Allie Zealand (Liberty) – 4:28.89
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Allie Zealand – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Allie Zealand, Katrina Schlenker, Jessica Palisca, Rachel Hill, Mackenzie Babcock
Outlook: Defending champion Allie Zealand's lone mile race of the season was an impressive one. She clocked a program and facility-record 4:28.89 to win the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational and rank No. 18 nationally, 14 seconds faster than the next-best CUSA performer (Middle Tennesee's Privillege Chikara). Zealand will look to become CUSA's first back-to-back women's mile champion since Rice's Grace Forbes won as a freshman and sophomore in 2020 and 2021. Those same two years, Calli Doan (ASUN) was the last Lady Flame to successfully defend her conference title in this event. Last season, Liberty's Marie Hostetler followed Zealand across the finish line to make it a 1-2 finish for the home team. Katrina Schlenker will look to follow in the footsteps of her former steeplechase teammate after a big personal-best 4:44.09 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational catapulted her up to No. 3 in CUSA this year and No. 4 all-time at Liberty. Kennesaw State is also strong in this event, as Akshana placed third a year ago while Emma Ferguson was the outdoor runner-up to Zealand in the 1,500. With the women's mile kicking off Saturday's running event finals, this could be one of numerous pivotal battles between top team title contenders Liberty and KSU.
Women's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 9:28.67
Meet Record: 9:10.40 by Elinor Kirk (UAB) in 2014
Facility Record: 8:52.72 by Hayley Burns (Northern Arizona) in 2026
Liberty Record: 8:44.71 by Allie Zealand in 2025
2026 Leader: Allie Zealand (Liberty) – 8:44.71
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Adelyn Fairley – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Allie Zealand, Ava Gordon, Katie Sigerud, Katrina Schlenker, Sophia Park, Ryann Aycock, Mackenzie Babcock, Jessica Palisca
Outlook: Allie Zealand sits No. 9 nationally with her Liberty and USATF U20 record time of 8:44.71 from Boston in December. That is the fastest time by a CUSA runner this season by 36 seconds, as CUSA cross country runner-up (to Zealand) Marie-Theres Gruber of Delaware is next up at 9:20.73. Zealand placed fourth overall in this event and third among the Lady Flames last season, helping Liberty clinch the women's team title. Defending champion Adelyn Fairley has graduated, but last year's third-place finisher (Ava Gordon) returns. If the reigning CUSA cross country champion Lady Flames need points late in the meet, they could start as many as six 2025 cross country All-CUSA performers into this event (Zealand, Jessica Palisca, Katrina Schlenker, Ryann Aycock, Katie Sigerud and Mackenzie Babcock). Middle Tennessee's Odilia Jepchumba raced to the 2024 CUSA women's 3K crown. Eusila Chepkemei of Middle Tennessee (2022) was the last conference runner to win both the mile and 3K titles the same day at this meet. Ednah Kurgat (2016 Big South) was the most recent Lady Flame to earn a mile/3K double at a conference meet.
Women's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 16:50.39 (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 15:57.54 by Caroline Sang (Charlotte) in 2018
Facility Record: 15:37.12 by Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland High School) in 2018
Liberty Record: 15:47.89 by Ednah Kurgat in 2016
2026 Leader: Marie-Theres Gruber (Delaware) – 16:17.66
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Adelyn Fairley – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Ryann Aycock, Ava Gordon, Sophia Park, Katie Sigerud
Outlook: The women's 5K has produced a couple of the most exciting finishes at this meet the last two seasons. Liberty's Adelyn Fairley narrowly won both races, emerging from a four-person battle in 2024 and a three-person sprint last year. While Fairley has graduated, her top competitors from last season's 5K final are back, including runner-up Madison Seiler of Kennesaw State and third-place Faith Nyathi of Middle Tennessee. Nyathi returned the favor with a tight 5K victory over Fairley at the 2025 CUSA outdoor meet. Nyathi (16:27.58) and Seiler (16:28.74) are two of three CUSA runners to break 16:30 this season. But the top seed belongs to Marie-Theres Gruber (16:17.66), who could possess Delaware's best chance at its first CUSA individual title. Liberty has raced to five straight indoor conference 5K victories, dating back to Fairley's ASUN triumph in 2021. But Ryann Aycock (17:14.67) is the fastest Lady Flame so far this season, ranking No. 7 in the conference. She stepped up for a 16th-place finish at the CUSA Cross Country Championships in the fall, clinching Liberty's team title. Teammate Ava Gordon ranks No. 4 on Liberty's all-time outdoor 5K list at 16:25.51 but will run her first indoor 5K Friday evening.
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:35 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.14 (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 8.01 by Tobi Amusan (UTEP) in 2017
Facility Record: 8.12 by Marissa Simpson (UTEP) in 2024
Liberty Record: 8.16 by Indea Cartwright in 2024
2026 Leader: Natalie Harris (Kennesaw State) and Tickia Sutton (Kennesaw State) – 8.40
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Jada Thomas – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Alivia Rivera-Norman
Outlook: UTEP All-American Marissa Simpson, the three-time defending CUSA 60 hurdles champion and facility record holder (8.12) has graduated, leaving a flurry of freshmen to take over the event this season. Rookies own CUSA's six fastest marks, paced by the Kennesaw State duo of Natalie Harris and Tickia Sutton (both 8.40). UTEP's Cydni Martin (8.50 at altitude) and Grace Culver (8.56 at altitude) will try to extend the Miners' streak to five straight CUSA 60 hurdles crowns and give UTEP its 11th title in this event in the last 14 seasons. Jada Thomas captured Liberty's most recent conference championship in this event, claiming ASUN honors as a freshman in 2019. Alivia Rivera-Norman has broken Thomas' Liberty freshman record and enters as the No. 5 seed at 8.56.
Women's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louisiana Tech – 3:37.63
Meet Record: 3:37.42 by Charlotte in 2023
Facility Record: 3:37.63 by Louisiana Tech in 2025
Liberty Record: 3:39.06 in 2019
2026 Leader: Louisiana Tech – 3.37.61
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (2019 ASUN)
Outlook: The last two CUSA women's 4 x 400 relay finals have eclipsed the facility record, including UTEP's 3:38.55 effort in 2024 and LA Tech's 3:37.63 a year ago. Paced by the dynamic duo of Jamara Patterson and Osaretin Usenbor, the Bulldogs own a season best of 3:37.61 and could threaten their own facility standard from last year as well as Charlotte's meet record of 3:37.42 from 2023. Liberty finished only seventh a year ago but enters as the No. 3 seed at 3:41.83 as it chases its first CUSA women's 4 x 400 relay top-three finish, indoors or out. That effort from the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational was the Lady Flames' fastest since they raced to a program-record 3:39.06 to win the 2019 ECAC title in Boston. That same year marked Liberty's most recent indoor conference championship in this event (ASUN).
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kennesaw State – 11:23.53
Meet Record: 11:23.53 by Kennesaw State in 2025
Facility Record: 11:23.53 by Kennesaw State in 2025
Liberty Record: 11:21.25 in 2025
2026 Leader: Missouri State – 11:52.93
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (2024)
Outlook: Just like the women's 4 x 400 relay, it has taken a new facility record to win the CUSA DMR title each of the last two years. Liberty took top honors in 2024 at 11:32.82 before the top three teams of 2025 all ran faster than that, including Kennesaw State (11:23.53), Middle Tennessee (11:26.56) and Liberty (11:26.93). Those same three squads could contend once again on Friday, along with CUSA newcomer Missouri State, who placed third in last year's MVC final and owns the conference's fastest clocking of 2026 at 11:52.93. If the Owls are able to defend their crown, they would become the first CUSA team to do so in this event since UTSA in 2014 and 2015.
Women's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Rachel Swain (Kennesaw State) – 20-1 (6.12m)
Meet Record: 21-10 (6.65m) by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2008 and 2010
Facility Record: 20-10.75 (6.37m) by Robbie Grace (Wake Forest) in 2025 and Jasmine Akins (Kennesaw State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 19-10.25 (6.05m) by Ayanna Johnson in 2022
2026 Leader: Praise Djoma (UTEP – 20-2.5 (6.16m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Makenzy Mizera – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Paige Greenhagel, Lara DeFazio, Patasha Bryan, Mackenzie Boggess
Outlook: UTEP's Praise Djoma (20-2.5) and Kennesaw State's Myesha Hall (20-1.5) give the conference a pair of 20-foot jumpers this season. Djoma placed third outdoors in 2025, while Hall was the 2022 NAIA outdoor long jump national champion for Truett-McConnell and owns a 20-8 personal best. No. 3 seed Nia Thompson of Sam Houston (19-7.5) was the CUSA indoor runner-up and outdoor champion as a freshman a year ago but is not entered in Friday's competition. Paige Greenhagel has produced Liberty's top long jump of the year (19-0.5), tying her for sixth in program history and 10th in CUSA this year. However, she will be long jumping for the second time on Friday, following the pentathlon competition. Lara DeFazio owns a season best of 18-9.75 and could contend for points if she threatens the Liberty freshman record of 19-1.5 set by Makenzy Mizera in 2019.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Danielle McGonigle (FIU) – 41-1.5 (12.53m)
Meet Record: 45-6.5 (13.88m) by Ganna Demydova (Southern Miss) in 2011
Facility Record: 47-7.75 (14.52m) by Thea LaFond (Unattached) in 2021
Liberty Record: 42-8 (13.00m) by Makenzy Mizera in 2021
2026 Leader: Victoria Joyce (Kennesaw State) – 41-7.25 (12.68m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Makenzy Mizera – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Stephanie Robson, Mackenzie Boggess, Lara DeFazio
Outlook: The women's triple jump field features four past conference champions, including 2024 CUSA outdoor victor Viktoria Rusnakova (Middle Tennessee), 2025 CUSA indoor champ Danielle McGonigle (FIU), 2025 CUSA outdoor champion Praise Djoma (UTEP) and 2023 ASUN outdoor first-place finisher Victoria Joyce (Kennesaw State). Joyce, who was the CUSA indoor and outdoor runner-up during her first year in the conference in 2025, is the top seed at 41-7.25. Fourth place and 10th place on the CUSA leaderboard are separated by just 3.75 inches. That group is bookended by Lady Flames Stephanie Robson (39-10.75, No. 9 in program history) and Mackenzie Boggess (39-7, No. 10 in program history). Boggess, who jumped 40-1.5 in high school, could go after the Liberty freshman record of 39-11.5 set by Janae Jones in 2013.
