Liberty Set to Host ASUN Indoor Track Championships, Friday and Saturday
2/21/2023 3:11:56 PM | Track and Field
Friday Live Video (3-6:30 p.m. on ESPN+)
Saturday Live Video (Noon-4 p.m. on ESPN+)
Liberty is preparing to host the 2023 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships, Friday and Saturday at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
The Flames will attempt to claim their fifth consecutive ASUN indoor team title and their 26th straight indoor conference championship overall. Meanwhile, the Lady Flames will aim to defend their championship from last season and claim their fourth ASUN crown in five years.
The meet will begin Friday at 9 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter dash. Saturday’s action will commence at 8:30 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.
The ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships will take place in Lynchburg for the sixth and final consecutive year. Liberty first hosted the event in 2018, prior to joining the ASUN Conference.
Liberty hopes its home track advantage continues this weekend. The Flames and Lady Flames have won 25 of a possible 26 conference men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor team titles in Lynchburg. The lone setback came on the women’s side at the 2021 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships.
This year’s meet will be the largest in terms of participating teams during Liberty’s tenure in the ASUN Conference. The event will feature 11 women’s teams (Austin Peay, Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Lipscomb, North Florida and Queens) and eight men’s squads (Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Lipscomb, North Florida and Queens).
How to Follow the Action
Admission is free of charge to both days of the 2023 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Live video streaming of both days’ running events and taped coverage of the field events and multi events will be available on ESPN+. The live broadcast windows include Friday from 3-6:30 p.m. and Saturday from Noon-4 p.m.
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
Last season, Liberty defeated Kennesaw State by eight points for the 2022 ASUN team title after the Owls had edged the Lady Flames by five the previous year. That marked Liberty’s third team championship in four years of ASUN Conference membership. Overall, Liberty has captured 16 women’s indoor conference championships in the last 25 years.
Three different women’s teams have hoisted the first-place trophy within the last five editions of the ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships, including Jacksonville in 2018, Liberty in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and Kennesaw State in 2021.
The Lady Flames own the ASUN’s top performance in the following five events this season: 60 hurdles (Indea Cartwright), triple jump (Makenzy Mizera), shot put (Megan Mann), weight throw (Paola Bueno) and pentathlon (Meredith Engle). Three of the five were not part of Liberty’s championship team last season, as Mizera was redshirting and Cartwright and Bueno are each in their first seasons of competition with the Lady Flames.
Last season’s ASUN Most Valuable Female Performer, Engle (pentathlon) is back to defend her event title from 2022. Meanwhile, Adelyn Ackley-Fairley will seek her third consecutive ASUN indoor 5K championship.
Calli Doan captured back-to-back ASUN mile championships in 2020 and 2021 before an injury sidelined her in 2022. She has since returned to top form, breaking a 21-year-old program record with her 4:36.52 mile clocking two weeks ago in Boston.
Men’s Meet Preview
The Liberty men’s indoor track & field team has never lost a conference meet at the NCAA Division I level, going 25 for 25 in claiming the team championship trophy. The Flames captured the team title at each of the 21 editions of the Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships they competed in and have won the last four ASUN indoor crowns, extending the longest active championship streak in NCAA Division I men’s indoor track & field.
The Flames expect a challenge from Kennesaw State, which had won seven straight ASUN indoor championships prior to Liberty’s arrival in the conference. The Owls have captured a meet-record nine men’s team titles during the 17-year history of the ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships and have finished second to the Flames each of the past four seasons.
Liberty returns four men’s individual event champions from last year’s meet, including Quinten Clay (long jump and triple jump), Kennedy Sauder (high jump) and John Hicks (weight throw). Hicks earned his third consecutive ASUN men’s weight throw crown in 2022, while Clay successfully defended his long jump title.
The Flames also swept both ASUN relay championships (4 x 400 and distance medley) for the first time in 2022. Ally Kipchirchir and Felix Lawrence are back from the 4 x 400 squad, while the team’s first three DMR legs from 2022 (Kyle Harkabus, Luke Anderson and Isaiah Schulties) return as well.
The Flames own the conference’s top mark of 2023 in six different events, including the 60 (Omari Lewis), 200 (Donald McClinton), 60 hurdles (Prosper Ekporere), high jump (Kennedy Sauder), shot put (Warren Barrett) and heptathlon (Anthony Bryan).
The ASUN meet will mark athletes’ final chance to post a qualifying mark for the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, slated for March 10-11 in Albuquerque, N.M. At this point, two-time All-American Kennedy Sauder appears to be in good position to qualify once again in the high jump. Warren Barrett is on the bubble in the men’s shot put entering conference championship weekend, but will not be able to improve his position during the ASUN meet.
Event Capsules
Women’s 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:50 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 1:05 p.m.
