Thursday, March 26
Raleigh, N.C.
4:05 PM ET
Liberty University
at
Raleigh Relays
Katrina Schlenker is set to compete in the Raleigh Relays steeplechase on Friday.
Liberty Track Set for Meets in Raleigh, Lynchburg
3/25/2026 10:42:00 AM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty track & field has a pair of meets on this week's schedule. A group of distance runners will race at the Raleigh Relays, Thursday and Friday in Raleigh, N.C. Other Flames and Lady Flames will remain in town for Friday and Saturday's Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, hosted by the University of Lynchburg.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Portions of the Raleigh Relays will air on ACC Network Extra, including Thursday from 4-7 p.m. and Friday from 7-10 p.m.
Live results will be available throughout both events, courtesy of Flash Results (Raleigh Relays) and Blue Ridge Timing (Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational.
Weather Report
The Raleigh Relays will feature high temperatures in the 80s and considerable sunshine both Thursday and Friday before rain arrives Friday evening.
Friday's weather forecast for Lynchburg projects both falling rain and falling temperatures (from a high in the 70s during the day to a low in the 30s at night). Saturday should be cool (high in the mid 50s), sunny and breezy.
Steeplechase Strength
The steeplechase has been one of the Lady Flames' top events at the CUSA meet each of the past two years. Last season, Liberty went 1-2-4-7-8 for 26 big team points. Sixty percent of that crew are set to make their steeplechase season debuts at the Raleigh Relays on Friday, including runner-up Katrina Schlenker, seventh-place Raini Mayo and eighth-place Sophia Park.
Meanwhile, three more Lady Flames will try their hand at the steeplechase for the first time on Saturday at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, including Anna Fletcher, Rachel Hill and Gracelyn Laudermilch.
Hurdle Hopes
Defending CUSA men's 400 hurdles champion Josh Blalock is set to make his season debut at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational on Saturday.
Decathlete Jake Nicholson is also entered in the event for the first time as a Flame. He was the 2024 TAPPS 4A state champion in the 300 hurdles as a senior at Trinity Christian School.
Baton Battles
At last season's Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, Liberty's men's 4 x 100 relay squad blazed to a sparkling early-season time of 39.42.
This time around, the Lady Flames hope to produce a strong 4 x 100 clocking in the Hill City to get their season going. Liberty lowered the program record to 44.49 at the 2025 NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet, and two members of that squad (Mahogany Mobley and Iyana Sherard) return.
Record Breakers
Liberty wasted no time in breaking its first program records of the 2026 outdoor season, taking down both the women's javelin (Isabella Frattura – 163-4) and men's javelin (Ben Shughart – 253-11) at the Virginia Opener, last Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.
Frattura's mark came during the freshman's first collegiate competition, while Shughart's performance came in his first meet since the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Shughart currently ranks No. 1 in both the NCAA and United States for 2026 and sits No. 21 in the world.
Frattura and Shughart will both take this weekend off from competition.
CUSA's Best
The following Flames and Lady Flames rank No. 1 in Conference USA in their events at this early stage of the 2026 outdoor track & field season. The 2026 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, May 14-16 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Women's Pole Vault – Katie Urbine – 12-9.5
Women's Shot Put – Bethany Tate – 49-7.75
Women's Javelin – Isabella Frattura – 163-4
Men's Shot Put – Christian Hicks – 56-6.5
Men's Discus – Christian Hicks – 172-9
Men's Javelin – Ben Shughart – 253-11
Pack Your Bags for Lexington
The 2026 NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet will be contested at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility, May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky. The following Flames and Lady Flames appear to be qualified for the meet, based upon historical results.
Isabella Frattura – Women's Javelin
Sophie Gonazlez – Women's Hammer
Ben Shughart – Men's Javelin
Reagan Wise – Men's Pole Vault
Up Next
Liberty will head to the Florida Relays for the third consecutive season. The high-level meet is slated for April 3-4 at Percy Beard Track in Gainesville, Fla.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Portions of the Raleigh Relays will air on ACC Network Extra, including Thursday from 4-7 p.m. and Friday from 7-10 p.m.
Live results will be available throughout both events, courtesy of Flash Results (Raleigh Relays) and Blue Ridge Timing (Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational.
Weather Report
The Raleigh Relays will feature high temperatures in the 80s and considerable sunshine both Thursday and Friday before rain arrives Friday evening.
Friday's weather forecast for Lynchburg projects both falling rain and falling temperatures (from a high in the 70s during the day to a low in the 30s at night). Saturday should be cool (high in the mid 50s), sunny and breezy.
Steeplechase Strength
The steeplechase has been one of the Lady Flames' top events at the CUSA meet each of the past two years. Last season, Liberty went 1-2-4-7-8 for 26 big team points. Sixty percent of that crew are set to make their steeplechase season debuts at the Raleigh Relays on Friday, including runner-up Katrina Schlenker, seventh-place Raini Mayo and eighth-place Sophia Park.
Meanwhile, three more Lady Flames will try their hand at the steeplechase for the first time on Saturday at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, including Anna Fletcher, Rachel Hill and Gracelyn Laudermilch.
Hurdle Hopes
Defending CUSA men's 400 hurdles champion Josh Blalock is set to make his season debut at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational on Saturday.
Decathlete Jake Nicholson is also entered in the event for the first time as a Flame. He was the 2024 TAPPS 4A state champion in the 300 hurdles as a senior at Trinity Christian School.
Baton Battles
At last season's Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, Liberty's men's 4 x 100 relay squad blazed to a sparkling early-season time of 39.42.
This time around, the Lady Flames hope to produce a strong 4 x 100 clocking in the Hill City to get their season going. Liberty lowered the program record to 44.49 at the 2025 NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet, and two members of that squad (Mahogany Mobley and Iyana Sherard) return.
Record Breakers
Liberty wasted no time in breaking its first program records of the 2026 outdoor season, taking down both the women's javelin (Isabella Frattura – 163-4) and men's javelin (Ben Shughart – 253-11) at the Virginia Opener, last Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.
Frattura's mark came during the freshman's first collegiate competition, while Shughart's performance came in his first meet since the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Shughart currently ranks No. 1 in both the NCAA and United States for 2026 and sits No. 21 in the world.
Frattura and Shughart will both take this weekend off from competition.
CUSA's Best
The following Flames and Lady Flames rank No. 1 in Conference USA in their events at this early stage of the 2026 outdoor track & field season. The 2026 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, May 14-16 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Women's Pole Vault – Katie Urbine – 12-9.5
Women's Shot Put – Bethany Tate – 49-7.75
Women's Javelin – Isabella Frattura – 163-4
Men's Shot Put – Christian Hicks – 56-6.5
Men's Discus – Christian Hicks – 172-9
Men's Javelin – Ben Shughart – 253-11
Pack Your Bags for Lexington
The 2026 NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet will be contested at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility, May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky. The following Flames and Lady Flames appear to be qualified for the meet, based upon historical results.
Isabella Frattura – Women's Javelin
Sophie Gonazlez – Women's Hammer
Ben Shughart – Men's Javelin
Reagan Wise – Men's Pole Vault
Up Next
Liberty will head to the Florida Relays for the third consecutive season. The high-level meet is slated for April 3-4 at Percy Beard Track in Gainesville, Fla.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
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