Women's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Luca Keszthelyi (FIU) – 5-8.5 (1.74m)
Meet Record: 6-1.25 (1.86m) by Josie Taylor (Rice) in 2022
Facility Record: 6-0.75 (1.85m) by Kristi Snyman (Jacksonville) in 2023
Liberty Record: 5-10.75 (1.80m) by Kena Butts in 2005
2026 Leader: Luca Keszthelyi (FIU) and Amaya Bien-Aime (FIU) – 5-10.75 (1.80m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Kylie Polsgrove – 2018 Big South)
Liberty Entrants: Eva Whiteman, Patasha Bryan
Outlook: The high jump is FIU's best event at this meet. Panthers Luca Keszthelyi, Amaya Bien-Aime and Gabrielle Flores finished 1-2-3 as freshmen a year ago and own CUSA's top three marks of 2026. Bien-Aime, who shares the conference lead with Keszthelyi at 5-10.75, went on to claim the CUSA outdoor crown. Louisiana Tech's A'riel Williams could be the top threat to another FIU podium sweep, as she was the 2024 CUSA outdoor high jump champion during her freshman season. Liberty's Eva Whiteman, who matched her personal-best clearance of 5-8 to finish second to Williams in that competition, owns the Lady Flames' top performance of 2026 at 5-6.5. The Flames' longest title drought in any of this meet's 34 events (including the men's and women's competitions) comes in the women's high jump. Kylie Polsgrove claimed the 2018 Big South title, marking Liberty's most recent first-place finish.
Women's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-7.25 (4.15m) (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 13-11.75 (4.26m) by Riley Felts (Charlotte) and Anna Massa (UAB) in 2022
Facility Record: 15-1 (4.60m) by Alina McDonald (KMR Athletics) in 2022
Liberty Record: 14-0 (4.27m) by Andrea Wildrick in 2002
2026 Leader: Sophia Roskoski (Western Kentucky) – 13-8.25 (4.17m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Taylen Langin – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Katie Urbine
Outlook: Western Kentucky's Sophia Roskoski has been a big breakthrough performer this season, pushing her pole vault best from 13-0.25 to a conference-leading 13-8.25. Her best CUSA finish to date was a tie for fifth place outdoors in 2025, but Roskoski hopes to deliver the Hilltoppers' first CUSA title in this event since 2018. FIU freshman Kylie Niera cleared a season-best 13-3.5 her last time out, making her a possible contender to extend the Panthers' streak to four straight first-place finishes. FIU's Nicole Janse Van Rensburg was victorious each of the last three seasons. Liberty's Katie Urbine was an outdoor All-American as a freshman in 2024 but is in search of her first CUSA title and the Lady Flames' first indoor pole vault crown since 2019 (Taylen Langin – ASUN). She owns a season best of 12-9.5 and an indoor personal best of 13-8.5. The 2025 CUSA indoor (FIU's Luciana Gomez-Iriondo) and outdoor (WKU's Natalie Papes) runners-up are both back this season for what will be the meet's first field event competition.
Women's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 54-4.5 (16.57m) (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 58-10.75 (17.95m) by Claire Uke (Rice) in 2015
Facility Record: 54-4.5 (16.57m) by Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) in 2025
Liberty Record: 53-5.5 (16.29m) by Mychelle Cumings in 2014
2026 Leader: Bethany Tate (Liberty) – 50-5.5 (15.38m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Megan Mann – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Bethany Tate, Tabby DeJong
Outlook: Liberty's Bethany Tate and Tabby DeJong return after finishing 1-2 in the CUSA outdoor shot put competition as freshmen a year ago. Tate reached a personal-best 50-5.5 at the Tiger Paw Invitational two weeks ago, giving her nearly a foot and a half lead atop this year's conference leaderboard. New Mexico State's Alesha Lane ranks No. 2 at 49-0.25 after posting third-place finishes indoors and outdoors in 2025. The Aggies have captured the CUSA indoor women's shot put crown each of their two years as conference members, thanks to the since-graduated Rebecca Green. Delaware's Olamide Ayeni, the No. 3 seed at 48-11, was the CAA's third-place finisher last season.
Women's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 68-9 (20.95m)
Meet Record: 72-9.25 (22.18m) by Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 73-2.75 (22.32m) by Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir (VCU) in 2025
Liberty Record: 67-5.5 (20.56m) by Jocelyn Williams in 2014
2026 Leader: Kali Terza (Kennesaw State) – 71-2.75 (21.71m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Paola Bueno – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Paola Bueno, Sophie Gonzalez, Ellie Stine
Outlook: Hammer All-American Kali Terza of Kennesaw State is currently in position to make her debut at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the weight throw. She ranks No. 14 nationally thanks to her 71-2.75 heave at the Clemson Opener in December. Terza is in search of her first CUSA title in any event, but she was the 2024 ASUN weight throw champion. Liberty's Paola Bueno, herself a two-time hammer All-American, topped Terza to win the 2023 ASUN weight throw competition as a freshman. Bueno owns a complete set of conference hardware in this event, also including a CUSA silver medal in 2025 and a CUSA bronze in 2024. Bueno's season-best effort of 64-5 sits No. 4 in CUSA this year. No. 2 seed Ajla Basic of Western Kentucky (64-8) aims for the Hilltoppers' first CUSA weight throw triumph in a decade. Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Janiya Cesar (64-6.5) would become the third different FIU Panther to win this event in three years if she pulls off the victory Friday afternoon.
Women's Pentathlon
Event Schedule: Begins Friday at 10 a.m.
Defending Champion: Meredith Engle (Liberty) – 4,196
Meet Record: 4,196 by Meredith Engle (Liberty) in 2025
Facility Record: 4,324 by Shaina Burns (Unattached) in 2023
Liberty Record: 4,196 by Meredith Engle in 2025
2026 Leader: Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 3,999
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Meredith Engle – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel
Outlook: Liberty's talented duo of Meredith Engle and Patasha Bryan have combined to win four consecutive conference pentathlon crowns, dating back to Engle's 2022 ASUN victory. Bryan, the 2024 CUSA champion and 2025 runner-up, will look to carry the mantle in Engle's absence this weekend. Bryan scored a personal-best 3,999 points at the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational last month, ranking No. 22 nationally and giving her a 151-point lead atop the CUSA standings. Bryan hopes to join Engle as the only 4,000-point scorers in program history and perhaps even score well enough to match Engle's 2025 feat of qualifying for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. As if five events is not enough, Bryan is also expected to compete in the open high jump, long jump and 4 x 400 relay this weekend. Bryan's top competition could come in the form of FIU freshman Itsaso Madariaga Huegun. The Spaniard scored 3,848 points at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational at Missouri, breaking her coach's (Fabiola Declet) program record.
Men's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:10 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) – 6.61
Meet Record: 6.61 by Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) in 2025 and McKinely West (Southern Miss) in 2019
Facility Record: 6.61 by Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) in 2025
Liberty Record: 6.65 by Omari Lewis in 2025
2026 Leader: Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) – 6.54
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Omari Lewis – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: None
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Chance Cross made a big breakthrough in the 2025 CUSA men's 60 final, winning in 6.61 to set a facility record and tie the meet record. Since then, he has advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 100 and is in great position to make his NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships debut in the 60 after running 6.54 (tied for No. 5 nationally) at the Tiger Paw Invitational two weeks ago. Middle Tennessee newcomer Mustapha Bokpin (6.59 season best) is also in contention for an NCAA berth, a year removed from finishing as the NAIA 60 national runner-up for Cumberland. The only CUSA athlete within striking distance of those two is Sam Houston's Xzamion Parker, who clocked 6.61 at altitude two weeks ago and was part of the Bearkats' All-American 4 x 100 relay squad in 2025. Liberty will not field an entry in this event.
Men's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jayden Jones (Sam Houston) – 20.73 (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 20.59 by Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) in 2023
Facility Record: 20.68 by Caleb Boger (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 20.86 by Donald McClinton in 2023
2026 Leader: Mustapha Bokpin (Middle Tennessee) – 20.83
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Donald McClinton – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: None
Outlook: Two-time defending 200 champion Jayden Jones of Sam Houston has since transferred to Texas, leaving Middle Tennessee's Mustapha Bokpin as the pre-meet favorite at 20.83. The Ghana native owns an outdoor personal best of 20.44 and raced to the NAIA outdoor national title for Cumberland last season. Western Kentucky's Kameron Horton edged Jones to claim the 2025 CUSA outdoor 200 crown and will look for his team's first CUSA indoor 200 victory since 2020. Middle Tennessee's Alaba Akintola (2023) was the last CUSA sprinter to win both the men's 60 and 200 at the same meet. The one-lap event will join the 60 as the two races Liberty will not compete in this weekend.
Men's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Frank Bradley-Reed (Louisiana Tech) – 46.74
Meet Record: 46.21 by Emmanuel Dasor (WKU) in 2016
Facility Record: 46.15 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (Liberty) in 2019
Liberty Record: 46.07 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata in 2019
2026 Leader: Frank Bradley-Reed (Louisiana Tech) – 46.60
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Alejandro Perlaza Zapata – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Simon Lamparelli
Outlook: Louisiana Tech's Frank Bradley-Reed defeated Eric Young II of Kennesaw State to win the Bulldogs' first CUSA indoor men's 400 champion a year ago before Young II returned the favor at the CUSA outdoor championship. The top seed at 46.60, Bradley-Reed will try to become the first athlete to successfully defend his CUSA indoor 400 crown since WKU's Emmanuel Dasor in 2016 and 2017. Kennesaw State's Justin Warner, who placed fourth outdoors as a freshman in 2025, sits No. 2 behind Bradley-Reed this season at 47.12. This is one of the Owls' strongest events, as Kennesaw State boasts three of the top five performers in CUSA in 2026. Liberty junior Simon Lamparelli will try to break up the Owls' point potential. He is coming off an indoor personal-best 47.24 effort at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. That is good for No. 3 in CUSA this season and No. 3 in program history. One of the two Flames who has run faster indoors is All-American Alejandro Perlaza Zapata. He was Liberty's most recent men's 400 champion, claiming the title during Liberty's first season in the ASUN (2019). Lamparelli's best career CUSA finish in this event is fourth place at both the 2024 and 2025 outdoor championships.
Men's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:45 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Mackdonald Songok (Middle Tennessee) – 1:50.24
Meet Record: 1:49.98 by Chris O'Hare (Tulsa) in 2012
Facility Record: 1:46.59 by Alex Amankwah (District Track Club) in 2021
Liberty Record: 1:48.72 by Michael Long in 2026
2026 Leader: Mackdonald Songok (Middle Tennessee) – 1:47.58
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Brendan Pitcher – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Long, Brendan Pitcher
Outlook: Defending champion Mackdonald Songok of Middle Tennessee owns CUSA's fastest time of 2026 (1:47.58) by more than a second and will look to become the CUSA's first back-to-back winner since UTEP's Michael Saruni in 2017 and 2018. Sam Houston's Caleb Anthony is back after edging Songok to capture last year's CUSA outdoor crown. Liberty also figures to be well represented by the duo of Michael Long and Brendan Pitcher. Long, the 2024 USATF U20 champion, has twice lowered the program record during his first season as a Flame and owns the No. 2 seed at 1:48.72. Pitcher is a two-time indoor conference champion in this event, including the 2023 ASUN and 2024 CUSA crowns.