Defending Champion: Alexis Williams (Jacksonville) – 7.50
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Joy Scott (Eastern Kentucky) – 5th place
Conference Record: 7.38 by Jacquelyn Baldwin (Jacksonville) in 2017
Meet Record: 7.38 by Jacquelyn Baldwin (Jacksonville) in 2017
Facility Record: 7.30 by Kiara Grant (Norfolk State) in 2020
Liberty Record: 7.45 by Oasis Hernandez in 2014
2023 Leader: Cassie Thompson (Jacksonville) – 7.46
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Abby Pantlitz – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Dawn Hilton
Outlook: The last six times Jacksonville has competed at this meet (2016-20 and 2022), a Dolphin has come away with the women’s 60 dash title. Last year’s champion (Alexis Williams) is no longer part of the Jacksonville roster. However, eighth-place finisher Cassie Thompson of Jacksonville owns the four fastest times by an ASUN sprinter this season, including a personal-best 7.46. Liberty will be hard-pressed to score points in this event, as no Lady Flames currently rank among the ASUN’s top 20.
Women’s 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 1:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Quantasia Perry (Eastern Kentucky) – 23.78
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Corbin McLean (Kennesaw State) – 7th place
Conference Record: 23.16 by Savyon Toombs (Jacksonville) in 2019
Meet Record: 23.75 by Savyon Toombs (Jacksonville) in 2020
Facility Record: 23.52 by Ayla Stanisclaus (New Mexico JC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 23.98 by Kimone Green in 2018
2023 Leader: Kenisha Phillips (Austin Peay) – 23.81
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Abby Pantlitz – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright
Outlook: None of the top six finishers from last year’s 200 final return. But defending OVC indoor and outdoor 200 champion Kenisha Phillips has stepped in to fill the void with a season best of 23.81. Also favored at 400 meters, the Guyana native may be looking to complete the ASUN’s first 200/400 double at this meet since Savyon Toombs of Jacksonville pulled it off in 2019. The Dolphins, who have dominated the podium in the one-lap event in recent years, boast a pair of youthful contenders in sophomore Cassie Thompson (24.13) and freshman Mariandree Chacon of Guatemala (24.36).
Women’s 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 12:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) – 54.37
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Leandra Custodio (Jacksonville State) – 10th place
Conference Record: 53.50 by Kenisha Phillips (Austin Peay) in 2023
Meet Record: 53.79 by Brianna Frazier (North Florida) in 2012
Facility Record: 52.55 by Athing Mu (Unattached) in 2019
Liberty Record: 53.99 by Cortney Strohman in 2019
2023 Leader: Kenisha Phillips (Austin Peay) – 53.50
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Cortney Strohman – 2020)
Liberty Entrants: Jasmine Williams, Nimeesha Coleman, Jezelle Shaw
Outlook: Last year’s OVC indoor and outdoor 400 champion, Austin Peay’s Kenisha Phillips set the ASUN all-time record of 53.50 last month. The meet record of 53.79 has stood for 11 years but could be in jeopardy this weekend. Defending champion Sarah Hendrick of Kennesaw State will focus on other events at this meet, leaving a pair of Bellarmine Knights (Chloe Freilinger – 55.25 and Katrina Kamarute – 55.80) as the only other conference athletes who have run under 56 seconds this season. None of last year’s eight finalists will contest the 400 this weekend.
Women’s 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 1:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Kiara Carter (Lipscomb) – 2:08.31
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Carter
Conference Record: 2:02.00 by Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) in 2023
Meet Record: 2:03.73 by Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) in 2021
Facility Record: 2:03.73 by Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) in 2021
Liberty Record: 2:05.42 by Jaime Watson in 2010
2023 Leader: Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) – 2:02.00
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Tanner Ealum – 2020)
Liberty Entrants: Jessica Palisca, Naomi Armstrong
Outlook: Kennesaw State All-American Sarah Hendrick ranks No. 5 nationally in this event at a conference-record 2:02.00. But with her berth at the NCAA meet secure, she will focus on other events this weekend. Six of the top eight marks in the ASUN this season have been posted by KSU and Liberty runners. The two exceptions are Lipscomb’s Kiara Carter and Jacksonville’s Emma Sullivan, who went 1-2 in Hendrick’s absence a year ago. Liberty’s entries consist of program freshman record holder Jessica Palisca (2:09.61) and Naomi Armstrong (2:11.15 season best, 2021 ASUN runner-up).
Women’s Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3 p.m.; Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Sarah Hendrick (Kennesaw State) – 4:47.39
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Hendrick
Conference Record: 4:36.30 by Caroline Timm (Kennesaw State) in 2023
Meet Record: 4:39.39 by Heidi Dahl (ETSU) in 2009
Facility Record: 4:37.42 by Anna Vess (NC State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 4:36.52 by Calli Doan in 2023
2023 Leader: Caroline Timm (Kennesaw State) – 4:36.30
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Calli Doan – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Calli Doan, Jessica Palisca, Marie Hostetler
Outlook: Saturday’s first track event, the women’s mile could be one of the races of the meet. The field features the last three conference champions in Kennesaw State’s Sarah Hendrick (2022) and Liberty’s Calli Doan (2020 and 2021). Doan, who recently broke Coach Heather Zealand’s 21-year-old program record with a 4:36.52 clocking in Boston, will try to join Jacksonville’s Joane Pierre (2010-12) as the only three-time women’s mile champions in meet history. However, Doan will be challenged by Kennesaw State’s Caroline Timm, the ASUN all-time record holder at 4:36.30. Timm defeated Doan head-to-head at Clemson last month and was the Ivy League 1,000-meter champion last year while racing for Princeton. Lipscomb’s Lydia Miller, last year’s mile runner-up, owns the conference 3K record at 9:19.06 and qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in the fall. She will try to win the Bisons’ first ASUN title in this event since 2014. Lady Flames freshman Jessica Palisca also bears watching. After arriving at Liberty with a 1,600 personal best of 4:59.31 this fall, she has slashed her time to a program freshman-record 4:49.71.
