(L-R): Christian Hicks, Katrina Schlenker, Sophie Gonzalez
3 Flames Earn 1st CUSA Weekly Awards
4/21/2026 2:05:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Three Liberty athletes earned CUSA weekly honors for the first time in their careers on Tuesday, including Christian Hicks (Men's Field Athlete of the Week), Sophie Gonzalez (Women's Field Athlete of the Week) and Katrina Schlenker (Women's Track Athlete of the Week).
A native of Romney, W.Va., Hicks is the fourth different Flame to be named CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week in the last five weeks. Competing at the Virginia Challenge, Hicks was the discus runner-up (first among collegiate entrants) with a personal-best 194-7 heave and took 11th place in the shot put with an outdoor personal-best 57-11 effort.
Both of Hicks' marks rank No. 1 in CUSA this season, while the discus performance sits No. 19 nationally. The redshirt senior climbed to No. 4 in program history for the discus and No. 8 for the shot put.
Gonzalez took home the Virginia Challenge open women's hammer title with a season-best 203-8 effort. She now ranks No. 2 in CUSA, tied for No. 32 in the NCAA and No. 4 all-time for the Lady Flames. Gonzalez also just missed her own Guatemalan record of 204-4.
Schlenker's personal-best 10:06.44 steeplechase placed 14th at the Bryan Clay Invitational, including seventh among collegiate runners. The senior from Batavia, Ill., ranks No. 1 in CUSA and No. 24 on the NCAA national list this season. She is also second on Liberty's all-time top 10 list.
Schlenker will take this weekend off from competition, while Hicks and Gonzalez are scheduled to throw at the 130th Penn Relays, Thursday through Saturday in Philadelphia, Pa. Liberty will also send a group of competitors to the Charlotte Invitational, Friday and Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
A native of Romney, W.Va., Hicks is the fourth different Flame to be named CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week in the last five weeks. Competing at the Virginia Challenge, Hicks was the discus runner-up (first among collegiate entrants) with a personal-best 194-7 heave and took 11th place in the shot put with an outdoor personal-best 57-11 effort.
Both of Hicks' marks rank No. 1 in CUSA this season, while the discus performance sits No. 19 nationally. The redshirt senior climbed to No. 4 in program history for the discus and No. 8 for the shot put.
Gonzalez took home the Virginia Challenge open women's hammer title with a season-best 203-8 effort. She now ranks No. 2 in CUSA, tied for No. 32 in the NCAA and No. 4 all-time for the Lady Flames. Gonzalez also just missed her own Guatemalan record of 204-4.
Schlenker's personal-best 10:06.44 steeplechase placed 14th at the Bryan Clay Invitational, including seventh among collegiate runners. The senior from Batavia, Ill., ranks No. 1 in CUSA and No. 24 on the NCAA national list this season. She is also second on Liberty's all-time top 10 list.
Schlenker will take this weekend off from competition, while Hicks and Gonzalez are scheduled to throw at the 130th Penn Relays, Thursday through Saturday in Philadelphia, Pa. Liberty will also send a group of competitors to the Charlotte Invitational, Friday and Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
Players Mentioned
Hammer
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Throws
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Distance
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