Men's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Brian Kiptoo (Middle Tennessee) – 4:04.08
Meet Record: 4:00.82 by Pablo Solares (Rice) in 2007
Facility Record: 3:54.60 by Paul Specht (Wake Forest) in 2026
Liberty Record: 4:01.27 by Ryan Drew in 2022
2026 Leader: Michael Long (Liberty) – 4:05.46
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Kyle Harkabus – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Long, Dale Hall, Ethan Stansbury
Outlook: Liberty newcomer Michael Long is seeded No. 1 in the mile (4:05.46) and No. 2 in the 800 (1:48.72), opening the possibility of the first CUSA mile-800 double victory since 2022 (UTEP's Kenneth Talavera). No Flame has ever won both events at the same indoor conference meet. Long's teammate Dale Hall could also contend, following his personal-best 4:05.71 clocking at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Hall placed sixth in the CUSA mile final last season, but two of the runners who beat him in that race are part of this year's field, including runner-up Allan Kiplagat of Middle Tennessee and fifth-place Edwin Kiprono of Kennesaw State.
Men's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Collins Kipkemboi (Kennesaw State) – 8:11.19
Meet Record: 8:00.14 by Daniel Bernal (UTEP) in 2023
Facility Record: 7:47.35 by Nathan Mountain (Virginia) in 2026
Liberty Record: 7:48.24 by Sam Chelanga in 2011
2026 Leader: Jack Cottrell (Liberty) – 8:05.86
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Edwin Kiprop – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Jack Cottrell, Andrew Schultz, Dale Hall, Edwin Kiprop, Nicholas Kiprotich
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Collins KipKemboi will attempt to defend his title from last season as one of five conference runners who have posted times between 8:05 and 8:10 this year. Liberty's Jack Cottrell, last season's third-place finisher, is the top seed at 8:05.86. Cross country All-American Allan Kiplagat of Middle Tennessee and 2024 CUSA 3K champion Edwin Kiprop of Liberty are potential wild cards in what figures to be an entertaining battle late in the meet on Saturday.
Men's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Allan Kiplagat (Middle Tennessee) – 14:17.70
Meet Record: 13:47.51 by Nick Scudder (Charlotte) in 2021
Facility Record: 13:43.27 by Athanas Kioko (Campbell) in 2022
Liberty Record: 13:19.79 by Sam Chelanga in 2009
2026 Leader: Brian Limo (Kennesaw State) – 14:04.46
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Edwin Kiprop – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Jack Cottrell, Edwin Kiprop, Nicholas Kiprotich, Andrew Schultz
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Brian Limo and Collins KipKemboi finished 1-2 in the CUSA outdoor 5K final in May, helping the Owls wrap up the team title. They own the top two seeds in an event many of CUSA's top distance runners have yet to contest this season. Defending indoor champion Allan Kiplagat of Middle Tennessee has raced to each of the last two CUSA cross country individual titles but is not entered in Friday evening's 5K. Liberty will enter a pair of past CUSA distance champions in Edwin Kiprop (2024 indoor 5K) and Nicholas Kiprotich (2024 outdoor 10K).
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:55 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jordani Woodley (UTEP) – 7.69
Meet Record: 7.69 by Jordani Woodley (UTEP) in 2025
Facility Record: 7.69 by Jordani Woodley (UTEP) in 2025
Liberty Record: 7.64 by Jovaine Atkinson in 2018
2026 Leader: Tahj Brown (Liberty) – 7.91
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Prosper Ekporere – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Tahj Brown, Isaiah Idore, Patrick Adams III
Outlook: Liberty freshman Tahj Brown is the top seed with his Flames freshman record of 7.91. The previous Liberty freshman record holder (All-American Jovaine Atkinson) was the last Flames rookie to win a 60 hurdles conference title (2017 Big South). A freshman has not claimed the CUSA men's 60 hurdles crown since 2010 (Houston's Cameron LaCour). Brown figures to have plenty of competition though, as six other CUSA hurdlers have posted sub-8.00 times this season. Kennesaw State's Cameron Guadiano is the No. 2 seed at 7.92 but it is his teammate (Mohamed Diaby) who was the 2024 ASUN 60 hurdles champion and the 2025 CUSA 110 hurdles victor. Diaby will not contest the hurdles this week, however. UTEP's Amir Williams is the top returnee from the 2025 CUSA 60 hurdles final (fifth place).
Men's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louisiana Tech – 3:11.03 (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 3:09.17 by Middle Tennessee in 2019
Facility Record: 3:10.34 by St. Augustine's in 2020
Liberty Record: 3:09.88 in 2018
2026 Leader: Kennesaw State – 3:07.40
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (2022 ASUN)
Outlook: Louisiana Tech outdueled Kennesaw State to win both the CUSA indoor and outdoor 4 x 400 relay titles last season. The Bulldogs will now try to become the first CUSA squad to win this event three straight times since UTEP (2011-13). However, the Owls (3:07.40) have run faster than the Bulldogs (3:09.16) this season, setting up a potential battle which will have the meet (3:09.17) and facility (3:10.34) records on watch. Liberty placed fourth both indoors and outdoors in 2025 and is the No. 5 seed with its 3:13.92 effort from the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.
Men's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: UTEP – 10:04.06
Meet Record: 9:51.62 by UTEP in 2009
Facility Record: 9:43.73 by Eastern Kentucky in 2023
Liberty Record: 9:47.30 in 2018
2026 Leader: Western Kentucky – 10:07.18
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (2024)
Outlook: Last season, UTEP won its first CUSA distance medley relay title since 2017. The Miners will now try to become the first team since Rice (2018-20) to go back-to-back. Liberty, which has claimed three conference DMR crowns in the last five years, took third in 2025. Western Kentucky put up a conference-leading 10:07.18 last month for its fastest time in 12 years, making the Hilltoppers a contender for their first CUSA DMR victory.
Men's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kaelen Mitchell (Kennesaw State) – 24-7 (7.49m)
Meet Record: 25-7.25 (7.80m) by Fabian Edoki (Middle Tennessee) in 2019
Facility Record: 25-6.25 (7.78m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 25-6.25 (7.78m) by Markus White in 2026
2026 Leader: Markus White (Liberty) – 25-6.25 (7.78m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Quinten Clay – 2022 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Markus White, Gilles Ouedraogo, Joshua Smith
Outlook: Liberty's Markus White will make his first appearance at the CUSA indoor championship as the men's long jump favorite, on the heels of his program-record 25-6.25 leap at Clemson two weeks ago. White broke the previous record which had been set by Quinten Clay while capturing the Flames' most recent indoor conference title in this event at the 2022 ASUN Championship. White, who reached an outdoor program-record 25-8 for the runner-up spot in the 2025 CUSA outdoor long jump competition, ranks No. 22 nationally heading into conference championship weekend. White will attempt to become the first Flame ever to qualify for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the long jump, two years after finishing as the NCAA Division II indoor national long jump runner-up while competing for Virginia State. The conference's other two 24-foot jumpers this season both fared well in CUSA competition a year ago. Louisiana Tech's Cobe Johnson was the indoor runner-up, while WKU's Sterling Weldon came in fourth both indoors and out as a freshman. The Flames' Joshua Smith has not long jumped this season but was the third-place finisher in the 2023 ASUN outdoor long jump competition as a freshman.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Justin Campbell (Kennesaw State) – 51-1.5 (15.58m)
Meet Record: 53-7.5 (16.34m) by John Warren (Southern Miss) in 2018
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 52-7.25 (16.03m) by Gilles Ouedraogo in 2026
2026 Leader: Gilles Ouedraogo (Liberty) – 52-7.25 (16.03m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Joshua Smith – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Gilles Ouedraogo, Joshua Smith, Markus White, Marshall Toney
Outlook: Burkina Faso native Gilles Ouedraogo has enjoyed quite the beginning to his collegiate career for the Flames, setting the Liberty triple jump record during each of his three competitions. Most recently, he reached 52-7.25 at the Tiger Paw Invitational to become Liberty's first-ever 16-meter triple jumper and move into a tie for 19th place nationally this season. Ouedraogo's top competitor could be teammate Joshua Smith, who owned the program record at 51-3.5 before Ouedraogo joined the roster in January. Smith is a three-time conference triple jump champion, including 2023 ASUN indoor, 2024 CUSA indoor and 2025 CUSA outdoor. He will try to join Clarence Powell (2008, 2010 and 2011 Big South) as the Flames' only three-time indoor triple jump conference champions. Stay tuned for round six Saturday afternoon, as that is when Ouedraogo's 52-7.25 leap came two weeks ago and when Smith has produced the top effort during each of his three conference triple jump victories.
Men's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-0.5 (2.15m) (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Mickael Hanany (UTEP) in 2006
Facility Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) in 2022
Liberty Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder in 2022
2026 Leader: Gage Voyles (Kennesaw State) – 6-11.75 (2.13m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Kennedy Sauder – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Hunter Bleam, Marshall Toney, Gabriel Willis, Reagan Wise
Outlook: The graduation of three-time defending champion Jakub Belik of UTEP leaves a pair of Kennesaw State Owls as pre-meet men's high jump favorites. Freshman Gage Voyles has cleared a CUSA-leading 6-11.75, while teammate Kenyatta Bennett has made it over 6-11.5. Bennett cleared 7-0.25 at the 2025 CUSA outdoor meet to place second behind Belik. No. 3 seed Jeremiah Jackson of Sam Houston (6-8.75) was the runner-up to Belik at the 2024 CUSA indoor and outdoor championships as a freshman. Liberty's Gabriel Willis will high jump following the conclusion of the heptathlon competition, where he is the defending CUSA champion. Last season, Willis was the CUSA indoor high jump runner-up and placed fourth outdoors. Willis owns a 6-11.75 personal best that dates back to 2021.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5 p.m.
