(L-R): Tahj Brown, Gilles Ouedraogo, Allie Zealand, Sophie Gonzalez, Isabella Frattura
Liberty Sweeps CUSA Track & Field Weekly Awards
4/28/2026 2:00:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Five of Liberty's standout performers from the 130th Penn Relays combined to sweep the CUSA track & field weekly honors on Tuesday. Tahj Brown was tabbed both Men's Track Athlete of the Week and Men's Freshman of the Week, while Gilles Ouedraogo (Men's Field Athlete of the Week), Allie Zealand (Women's Track Athlete of the Week), Sophie Gonzalez (Women's Field Athlete of the Week) and Isabella Frattura (Women's Freshman of the Week) rounded out the Flames' award winners.
A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Brown collected his first CUSA Men's Track Athlete of the Week honor and his second CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week nod (also Feb. 3). He lowered his Liberty freshman-record time to 13.81 to qualify for the Penn Relays men's 110 hurdles final. Brown currently ranks No. 3 in program history, No. 3 in CUSA this season and No. 47 nationally (tied for eighth among freshmen).
Ouedraogo becomes the fifth different Flame to be recognized as CUSA Men's Field Athlete in the last six weeks. The Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso native previously earned this honor three times during the indoor season (Jan. 27, Feb. 3 and Feb. 17).
Triple jumping in adverse conditions in Philadelphia on Saturday, Ouedraogo needed only one attempt to win the Penn Relays championship section and set a new outdoor program record of 52-4.5. In his outdoor season debut, Ouedraogo took down the Liberty standard that had stood since 2010 and posted the top mark by a CUSA jumper since 2023. The indoor All-American is now tied for No. 19 on the NCAA outdoor list this season.
A sophomore from Forest, Va., Zealand is now a three-time CUSA Women's Track Athlete of the Week (also Dec. 9 and Feb. 3), thanks to a record-breaking track 5K debut at the Penn Relays.
Zealand won the race in a time of 15:26.38, breaking the Penn Relays record that had stood since 1984 and shattering the Liberty record which had lasted for a decade. She now ranks No. 1 in CUSA by 52 seconds this season and sits No. 11 nationally after setting a program record in a seventh different event (also cross country 5K, cross country 6K, indoor mile, indoor 3K, indoor distance medley relay and outdoor 1,500).
A native of Guatemala City, Guatemala, Gonzalez was tabbed CUSA Women's Field Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row. She joins Kennesaw State's Kali Terza as women's hammer throwers to earn this honor twice in 2026.
Gonzalez got the Liberty throws crew's successful showing in Philadelphia started on Thursday with a women's hammer championship section runner-up finish. Her best throw measured 199-7.
Frattura, who hails from Sparta, N.J., has now captured three of six CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week laurels this season (also March 24 and April 7).
Frattura's top mark on Saturday was 156-4, placing her third overall and first among freshmen in the Penn Relays women's javelin championship section.
Liberty will compete in two different meets this weekend, including The Hill City Twilight (Saturday at the University of Lynchburg) and the Duke Twilight (Sunday in Durham, N.C.).
A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Brown collected his first CUSA Men's Track Athlete of the Week honor and his second CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week nod (also Feb. 3). He lowered his Liberty freshman-record time to 13.81 to qualify for the Penn Relays men's 110 hurdles final. Brown currently ranks No. 3 in program history, No. 3 in CUSA this season and No. 47 nationally (tied for eighth among freshmen).
Ouedraogo becomes the fifth different Flame to be recognized as CUSA Men's Field Athlete in the last six weeks. The Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso native previously earned this honor three times during the indoor season (Jan. 27, Feb. 3 and Feb. 17).
Triple jumping in adverse conditions in Philadelphia on Saturday, Ouedraogo needed only one attempt to win the Penn Relays championship section and set a new outdoor program record of 52-4.5. In his outdoor season debut, Ouedraogo took down the Liberty standard that had stood since 2010 and posted the top mark by a CUSA jumper since 2023. The indoor All-American is now tied for No. 19 on the NCAA outdoor list this season.
A sophomore from Forest, Va., Zealand is now a three-time CUSA Women's Track Athlete of the Week (also Dec. 9 and Feb. 3), thanks to a record-breaking track 5K debut at the Penn Relays.
Zealand won the race in a time of 15:26.38, breaking the Penn Relays record that had stood since 1984 and shattering the Liberty record which had lasted for a decade. She now ranks No. 1 in CUSA by 52 seconds this season and sits No. 11 nationally after setting a program record in a seventh different event (also cross country 5K, cross country 6K, indoor mile, indoor 3K, indoor distance medley relay and outdoor 1,500).
A native of Guatemala City, Guatemala, Gonzalez was tabbed CUSA Women's Field Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row. She joins Kennesaw State's Kali Terza as women's hammer throwers to earn this honor twice in 2026.
Gonzalez got the Liberty throws crew's successful showing in Philadelphia started on Thursday with a women's hammer championship section runner-up finish. Her best throw measured 199-7.
Frattura, who hails from Sparta, N.J., has now captured three of six CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week laurels this season (also March 24 and April 7).
Frattura's top mark on Saturday was 156-4, placing her third overall and first among freshmen in the Penn Relays women's javelin championship section.
Liberty will compete in two different meets this weekend, including The Hill City Twilight (Saturday at the University of Lynchburg) and the Duke Twilight (Sunday in Durham, N.C.).
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Hammer
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
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