(L-R): Tahj Brown, Alivia Rivera-Norman, Markus White, Sophie Gonzalez
Liberty Wraps Up Regular Season with 5 CUSA Weekly Honors
5/12/2026 1:54:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Thanks to standout performances at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier, the Flames and Lady Flames combined to win five of this week's six CUSA honors. Liberty's award winners included Alivia Rivera-Norman (Women's Track Athlete of the Week and Freshman of the Week), Sophie Gonzalez (Women's Field Athlete of the Week), Tahj Brown (Men's Freshman of the Week) and Markus White (Men's Field Athlete of the Week).
Now a two-time CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week (previously Dec. 9), Rivera-Norman joins fellow Texas native Cydni Martin (UTEP, Feb. 10) as the only freshmen to earn CUSA Women's Track Athlete of the Week accolades in 2026.
Rivera-Norman sliced her 100 hurdles personal best from 13.76 to 13.33 during the Liberty Twilight Qualifier, winning the event and setting a program freshman record. She now ranks No. 2 in program history and should be bound for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet later this month.
Gonzalez collected her third CUSA Women's Field Athlete of the Week honor in the last four weeks, tying fellow hammer ace Kali Terza (Kennesaw State) for the most times winning this award in 2026.
The Guatemala native wrapped up a consistent regular season by heaving the hammer 199-9 for Liberty Twilight Qualifier runner-up honors. She has thrown over 60 meters in all five hammer competitions to date this season.
A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Brown picked up his third CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week nod (previously Feb. 3 and April 28).
Like Rivera-Norman, Brown raced to a Liberty Twilight Qualifier hurdles title in program freshman record fashion. His winning 110 hurdles clocking of 13.78 ranks No. 4 in CUSA this season (tops among freshmen) and tied for No. 22 in the East Region (second among freshmen).
White, a junior from the Hill City, becomes a three-time CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week this year (previously Jan. 20 and April 7). Seven different Liberty Flames combined to capture this honor in 12 of 15 weeks between the indoor and outdoor campaigns.
White reached 25-2.5 to defeat his brother (Hampton's Marquis White) by nine inches and win the Liberty Twilight Qualifier long jump competition. White has now recorded four straight long jump victories dating back to the indoor season.
Liberty will head to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for the 2026 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The meet will take place Thursday through Saturday at Middle Tennessee's Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium and will air on ESPN+.
Now a two-time CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week (previously Dec. 9), Rivera-Norman joins fellow Texas native Cydni Martin (UTEP, Feb. 10) as the only freshmen to earn CUSA Women's Track Athlete of the Week accolades in 2026.
Rivera-Norman sliced her 100 hurdles personal best from 13.76 to 13.33 during the Liberty Twilight Qualifier, winning the event and setting a program freshman record. She now ranks No. 2 in program history and should be bound for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet later this month.
Gonzalez collected her third CUSA Women's Field Athlete of the Week honor in the last four weeks, tying fellow hammer ace Kali Terza (Kennesaw State) for the most times winning this award in 2026.
The Guatemala native wrapped up a consistent regular season by heaving the hammer 199-9 for Liberty Twilight Qualifier runner-up honors. She has thrown over 60 meters in all five hammer competitions to date this season.
A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Brown picked up his third CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week nod (previously Feb. 3 and April 28).
Like Rivera-Norman, Brown raced to a Liberty Twilight Qualifier hurdles title in program freshman record fashion. His winning 110 hurdles clocking of 13.78 ranks No. 4 in CUSA this season (tops among freshmen) and tied for No. 22 in the East Region (second among freshmen).
White, a junior from the Hill City, becomes a three-time CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week this year (previously Jan. 20 and April 7). Seven different Liberty Flames combined to capture this honor in 12 of 15 weeks between the indoor and outdoor campaigns.
White reached 25-2.5 to defeat his brother (Hampton's Marquis White) by nine inches and win the Liberty Twilight Qualifier long jump competition. White has now recorded four straight long jump victories dating back to the indoor season.
Liberty will head to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for the 2026 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The meet will take place Thursday through Saturday at Middle Tennessee's Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium and will air on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
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Hammer
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Hurdles
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Jumps
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