Defending Champion: Dylan Truss (Sam Houston) – 16-10.75 (5.15m)
Meet Record: 17-8.25 (5.39m) by Alexander Slinkman (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 18-10.25 (5.75m) by Scott Houston (Vaulthouse Elite) in 2021
Liberty Record: 17-5 (5.31m) by Ken Howell in 1999
2026 Leader: Sam Crenshaw (Western Kentucky) – 17-3.5 (5.27m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Reilly Stroot – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Chase Johnson, Todd Benhase, Reagan Wise
Outlook: Sam Houston's Dylan Truss will look to become the first CUSA indoor men's pole vault champion to go back-to-back since 2014 and 2015, when Chris Pillow did so for Rice. However, Truss (16-4.75 season best) is looking up at six other 5-meter vaulters on this year's CUSA performance list. Sam Crenshaw of Western Kentucky (17-3.5) owns the top seed, just ahead of five-time conference champion Simon Seid of Kennesaw State (17-2.75). Seid's previous victories in this event include the 2023 ASUN indoor, 2023 ASUN outdoor, 2024 ASUN indoor, 2024 ASUN outdoor and 2025 CUSA outdoor crowns. Liberty will enter a talented trio of Chase Johnson (16-11), Reagan Wise (16-8.75) and Todd Benhase (16-8.75). Johnson eclipsed Benhase's Liberty freshman record earlier this season, Wise captured the 2025 CAA outdoor pole vault title for Campbell and Benhase tied for second place at this meet in 2025 as a freshman. Reilly Stroot (2019 ASUN) was Liberty's last indoor pole vault champion and Coach Lance Bingham's son Cody Bingham (2013 Big South) was the last Flame to claim this an indoor title in this event as a freshman.
Men's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Evan Martinez (Kennesaw State) – 55-7.5 (16.95m)
Meet Record: 63-5.5 (19.34m) by John Davis (Houston) in 1999
Facility Record: 67-2.75 (20.49m) by Stipe Zunic (Nike/Croatia) in 2017
Liberty Record: 64-1.25 (19.54m) by Warren Barrett in 2023
2026 Leader: Trevor Veenstra (Liberty) – 59-2.25 (18.04m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Warren Barrett – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Trevor Veenstra, Christian Hicks, Beau Backes, Jayron Lewis
Outlook: The 2025 CUSA indoor (Kennesaw State's Evan Martinez) and outdoor (Liberty's Christian Hicks) men's shot put champions are back, but it is 2025 indoor third-place finisher Trevor Veenstra of Liberty who has enjoyed a breakthrough sophomore campaign and owns the conference's leading mark of 59-2.25. If Martinez is able to repeat as champion, he would be the first to do so in this event since 2014 and 2015 (UTSA's Andrew Akens). Seven different schools have boasted men's shot put champions at the last seven CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, including Middle Tennessee, Charlotte, North Texas, Southern Miss, Rice, Liberty and Kennesaw State. However, that trend is unlikely to extend another year with the top seven names on the CUSA performance list consisting of four Flames and three Owls. That composition makes the men's shot put a potential swing event late in the meet Saturday afternoon.
Men's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kellen Kimes (Liberty) – 68-7.75 (20.92m)
Meet Record: 74-7.25 (22.74m) by Steffen Nerdal (Memphis) in 2010
Facility Record: 76-9.75 (23.41m) by Alex Young (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 70-8.5 (21.55m) by Kellen Kimes in 2026
2026 Leader: Kellen Kimes (Liberty) – 70-8.5 (21.55m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Kellen Kimes – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Kellen Kimes, Christian Hicks, Trevor Veenstra, Beau Backes, Jayron Lewis
Outlook: Coming off a program-record mark of 70-8.5 at Saturday's Virginia Tech Challenge, Liberty redshirt sophomore Kellen Kimes is a significant favorite to win his second straight CUSA weight throw title and the Flames' sixth conference weight throw championship in seven years. John Hicks won the first four of those between the ASUN and CUSA, and younger brother Christian Hicks is a podium contender on Friday. The younger Hicks, who placed third in this event in 2024, moved into the Flames' all-time top five with his personal-best 64-9.75 heave at Clemson two weeks ago. Kennesaw State newcomer Noah Jirgens is the No. 2 seed at 66-0.5, a year removed from a fourth-place showing in this event while representing UTEP. As in the shot put, much of the weight throw final could consist of Liberty Flames (three of the top eight seeds) and Kennesaw State Owls (five of the top eight seeds).
Men's Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at 10:20 a.m.; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Defending Champion: Gabriel Willis (Liberty) – 5,421
Meet Record: 5,794 by Jack Turner (UTSA) in 2023
Facility Record: 5,772 by Cole Wilson (High Point) in 2024
Liberty Record: 5,537 by Markus Ballengee in 2018
2026 Leader: Jake Nicholson (Liberty) – 5,046
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Gabriel Willis – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Jake Nicholson, Samuel O'Regan, Patrick Adams III, Hunter Bleam, Gabriel Willis
Outlook: Liberty dominated the CUSA men's multi-event competitions in 2025, going 1-2-3-4 in both the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon. Three of those four Flames return (Gabriel Willis, Hunter Bleam and Samuel O'Regan), headlined by defending heptathlon champion and decathlon runner-up Willis. Willis scored a personal-best 5,421 points to win last year's CUSA title, ranking No. 2 in program history. Redshirt freshman Jake Nicholson joins the Flames' multi-event group this season. He became Liberty's 13th member of the 5,000-point club at the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational, closing his conference-leading 5,046-point effort with the second fastest heptathlon 1,000 time in facility history, 2:41.66. Liberty Flames have captured three consecutive conference heptathlon titles and six in the last seven years, dating back to 2019, their first season in the ASUN Conference. UTEP's Oleksandr Blonskyi is the top threat to another Liberty podium sweep. He scored a personal-best 4,986 points to finish third in the 2024 CUSA heptathlon competition.
The Lady Flames are aiming for their fifth straight indoor conference title, as they were victorious during their last two years of ASUN competition (2022 and 2023) and their first two seasons of CUSA membership (2024 and 2025).
Meanwhile, the Liberty men's squad will look to return to the top of the conference standings. The Flames had captured 27 consecutive indoor conference crowns, dating back to the 1998 Big South Championship, before finishing second to Kennesaw State at this meet a year ago.
The 31st edition of the CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships will begin Friday at 10 a.m. with the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles. Saturday's action will commence at 10:30 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.
Liberty will host its conference's indoor track & field championship for the ninth consecutive year, spanning three leagues (Big South – 2018, ASUN – 2019-23 and CUSA – 2024-26), to punctuate the 10th season of competition at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Liberty hopes its home track advantage continues this weekend. The Flames and Lady Flames have won 30 of a possible 32 conference men's and women's indoor and outdoor team titles in Lynchburg.
This year's meet will feature 12 women's teams (Delaware, FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky) and seven men's squads (Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky). Delaware and Missouri State will debut at the CUSA meet this week, while UTEP will make its 20th and final appearance at this event before departing for the Mountain West Conference next season.
How to Follow the Action
Admission is free of charge to both days of the 2026 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Live video streaming will be available on ESPN+ with the broadcasting team consisting of Claire Geary, Todd Patulski and Annette Cory. The live broadcast windows include Friday from 3-8 p.m. and Saturday from 2 p.m. through the conclusion of the post-meet awards ceremony.
Live results will be available throughout the meet, featuring live splits in the running events and throw-by-throw and jump-by-jump updates in the field events, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing.
Women's Meet Preview
The Lady Flames successfully defended their CUSA indoor team title last season, topping then conference newcomer Kennesaw State by 28 points (145-117).
This week, Liberty will look to become the first CUSA women's squad to capture three consecutive indoor titles since UTEP (2015-17). A victory would also mark the Lady Flames' 20th indoor conference title in the last 29 years.
Kennesaw State is expected to be Liberty's top challenger once again this season. The Owls were the most recent team to defeat the Lady Flames indoors, defeating Liberty by five points to win the 2021 ASUN indoor crown. Since then, the Lady Flames have won four consecutive indoor team titles.
The Lady Flames own CUSA's top performance in four events this season: mile (Allie Zealand), 3K (Zealand), shot put (Bethany Tate) and pentathlon (Patasha Bryan). Zealand will attempt to defend her CUSA mile title from 2025, while Bryan was the 2024 CUSA pentathlon champion.
Zealand currently ranks No. 9 nationally for the 3K and No. 18 for the mile, putting the sophomore All-American in strong position to make her debut at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Bryan sits No. 22 in the pentathlon and will try to follow the example of teammate Meredith Engle, who qualified to last year's NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships with her score from the CUSA meet.
The top 16 athletes in each event following this week's meets will be invited to compete in the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, slated for March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's Meet Preview
Kennesaw State made quite a debut at the 2025 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, defeating host Liberty by 14.5 points (154-139.5) to end the Flames' nation-best streak of 27 consecutive indoor team titles which dated back to the inaugural Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships in 1998.
Liberty and Kennesaw State are expected to battle for first place again this week, something the two teams have become accustomed to, dating back to their five years together in the ASUN Conference (2019-23). The Flames were victorious each of those five seasons, with the Owls finishing as the runners-up every time.
The Flames own CUSA's top mark of the season to date in eight of 17 events, including the mile (Michael Long), 3K (Jack Cottrell), 60 hurdles (Tahj Brown), long jump (Markus White), triple jump (Gilles Ouedraogo), shot put (Trevor Veenstra), weight throw (Kellen Kimes) and heptathlon (Jake Nicholson).
Liberty only won two events at this meet in 2025, but both of those victors are back including Kimes (weight throw) and Gabriel Wilis (heptathlon).
White (25-6.25 long jump) and Ouedraogo (52-7.25 triple jump) both recorded program records at the Tiger Paw Invitational two weeks ago, putting them on the cusp of NCAA national qualification. The nation's top 16 athletes in each event after the conclusion of conference championship weekend will advance to the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, set for March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark. Ouedraogo is currently tied for No. 19 in the triple jump, while White ranks No. 22 in the long jump.
Event Capsules
Women's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:50 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:05 p.m.
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 7.31
Meet Record: 7.18 by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2010
Facility Record: 7.16 by Dana Wilson (Nike Elite) in 2025
Liberty Record: 7.30 by Reese Webster in 2025
2026 Leader: Kenadie Singleton (Kennesaw State) – 7.43
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Reese Webster – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Marianah Scott
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Kenadie Singleton enters as the top seed with a season best of 7.43. She was the ASUN runner-up as a freshman in 2024 and took third place in last year's CUSA 60 final. Singleton is one of only three returnees from last year's final, also including Sam Houston's Ayana Mallard-Smith (fifth place) and Kennesaw State teammate Samiya Wayne (sixth). No. 2 seed Olivia Rogers of Missouri State clocked a personal-best 7.46 to finish fourth in last season's MVC final. The Lady Flames' Marianah Scott ranks No. 10 in program history at 7.64 but is only tied for No. 14 on this year's CUSA chart.
Women's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.73 (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 22.73 by Niesha Burgher (UTEP) in 2025
Facility Record: 22.73 by Niesha Burgher (UTEP) in 2025
Liberty Record: 23.11 by Reese Webster in 2025
2026 Leader: Marlee Cavitt (New Mexico State) – 23.85 (altitude conversion from 23.78)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Abby Pantlitz – 2021 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Iyana Sherard, Mahogany Mobley
Outlook: UTEP All-American Niesha Burgher has graduated as the three-time defending champion, meet record holder and facility record holder in the one-lap event, making things more wide open this week. New Mexico State's Marlee Cavitt (23.78 at altitude) is the only CUSA sprinter to break 24 seconds thus far in 2026. She failed to qualify for the final a year ago but placed third in this event at the 2024 MPSF meet while competing for Portland. Kennesaw State's Samiya Wayne (fourth place) is the top returnee from 2025. Addison Stricklin of UTEP was the only freshman to reach the final a year ago, where she came in sixth. Stricklin clocked 24.00 at altitude her last time out. Liberty's Iyana Sherard will compete at this meet for the first time in her career after a big personal best of 24.25 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational moved her up to No. 6 in CUSA this year and No. 6 all-time for the Lady Flames.
Women's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Osaretin Usenbor (Louisiana Tech) – 53.49
Meet Record: 52.77 by Abike Egbeniyi (Middle Tennessee) in 2018
Facility Record: 52.55 by Athing Mu (Unattached) in 2019
Liberty Record: 53.99 by Cortney Strohman in 2019
2026 Leader: Jamara Patterson (Louisiana Tech) – 53.11
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Cortney Strohman – 2020 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Mahogany Mobley, Shelby Smith, Maddy Merritt
Outlook: Louisiana Tech's Osaretin Usenbor and Jamara Patterson finished 1-2 in the CUSA women's 400 final both indoors and outdoors last year. However, it is Patterson (53.11) who owns this season's fastest time by more than a second. If Usenbor can defend her title, she would become the first back-to-back champion in this event since Charlotte's Maya Singletary in 2020 and 2021. Middle Tennessee's Agu Chidinma is the No. 3 seed at 54.48 after placing third in this event last season while competing for Jacksonville State. Liberty has not entered anyone in the women's 400 during its first two CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships appearances, but that will change this week. Mahogany Mobley (54.54) and Shelby Smith (freshman-record 54.84) rank No. 4 and No. 6 in program history. Mobley took fourth in this event outdoors a year ago. Cortney Strohman (2020 ASUN) was the Lady Flames' most recent conference champion in the indoor 400 and has owned the program record of 53.99 since 2019.
Women's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Emma Sullivan (Kennesaw State) – 2:03.84
Meet Record: 2:03.84 by Emma Sullivan (Kennesaw State) in 2025
Facility Record: 2:03.73 by Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) in 2021
Liberty Record: 2:05.42 by Jaime Watson in 2010
2026 Leader: Emma Sullivan (Kennesaw State) – 2:03.63
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Kate Goodyear – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Rachel Hill, Eden Alexander
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Emma Sullivan swept the CUSA indoor and outdoor 800 titles in meet-record fashion a year ago, and her 2:03.63 clocking is the conference's fastest of 2026 by more than two seconds. She could be aiming for another fast time this week in an effort to qualify for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Sullivan reached the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene in this event a year ago. Sullivan will attempt to become the first CUSA runner to successfully defend her title in this event since Middle Tennessee's Agnes Abu in 2017 and 2018. Privillege Chikara of Middle Tennessee, the No. 2 seed at 2:06.05, was the runner-up to Sullivan at this meet a year ago and took third outdoors. The Lady Flames' Allie Zealand improved her personal best to 2:06.59 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, climbing to No. 3 in CUSA this year and No. 3 on Liberty's all-time top 10 list. But she will focus on other events this week, leaving classmate Rachel Hill as someone else to keep your eyes on. During her three 800s this season, the Liberty sophomore has dropped her time from 2:16.75 to 2:12.34 to 2:09.74 (No. 9 in program history). Lady Flames freshman Eden Alexander notched a season-best 2:10.35 800 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, putting her within reach of Jessica Palisca's Liberty freshman record of 2:09.61 from 2023.
Women's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2 p.m.
Defending Champion: Allie Zealand (Liberty) – 4:41.96
Meet Record: 4:37.53 by Grace Forbes (Rice) in 2021
Facility Record: 4:28.89 by Allie Zealand (Liberty) in 2026
Liberty Record: 4:28.89 by Allie Zealand in 2026
2026 Leader: Allie Zealand (Liberty) – 4:28.89
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Allie Zealand – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Allie Zealand, Katrina Schlenker, Jessica Palisca, Rachel Hill, Mackenzie Babcock
Outlook: Defending champion Allie Zealand's lone mile race of the season was an impressive one. She clocked a program and facility-record 4:28.89 to win the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational and rank No. 18 nationally, 14 seconds faster than the next-best CUSA performer (Middle Tennesee's Privillege Chikara). Zealand will look to become CUSA's first back-to-back women's mile champion since Rice's Grace Forbes won as a freshman and sophomore in 2020 and 2021. Those same two years, Calli Doan (ASUN) was the last Lady Flame to successfully defend her conference title in this event. Last season, Liberty's Marie Hostetler followed Zealand across the finish line to make it a 1-2 finish for the home team. Katrina Schlenker will look to follow in the footsteps of her former steeplechase teammate after a big personal-best 4:44.09 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational catapulted her up to No. 3 in CUSA this year and No. 4 all-time at Liberty. Kennesaw State is also strong in this event, as Akshana placed third a year ago while Emma Ferguson was the outdoor runner-up to Zealand in the 1,500. With the women's mile kicking off Saturday's running event finals, this could be one of numerous pivotal battles between top team title contenders Liberty and KSU.
Women's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 9:28.67
Meet Record: 9:10.40 by Elinor Kirk (UAB) in 2014
Facility Record: 8:52.72 by Hayley Burns (Northern Arizona) in 2026
Liberty Record: 8:44.71 by Allie Zealand in 2025
2026 Leader: Allie Zealand (Liberty) – 8:44.71
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Adelyn Fairley – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Allie Zealand, Ava Gordon, Katie Sigerud, Katrina Schlenker, Sophia Park, Ryann Aycock, Mackenzie Babcock, Jessica Palisca
Outlook: Allie Zealand sits No. 9 nationally with her Liberty and USATF U20 record time of 8:44.71 from Boston in December. That is the fastest time by a CUSA runner this season by 36 seconds, as CUSA cross country runner-up (to Zealand) Marie-Theres Gruber of Delaware is next up at 9:20.73. Zealand placed fourth overall in this event and third among the Lady Flames last season, helping Liberty clinch the women's team title. Defending champion Adelyn Fairley has graduated, but last year's third-place finisher (Ava Gordon) returns. If the reigning CUSA cross country champion Lady Flames need points late in the meet, they could start as many as six 2025 cross country All-CUSA performers into this event (Zealand, Jessica Palisca, Katrina Schlenker, Ryann Aycock, Katie Sigerud and Mackenzie Babcock). Middle Tennessee's Odilia Jepchumba raced to the 2024 CUSA women's 3K crown. Eusila Chepkemei of Middle Tennessee (2022) was the last conference runner to win both the mile and 3K titles the same day at this meet. Ednah Kurgat (2016 Big South) was the most recent Lady Flame to earn a mile/3K double at a conference meet.
Women's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Adelyn Fairley (Liberty) – 16:50.39 (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 15:57.54 by Caroline Sang (Charlotte) in 2018
Facility Record: 15:37.12 by Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland High School) in 2018
Liberty Record: 15:47.89 by Ednah Kurgat in 2016
2026 Leader: Marie-Theres Gruber (Delaware) – 16:17.66
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Adelyn Fairley – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Ryann Aycock, Ava Gordon, Sophia Park, Katie Sigerud
Outlook: The women's 5K has produced a couple of the most exciting finishes at this meet the last two seasons. Liberty's Adelyn Fairley narrowly won both races, emerging from a four-person battle in 2024 and a three-person sprint last year. While Fairley has graduated, her top competitors from last season's 5K final are back, including runner-up Madison Seiler of Kennesaw State and third-place Faith Nyathi of Middle Tennessee. Nyathi returned the favor with a tight 5K victory over Fairley at the 2025 CUSA outdoor meet. Nyathi (16:27.58) and Seiler (16:28.74) are two of three CUSA runners to break 16:30 this season. But the top seed belongs to Marie-Theres Gruber (16:17.66), who could possess Delaware's best chance at its first CUSA individual title. Liberty has raced to five straight indoor conference 5K victories, dating back to Fairley's ASUN triumph in 2021. But Ryann Aycock (17:14.67) is the fastest Lady Flame so far this season, ranking No. 7 in the conference. She stepped up for a 16th-place finish at the CUSA Cross Country Championships in the fall, clinching Liberty's team title. Teammate Ava Gordon ranks No. 4 on Liberty's all-time outdoor 5K list at 16:25.51 but will run her first indoor 5K Friday evening.
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:35 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Marissa Simpson (UTEP) – 8.14 (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 8.01 by Tobi Amusan (UTEP) in 2017
Facility Record: 8.12 by Marissa Simpson (UTEP) in 2024
Liberty Record: 8.16 by Indea Cartwright in 2024
2026 Leader: Natalie Harris (Kennesaw State) and Tickia Sutton (Kennesaw State) – 8.40
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Jada Thomas – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Alivia Rivera-Norman
Outlook: UTEP All-American Marissa Simpson, the three-time defending CUSA 60 hurdles champion and facility record holder (8.12) has graduated, leaving a flurry of freshmen to take over the event this season. Rookies own CUSA's six fastest marks, paced by the Kennesaw State duo of Natalie Harris and Tickia Sutton (both 8.40). UTEP's Cydni Martin (8.50 at altitude) and Grace Culver (8.56 at altitude) will try to extend the Miners' streak to five straight CUSA 60 hurdles crowns and give UTEP its 11th title in this event in the last 14 seasons. Jada Thomas captured Liberty's most recent conference championship in this event, claiming ASUN honors as a freshman in 2019. Alivia Rivera-Norman has broken Thomas' Liberty freshman record and enters as the No. 5 seed at 8.56.
Women's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louisiana Tech – 3:37.63
Meet Record: 3:37.42 by Charlotte in 2023
Facility Record: 3:37.63 by Louisiana Tech in 2025
Liberty Record: 3:39.06 in 2019
2026 Leader: Louisiana Tech – 3.37.61
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (2019 ASUN)
Outlook: The last two CUSA women's 4 x 400 relay finals have eclipsed the facility record, including UTEP's 3:38.55 effort in 2024 and LA Tech's 3:37.63 a year ago. Paced by the dynamic duo of Jamara Patterson and Osaretin Usenbor, the Bulldogs own a season best of 3:37.61 and could threaten their own facility standard from last year as well as Charlotte's meet record of 3:37.42 from 2023. Liberty finished only seventh a year ago but enters as the No. 3 seed at 3:41.83 as it chases its first CUSA women's 4 x 400 relay top-three finish, indoors or out. That effort from the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational was the Lady Flames' fastest since they raced to a program-record 3:39.06 to win the 2019 ECAC title in Boston. That same year marked Liberty's most recent indoor conference championship in this event (ASUN).
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kennesaw State – 11:23.53
Meet Record: 11:23.53 by Kennesaw State in 2025
Facility Record: 11:23.53 by Kennesaw State in 2025
Liberty Record: 11:21.25 in 2025
2026 Leader: Missouri State – 11:52.93
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (2024)
Outlook: Just like the women's 4 x 400 relay, it has taken a new facility record to win the CUSA DMR title each of the last two years. Liberty took top honors in 2024 at 11:32.82 before the top three teams of 2025 all ran faster than that, including Kennesaw State (11:23.53), Middle Tennessee (11:26.56) and Liberty (11:26.93). Those same three squads could contend once again on Friday, along with CUSA newcomer Missouri State, who placed third in last year's MVC final and owns the conference's fastest clocking of 2026 at 11:52.93. If the Owls are able to defend their crown, they would become the first CUSA team to do so in this event since UTSA in 2014 and 2015.
Women's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Rachel Swain (Kennesaw State) – 20-1 (6.12m)
Meet Record: 21-10 (6.65m) by Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) in 2008 and 2010
Facility Record: 20-10.75 (6.37m) by Robbie Grace (Wake Forest) in 2025 and Jasmine Akins (Kennesaw State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 19-10.25 (6.05m) by Ayanna Johnson in 2022
2026 Leader: Praise Djoma (UTEP – 20-2.5 (6.16m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Makenzy Mizera – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Paige Greenhagel, Lara DeFazio, Patasha Bryan, Mackenzie Boggess
Outlook: UTEP's Praise Djoma (20-2.5) and Kennesaw State's Myesha Hall (20-1.5) give the conference a pair of 20-foot jumpers this season. Djoma placed third outdoors in 2025, while Hall was the 2022 NAIA outdoor long jump national champion for Truett-McConnell and owns a 20-8 personal best. No. 3 seed Nia Thompson of Sam Houston (19-7.5) was the CUSA indoor runner-up and outdoor champion as a freshman a year ago but is not entered in Friday's competition. Paige Greenhagel has produced Liberty's top long jump of the year (19-0.5), tying her for sixth in program history and 10th in CUSA this year. However, she will be long jumping for the second time on Friday, following the pentathlon competition. Lara DeFazio owns a season best of 18-9.75 and could contend for points if she threatens the Liberty freshman record of 19-1.5 set by Makenzy Mizera in 2019.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Danielle McGonigle (FIU) – 41-1.5 (12.53m)
Meet Record: 45-6.5 (13.88m) by Ganna Demydova (Southern Miss) in 2011
Facility Record: 47-7.75 (14.52m) by Thea LaFond (Unattached) in 2021
Liberty Record: 42-8 (13.00m) by Makenzy Mizera in 2021
2026 Leader: Victoria Joyce (Kennesaw State) – 41-7.25 (12.68m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Makenzy Mizera – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Stephanie Robson, Mackenzie Boggess, Lara DeFazio
Outlook: The women's triple jump field features four past conference champions, including 2024 CUSA outdoor victor Viktoria Rusnakova (Middle Tennessee), 2025 CUSA indoor champ Danielle McGonigle (FIU), 2025 CUSA outdoor champion Praise Djoma (UTEP) and 2023 ASUN outdoor first-place finisher Victoria Joyce (Kennesaw State). Joyce, who was the CUSA indoor and outdoor runner-up during her first year in the conference in 2025, is the top seed at 41-7.25. Fourth place and 10th place on the CUSA leaderboard are separated by just 3.75 inches. That group is bookended by Lady Flames Stephanie Robson (39-10.75, No. 9 in program history) and Mackenzie Boggess (39-7, No. 10 in program history). Boggess, who jumped 40-1.5 in high school, could go after the Liberty freshman record of 39-11.5 set by Janae Jones in 2013.
Women's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Luca Keszthelyi (FIU) – 5-8.5 (1.74m)
Meet Record: 6-1.25 (1.86m) by Josie Taylor (Rice) in 2022
Facility Record: 6-0.75 (1.85m) by Kristi Snyman (Jacksonville) in 2023
Liberty Record: 5-10.75 (1.80m) by Kena Butts in 2005
2026 Leader: Luca Keszthelyi (FIU) and Amaya Bien-Aime (FIU) – 5-10.75 (1.80m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Kylie Polsgrove – 2018 Big South)
Liberty Entrants: Eva Whiteman, Patasha Bryan
Outlook: The high jump is FIU's best event at this meet. Panthers Luca Keszthelyi, Amaya Bien-Aime and Gabrielle Flores finished 1-2-3 as freshmen a year ago and own CUSA's top three marks of 2026. Bien-Aime, who shares the conference lead with Keszthelyi at 5-10.75, went on to claim the CUSA outdoor crown. Louisiana Tech's A'riel Williams could be the top threat to another FIU podium sweep, as she was the 2024 CUSA outdoor high jump champion during her freshman season. Liberty's Eva Whiteman, who matched her personal-best clearance of 5-8 to finish second to Williams in that competition, owns the Lady Flames' top performance of 2026 at 5-6.5. The Flames' longest title drought in any of this meet's 34 events (including the men's and women's competitions) comes in the women's high jump. Kylie Polsgrove claimed the 2018 Big South title, marking Liberty's most recent first-place finish.
Women's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nicole Janse Van Rensburg (FIU) – 13-7.25 (4.15m) (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 13-11.75 (4.26m) by Riley Felts (Charlotte) and Anna Massa (UAB) in 2022
Facility Record: 15-1 (4.60m) by Alina McDonald (KMR Athletics) in 2022
Liberty Record: 14-0 (4.27m) by Andrea Wildrick in 2002
2026 Leader: Sophia Roskoski (Western Kentucky) – 13-8.25 (4.17m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Taylen Langin – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Katie Urbine
Outlook: Western Kentucky's Sophia Roskoski has been a big breakthrough performer this season, pushing her pole vault best from 13-0.25 to a conference-leading 13-8.25. Her best CUSA finish to date was a tie for fifth place outdoors in 2025, but Roskoski hopes to deliver the Hilltoppers' first CUSA title in this event since 2018. FIU freshman Kylie Niera cleared a season-best 13-3.5 her last time out, making her a possible contender to extend the Panthers' streak to four straight first-place finishes. FIU's Nicole Janse Van Rensburg was victorious each of the last three seasons. Liberty's Katie Urbine was an outdoor All-American as a freshman in 2024 but is in search of her first CUSA title and the Lady Flames' first indoor pole vault crown since 2019 (Taylen Langin – ASUN). She owns a season best of 12-9.5 and an indoor personal best of 13-8.5. The 2025 CUSA indoor (FIU's Luciana Gomez-Iriondo) and outdoor (WKU's Natalie Papes) runners-up are both back this season for what will be the meet's first field event competition.
Women's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) – 54-4.5 (16.57m) (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 58-10.75 (17.95m) by Claire Uke (Rice) in 2015
Facility Record: 54-4.5 (16.57m) by Rebecca Green (New Mexico State) in 2025
Liberty Record: 53-5.5 (16.29m) by Mychelle Cumings in 2014
2026 Leader: Bethany Tate (Liberty) – 50-5.5 (15.38m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Megan Mann – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Bethany Tate, Tabby DeJong
Outlook: Liberty's Bethany Tate and Tabby DeJong return after finishing 1-2 in the CUSA outdoor shot put competition as freshmen a year ago. Tate reached a personal-best 50-5.5 at the Tiger Paw Invitational two weeks ago, giving her nearly a foot and a half lead atop this year's conference leaderboard. New Mexico State's Alesha Lane ranks No. 2 at 49-0.25 after posting third-place finishes indoors and outdoors in 2025. The Aggies have captured the CUSA indoor women's shot put crown each of their two years as conference members, thanks to the since-graduated Rebecca Green. Delaware's Olamide Ayeni, the No. 3 seed at 48-11, was the CAA's third-place finisher last season.
Women's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Michaelle Valentin (FIU) – 68-9 (20.95m)
Meet Record: 72-9.25 (22.18m) by Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 73-2.75 (22.32m) by Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir (VCU) in 2025
Liberty Record: 67-5.5 (20.56m) by Jocelyn Williams in 2014
2026 Leader: Kali Terza (Kennesaw State) – 71-2.75 (21.71m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Paola Bueno – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Paola Bueno, Sophie Gonzalez, Ellie Stine
Outlook: Hammer All-American Kali Terza of Kennesaw State is currently in position to make her debut at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the weight throw. She ranks No. 14 nationally thanks to her 71-2.75 heave at the Clemson Opener in December. Terza is in search of her first CUSA title in any event, but she was the 2024 ASUN weight throw champion. Liberty's Paola Bueno, herself a two-time hammer All-American, topped Terza to win the 2023 ASUN weight throw competition as a freshman. Bueno owns a complete set of conference hardware in this event, also including a CUSA silver medal in 2025 and a CUSA bronze in 2024. Bueno's season-best effort of 64-5 sits No. 4 in CUSA this year. No. 2 seed Ajla Basic of Western Kentucky (64-8) aims for the Hilltoppers' first CUSA weight throw triumph in a decade. Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Janiya Cesar (64-6.5) would become the third different FIU Panther to win this event in three years if she pulls off the victory Friday afternoon.
Women's Pentathlon
Event Schedule: Begins Friday at 10 a.m.
Defending Champion: Meredith Engle (Liberty) – 4,196
Meet Record: 4,196 by Meredith Engle (Liberty) in 2025
Facility Record: 4,324 by Shaina Burns (Unattached) in 2023
Liberty Record: 4,196 by Meredith Engle in 2025
2026 Leader: Patasha Bryan (Liberty) – 3,999
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Meredith Engle – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Patasha Bryan, Paige Greenhagel
Outlook: Liberty's talented duo of Meredith Engle and Patasha Bryan have combined to win four consecutive conference pentathlon crowns, dating back to Engle's 2022 ASUN victory. Bryan, the 2024 CUSA champion and 2025 runner-up, will look to carry the mantle in Engle's absence this weekend. Bryan scored a personal-best 3,999 points at the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational last month, ranking No. 22 nationally and giving her a 151-point lead atop the CUSA standings. Bryan hopes to join Engle as the only 4,000-point scorers in program history and perhaps even score well enough to match Engle's 2025 feat of qualifying for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. As if five events is not enough, Bryan is also expected to compete in the open high jump, long jump and 4 x 400 relay this weekend. Bryan's top competition could come in the form of FIU freshman Itsaso Madariaga Huegun. The Spaniard scored 3,848 points at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational at Missouri, breaking her coach's (Fabiola Declet) program record.
Men's 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:10 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) – 6.61
Meet Record: 6.61 by Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) in 2025 and McKinely West (Southern Miss) in 2019
Facility Record: 6.61 by Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) in 2025
Liberty Record: 6.65 by Omari Lewis in 2025
2026 Leader: Chance Cross (Kennesaw State) – 6.54
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Omari Lewis – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: None
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Chance Cross made a big breakthrough in the 2025 CUSA men's 60 final, winning in 6.61 to set a facility record and tie the meet record. Since then, he has advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 100 and is in great position to make his NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships debut in the 60 after running 6.54 (tied for No. 5 nationally) at the Tiger Paw Invitational two weeks ago. Middle Tennessee newcomer Mustapha Bokpin (6.59 season best) is also in contention for an NCAA berth, a year removed from finishing as the NAIA 60 national runner-up for Cumberland. The only CUSA athlete within striking distance of those two is Sam Houston's Xzamion Parker, who clocked 6.61 at altitude two weeks ago and was part of the Bearkats' All-American 4 x 100 relay squad in 2025. Liberty will not field an entry in this event.
Men's 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jayden Jones (Sam Houston) – 20.73 (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 20.59 by Alaba Akintola (Middle Tennessee) in 2023
Facility Record: 20.68 by Caleb Boger (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 20.86 by Donald McClinton in 2023
2026 Leader: Mustapha Bokpin (Middle Tennessee) – 20.83
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Donald McClinton – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: None
Outlook: Two-time defending 200 champion Jayden Jones of Sam Houston has since transferred to Texas, leaving Middle Tennessee's Mustapha Bokpin as the pre-meet favorite at 20.83. The Ghana native owns an outdoor personal best of 20.44 and raced to the NAIA outdoor national title for Cumberland last season. Western Kentucky's Kameron Horton edged Jones to claim the 2025 CUSA outdoor 200 crown and will look for his team's first CUSA indoor 200 victory since 2020. Middle Tennessee's Alaba Akintola (2023) was the last CUSA sprinter to win both the men's 60 and 200 at the same meet. The one-lap event will join the 60 as the two races Liberty will not compete in this weekend.
Men's 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Frank Bradley-Reed (Louisiana Tech) – 46.74
Meet Record: 46.21 by Emmanuel Dasor (WKU) in 2016
Facility Record: 46.15 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (Liberty) in 2019
Liberty Record: 46.07 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata in 2019
2026 Leader: Frank Bradley-Reed (Louisiana Tech) – 46.60
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Alejandro Perlaza Zapata – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Simon Lamparelli
Outlook: Louisiana Tech's Frank Bradley-Reed defeated Eric Young II of Kennesaw State to win the Bulldogs' first CUSA indoor men's 400 champion a year ago before Young II returned the favor at the CUSA outdoor championship. The top seed at 46.60, Bradley-Reed will try to become the first athlete to successfully defend his CUSA indoor 400 crown since WKU's Emmanuel Dasor in 2016 and 2017. Kennesaw State's Justin Warner, who placed fourth outdoors as a freshman in 2025, sits No. 2 behind Bradley-Reed this season at 47.12. This is one of the Owls' strongest events, as Kennesaw State boasts three of the top five performers in CUSA in 2026. Liberty junior Simon Lamparelli will try to break up the Owls' point potential. He is coming off an indoor personal-best 47.24 effort at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. That is good for No. 3 in CUSA this season and No. 3 in program history. One of the two Flames who has run faster indoors is All-American Alejandro Perlaza Zapata. He was Liberty's most recent men's 400 champion, claiming the title during Liberty's first season in the ASUN (2019). Lamparelli's best career CUSA finish in this event is fourth place at both the 2024 and 2025 outdoor championships.
Men's 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:45 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Mackdonald Songok (Middle Tennessee) – 1:50.24
Meet Record: 1:49.98 by Chris O'Hare (Tulsa) in 2012
Facility Record: 1:46.59 by Alex Amankwah (District Track Club) in 2021
Liberty Record: 1:48.72 by Michael Long in 2026
2026 Leader: Mackdonald Songok (Middle Tennessee) – 1:47.58
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Brendan Pitcher – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Long, Brendan Pitcher
Outlook: Defending champion Mackdonald Songok of Middle Tennessee owns CUSA's fastest time of 2026 (1:47.58) by more than a second and will look to become the CUSA's first back-to-back winner since UTEP's Michael Saruni in 2017 and 2018. Sam Houston's Caleb Anthony is back after edging Songok to capture last year's CUSA outdoor crown. Liberty also figures to be well represented by the duo of Michael Long and Brendan Pitcher. Long, the 2024 USATF U20 champion, has twice lowered the program record during his first season as a Flame and owns the No. 2 seed at 1:48.72. Pitcher is a two-time indoor conference champion in this event, including the 2023 ASUN and 2024 CUSA crowns.
Men's Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Brian Kiptoo (Middle Tennessee) – 4:04.08
Meet Record: 4:00.82 by Pablo Solares (Rice) in 2007
Facility Record: 3:54.60 by Paul Specht (Wake Forest) in 2026
Liberty Record: 4:01.27 by Ryan Drew in 2022
2026 Leader: Michael Long (Liberty) – 4:05.46
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Kyle Harkabus – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Michael Long, Dale Hall, Ethan Stansbury
Outlook: Liberty newcomer Michael Long is seeded No. 1 in the mile (4:05.46) and No. 2 in the 800 (1:48.72), opening the possibility of the first CUSA mile-800 double victory since 2022 (UTEP's Kenneth Talavera). No Flame has ever won both events at the same indoor conference meet. Long's teammate Dale Hall could also contend, following his personal-best 4:05.71 clocking at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. Hall placed sixth in the CUSA mile final last season, but two of the runners who beat him in that race are part of this year's field, including runner-up Allan Kiplagat of Middle Tennessee and fifth-place Edwin Kiprono of Kennesaw State.
Men's 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 4:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Collins Kipkemboi (Kennesaw State) – 8:11.19
Meet Record: 8:00.14 by Daniel Bernal (UTEP) in 2023
Facility Record: 7:47.35 by Nathan Mountain (Virginia) in 2026
Liberty Record: 7:48.24 by Sam Chelanga in 2011
2026 Leader: Jack Cottrell (Liberty) – 8:05.86
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Edwin Kiprop – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Jack Cottrell, Andrew Schultz, Dale Hall, Edwin Kiprop, Nicholas Kiprotich
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Collins KipKemboi will attempt to defend his title from last season as one of five conference runners who have posted times between 8:05 and 8:10 this year. Liberty's Jack Cottrell, last season's third-place finisher, is the top seed at 8:05.86. Cross country All-American Allan Kiplagat of Middle Tennessee and 2024 CUSA 3K champion Edwin Kiprop of Liberty are potential wild cards in what figures to be an entertaining battle late in the meet on Saturday.
Men's 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Allan Kiplagat (Middle Tennessee) – 14:17.70
Meet Record: 13:47.51 by Nick Scudder (Charlotte) in 2021
Facility Record: 13:43.27 by Athanas Kioko (Campbell) in 2022
Liberty Record: 13:19.79 by Sam Chelanga in 2009
2026 Leader: Brian Limo (Kennesaw State) – 14:04.46
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Edwin Kiprop – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Jack Cottrell, Edwin Kiprop, Nicholas Kiprotich, Andrew Schultz
Outlook: Kennesaw State's Brian Limo and Collins KipKemboi finished 1-2 in the CUSA outdoor 5K final in May, helping the Owls wrap up the team title. They own the top two seeds in an event many of CUSA's top distance runners have yet to contest this season. Defending indoor champion Allan Kiplagat of Middle Tennessee has raced to each of the last two CUSA cross country individual titles but is not entered in Friday evening's 5K. Liberty will enter a pair of past CUSA distance champions in Edwin Kiprop (2024 indoor 5K) and Nicholas Kiprotich (2024 outdoor 10K).
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:55 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 2:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jordani Woodley (UTEP) – 7.69
Meet Record: 7.69 by Jordani Woodley (UTEP) in 2025
Facility Record: 7.69 by Jordani Woodley (UTEP) in 2025
Liberty Record: 7.64 by Jovaine Atkinson in 2018
2026 Leader: Tahj Brown (Liberty) – 7.91
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Prosper Ekporere – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Tahj Brown, Isaiah Idore, Patrick Adams III
Outlook: Liberty freshman Tahj Brown is the top seed with his Flames freshman record of 7.91. The previous Liberty freshman record holder (All-American Jovaine Atkinson) was the last Flames rookie to win a 60 hurdles conference title (2017 Big South). A freshman has not claimed the CUSA men's 60 hurdles crown since 2010 (Houston's Cameron LaCour). Brown figures to have plenty of competition though, as six other CUSA hurdlers have posted sub-8.00 times this season. Kennesaw State's Cameron Guadiano is the No. 2 seed at 7.92 but it is his teammate (Mohamed Diaby) who was the 2024 ASUN 60 hurdles champion and the 2025 CUSA 110 hurdles victor. Diaby will not contest the hurdles this week, however. UTEP's Amir Williams is the top returnee from the 2025 CUSA 60 hurdles final (fifth place).
Men's 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Defending Champion: Louisiana Tech – 3:11.03 (Second in a row)
Meet Record: 3:09.17 by Middle Tennessee in 2019
Facility Record: 3:10.34 by St. Augustine's in 2020
Liberty Record: 3:09.88 in 2018
2026 Leader: Kennesaw State – 3:07.40
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (2022 ASUN)
Outlook: Louisiana Tech outdueled Kennesaw State to win both the CUSA indoor and outdoor 4 x 400 relay titles last season. The Bulldogs will now try to become the first CUSA squad to win this event three straight times since UTEP (2011-13). However, the Owls (3:07.40) have run faster than the Bulldogs (3:09.16) this season, setting up a potential battle which will have the meet (3:09.17) and facility (3:10.34) records on watch. Liberty placed fourth both indoors and outdoors in 2025 and is the No. 5 seed with its 3:13.92 effort from the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.
Men's Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: UTEP – 10:04.06
Meet Record: 9:51.62 by UTEP in 2009
Facility Record: 9:43.73 by Eastern Kentucky in 2023
Liberty Record: 9:47.30 in 2018
2026 Leader: Western Kentucky – 10:07.18
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (2024)
Outlook: Last season, UTEP won its first CUSA distance medley relay title since 2017. The Miners will now try to become the first team since Rice (2018-20) to go back-to-back. Liberty, which has claimed three conference DMR crowns in the last five years, took third in 2025. Western Kentucky put up a conference-leading 10:07.18 last month for its fastest time in 12 years, making the Hilltoppers a contender for their first CUSA DMR victory.
Men's Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kaelen Mitchell (Kennesaw State) – 24-7 (7.49m)
Meet Record: 25-7.25 (7.80m) by Fabian Edoki (Middle Tennessee) in 2019
Facility Record: 25-6.25 (7.78m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 25-6.25 (7.78m) by Markus White in 2026
2026 Leader: Markus White (Liberty) – 25-6.25 (7.78m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Quinten Clay – 2022 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Markus White, Gilles Ouedraogo, Joshua Smith
Outlook: Liberty's Markus White will make his first appearance at the CUSA indoor championship as the men's long jump favorite, on the heels of his program-record 25-6.25 leap at Clemson two weeks ago. White broke the previous record which had been set by Quinten Clay while capturing the Flames' most recent indoor conference title in this event at the 2022 ASUN Championship. White, who reached an outdoor program-record 25-8 for the runner-up spot in the 2025 CUSA outdoor long jump competition, ranks No. 22 nationally heading into conference championship weekend. White will attempt to become the first Flame ever to qualify for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the long jump, two years after finishing as the NCAA Division II indoor national long jump runner-up while competing for Virginia State. The conference's other two 24-foot jumpers this season both fared well in CUSA competition a year ago. Louisiana Tech's Cobe Johnson was the indoor runner-up, while WKU's Sterling Weldon came in fourth both indoors and out as a freshman. The Flames' Joshua Smith has not long jumped this season but was the third-place finisher in the 2023 ASUN outdoor long jump competition as a freshman.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Justin Campbell (Kennesaw State) – 51-1.5 (15.58m)
Meet Record: 53-7.5 (16.34m) by John Warren (Southern Miss) in 2018
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 52-7.25 (16.03m) by Gilles Ouedraogo in 2026
2026 Leader: Gilles Ouedraogo (Liberty) – 52-7.25 (16.03m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Joshua Smith – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Gilles Ouedraogo, Joshua Smith, Markus White, Marshall Toney
Outlook: Burkina Faso native Gilles Ouedraogo has enjoyed quite the beginning to his collegiate career for the Flames, setting the Liberty triple jump record during each of his three competitions. Most recently, he reached 52-7.25 at the Tiger Paw Invitational to become Liberty's first-ever 16-meter triple jumper and move into a tie for 19th place nationally this season. Ouedraogo's top competitor could be teammate Joshua Smith, who owned the program record at 51-3.5 before Ouedraogo joined the roster in January. Smith is a three-time conference triple jump champion, including 2023 ASUN indoor, 2024 CUSA indoor and 2025 CUSA outdoor. He will try to join Clarence Powell (2008, 2010 and 2011 Big South) as the Flames' only three-time indoor triple jump conference champions. Stay tuned for round six Saturday afternoon, as that is when Ouedraogo's 52-7.25 leap came two weeks ago and when Smith has produced the top effort during each of his three conference triple jump victories.
Men's High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jakub Belik (UTEP) – 7-0.5 (2.15m) (Third in a row)
Meet Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Mickael Hanany (UTEP) in 2006
Facility Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) in 2022
Liberty Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder in 2022
2026 Leader: Gage Voyles (Kennesaw State) – 6-11.75 (2.13m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Kennedy Sauder – 2023 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Hunter Bleam, Marshall Toney, Gabriel Willis, Reagan Wise
Outlook: The graduation of three-time defending champion Jakub Belik of UTEP leaves a pair of Kennesaw State Owls as pre-meet men's high jump favorites. Freshman Gage Voyles has cleared a CUSA-leading 6-11.75, while teammate Kenyatta Bennett has made it over 6-11.5. Bennett cleared 7-0.25 at the 2025 CUSA outdoor meet to place second behind Belik. No. 3 seed Jeremiah Jackson of Sam Houston (6-8.75) was the runner-up to Belik at the 2024 CUSA indoor and outdoor championships as a freshman. Liberty's Gabriel Willis will high jump following the conclusion of the heptathlon competition, where he is the defending CUSA champion. Last season, Willis was the CUSA indoor high jump runner-up and placed fourth outdoors. Willis owns a 6-11.75 personal best that dates back to 2021.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5 p.m.
Defending Champion: Dylan Truss (Sam Houston) – 16-10.75 (5.15m)
Meet Record: 17-8.25 (5.39m) by Alexander Slinkman (Rice) in 2023
Facility Record: 18-10.25 (5.75m) by Scott Houston (Vaulthouse Elite) in 2021
Liberty Record: 17-5 (5.31m) by Ken Howell in 1999
2026 Leader: Sam Crenshaw (Western Kentucky) – 17-3.5 (5.27m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 0 (Reilly Stroot – 2019 ASUN)
Liberty Entrants: Chase Johnson, Todd Benhase, Reagan Wise
Outlook: Sam Houston's Dylan Truss will look to become the first CUSA indoor men's pole vault champion to go back-to-back since 2014 and 2015, when Chris Pillow did so for Rice. However, Truss (16-4.75 season best) is looking up at six other 5-meter vaulters on this year's CUSA performance list. Sam Crenshaw of Western Kentucky (17-3.5) owns the top seed, just ahead of five-time conference champion Simon Seid of Kennesaw State (17-2.75). Seid's previous victories in this event include the 2023 ASUN indoor, 2023 ASUN outdoor, 2024 ASUN indoor, 2024 ASUN outdoor and 2025 CUSA outdoor crowns. Liberty will enter a talented trio of Chase Johnson (16-11), Reagan Wise (16-8.75) and Todd Benhase (16-8.75). Johnson eclipsed Benhase's Liberty freshman record earlier this season, Wise captured the 2025 CAA outdoor pole vault title for Campbell and Benhase tied for second place at this meet in 2025 as a freshman. Reilly Stroot (2019 ASUN) was Liberty's last indoor pole vault champion and Coach Lance Bingham's son Cody Bingham (2013 Big South) was the last Flame to claim this an indoor title in this event as a freshman.
Men's Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Evan Martinez (Kennesaw State) – 55-7.5 (16.95m)
Meet Record: 63-5.5 (19.34m) by John Davis (Houston) in 1999
Facility Record: 67-2.75 (20.49m) by Stipe Zunic (Nike/Croatia) in 2017
Liberty Record: 64-1.25 (19.54m) by Warren Barrett in 2023
2026 Leader: Trevor Veenstra (Liberty) – 59-2.25 (18.04m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Warren Barrett – 2024)
Liberty Entrants: Trevor Veenstra, Christian Hicks, Beau Backes, Jayron Lewis
Outlook: The 2025 CUSA indoor (Kennesaw State's Evan Martinez) and outdoor (Liberty's Christian Hicks) men's shot put champions are back, but it is 2025 indoor third-place finisher Trevor Veenstra of Liberty who has enjoyed a breakthrough sophomore campaign and owns the conference's leading mark of 59-2.25. If Martinez is able to repeat as champion, he would be the first to do so in this event since 2014 and 2015 (UTSA's Andrew Akens). Seven different schools have boasted men's shot put champions at the last seven CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships, including Middle Tennessee, Charlotte, North Texas, Southern Miss, Rice, Liberty and Kennesaw State. However, that trend is unlikely to extend another year with the top seven names on the CUSA performance list consisting of four Flames and three Owls. That composition makes the men's shot put a potential swing event late in the meet Saturday afternoon.
Men's Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kellen Kimes (Liberty) – 68-7.75 (20.92m)
Meet Record: 74-7.25 (22.74m) by Steffen Nerdal (Memphis) in 2010
Facility Record: 76-9.75 (23.41m) by Alex Young (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 70-8.5 (21.55m) by Kellen Kimes in 2026
2026 Leader: Kellen Kimes (Liberty) – 70-8.5 (21.55m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Kellen Kimes – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Kellen Kimes, Christian Hicks, Trevor Veenstra, Beau Backes, Jayron Lewis
Outlook: Coming off a program-record mark of 70-8.5 at Saturday's Virginia Tech Challenge, Liberty redshirt sophomore Kellen Kimes is a significant favorite to win his second straight CUSA weight throw title and the Flames' sixth conference weight throw championship in seven years. John Hicks won the first four of those between the ASUN and CUSA, and younger brother Christian Hicks is a podium contender on Friday. The younger Hicks, who placed third in this event in 2024, moved into the Flames' all-time top five with his personal-best 64-9.75 heave at Clemson two weeks ago. Kennesaw State newcomer Noah Jirgens is the No. 2 seed at 66-0.5, a year removed from a fourth-place showing in this event while representing UTEP. As in the shot put, much of the weight throw final could consist of Liberty Flames (three of the top eight seeds) and Kennesaw State Owls (five of the top eight seeds).
Men's Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at 10:20 a.m.; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Defending Champion: Gabriel Willis (Liberty) – 5,421
Meet Record: 5,794 by Jack Turner (UTSA) in 2023
Facility Record: 5,772 by Cole Wilson (High Point) in 2024
Liberty Record: 5,537 by Markus Ballengee in 2018
2026 Leader: Jake Nicholson (Liberty) – 5,046
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Gabriel Willis – 2025)
Liberty Entrants: Jake Nicholson, Samuel O'Regan, Patrick Adams III, Hunter Bleam, Gabriel Willis
Outlook: Liberty dominated the CUSA men's multi-event competitions in 2025, going 1-2-3-4 in both the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon. Three of those four Flames return (Gabriel Willis, Hunter Bleam and Samuel O'Regan), headlined by defending heptathlon champion and decathlon runner-up Willis. Willis scored a personal-best 5,421 points to win last year's CUSA title, ranking No. 2 in program history. Redshirt freshman Jake Nicholson joins the Flames' multi-event group this season. He became Liberty's 13th member of the 5,000-point club at the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational, closing his conference-leading 5,046-point effort with the second fastest heptathlon 1,000 time in facility history, 2:41.66. Liberty Flames have captured three consecutive conference heptathlon titles and six in the last seven years, dating back to 2019, their first season in the ASUN Conference. UTEP's Oleksandr Blonskyi is the top threat to another Liberty podium sweep. He scored a personal-best 4,986 points to finish third in the 2024 CUSA heptathlon competition.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
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Mid-Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Throws
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Pole Vault
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Decathlon
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Jumps
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Hurdles
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Heptathlon
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Hammer
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Hurdles
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Distance
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Jumps
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
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Distance
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Hammer
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
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Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
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Throws
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Sprints
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Jumps
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High Jump
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Decathlon
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Pole Vault
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Mid-Distance
/ Track and FieldPaola Bueno: Representing Liberty and Mexico
Thursday, January 29
The Sherard Family: On the Court and on the Track
Wednesday, January 21
Allie Zealand Talks About The Cross Country & Indoor Track Season
Friday, December 12
Coach Zealand & Ryann Aycock Give An Update On The Cross Country Season
Wednesday, September 17