Women’s 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 1:50 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jone Zabaleta-Larranaga (Eastern Kentucky) – 9:35.33
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Zabaleta-Larranaga
Conference Record: 9:19.06 by Lydia Miller (Lipscomb) in 2023
Meet Record: 9:30.38 by Lindsay Billings (Kennesaw State) in 2021
Facility Record: 9:22.82 by Michaela Meyer (Unattached) in 2021
Liberty Record: 9:24.96 by Adelyn Ackley-Fairley in 2022
2023 Leader: Lydia Miller (Lipscomb) – 9:19.06
Liberty Event Titles (Last): None
Liberty Entrants: Calli Doan, Marie Hostetler, Anna Hostetler, Catherine Farrell, Adelyn Ackley-Fairley
Outlook: The four fastest 3K times in ASUN history have all been clocked this season, including 9:19.06 by NCAA cross country national qualifier Lydia Miller of Lipscomb, 9:21.69 by defending conference champion Jone Zabaleta-Larranaga of Eastern Kentucky, 9:23.09 by Anouk Van Gils of Eastern Kentucky and 9:24.60 by Liza Corso of Lipscomb. Liberty went 2-3 in this event last season, but runner-up Adelyn Ackley-Fairley will have to compete in the slowest of the event’s four sections and third-place Anna Hostetler ranks No. 20 in the ASUN this year at 9:59.61. Calli Doan owns Liberty’s top time this year (9:36.19, No. 8 in the ASUN), but has never contested the 3K at the conference meet previously. No Lady Flame has won a 3K conference title since Ednah Kurgat took top honors in the Big South in 2016. Claudia Jalon of North Florida (2018) was the last ASUN runner to sweep the mile and 3K titles.
Women’s 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Adelyn Ackley-Fairley (Liberty) – 16:54.49 (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Ackley-Fairley
Conference Record: 16:12.91 by Calli Doan (Liberty) in 2021
Meet Record: 16:25.24 by Adelyn Ackley-Fairley (Liberty) in 2021
Facility Record: 15:37.12 by Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland High School) in 2018
Liberty Record: 15:47.89 by Ednah Kurgat in 2016
2023 Leader: Lydia Miller (Lipscomb) – 16:12.93
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Adelyn Ackley-Fairley – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Adelyn Ackley-Fairley, Calli Doan, Anna Hostetler
Outlook: Lipscomb’s Lydia Miller, who just missed the ASUN all-time record with a 16:12.93 clocking earlier this season, and defending ASUN outdoor 5K titlist Jone Zabaleta-Larranaga (16:19.97) own the ASUN’s top two 5K times this season but neither will race on Friday. Liberty’s Adelyn Ackley-Fairley, the two-time defending champion and meet record holder, will contest the 5K for the first time this season as she attempts to join Lipscomb’s Courtney Brenner (2018-20) as the only three-time winners of this event. In fact, no Lady Flames have contested a 5K yet in 2022-23, including All-American Calli Doan and last year’s ASUN runner-up, Anna Hostetler. The last time Doan contested a track 5K (Dec. 2, 2021), she clocked an ASUN all-time record 16:12.91 on her home track. Lipscomb sophomore Colbi Borland should be in the mix after finishing fourth in this event in 2022. She came in third in the ASUN Cross Country Championships this fall and is coming off a personal-best 16:30.62 clocking two weeks ago in Nashville.
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:35 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Olivia Brown (Kennesaw State) – 8.34 (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Brown
Conference Record: 8.23 by Indea Cartwright (Liberty) in 2022
Meet Record: 8.27 by Shanique Walker (Jacksonville) in 2014
Facility Record: 8.14 by Cha’Mia Rothwell (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 8.23 by Indea Cartwright in 2022
2023 Leader: Indea Cartwright (Liberty) – 8.23
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Jada Thomas – 2019)
Liberty Entrants: Indea Cartwright, Jasmine Williams, Amani Hankton
Outlook: Kennesaw State’s Olivia Brown is the three-time defending ASUN women’s 60 hurdles champion. But she will have to deal with an influx of new talent into the conference if she hopes to become the ASUN’s first four-time titlist in this event. The top three runners on this year’s ASUN performance list were not part of the conference a year ago, including Liberty’s duo of Indea Cartwright (Liberty and ASUN-record 8.23) and Jasmine Williams (8.29, which is No. 2 all-time at Liberty and No. 3 in ASUN history) and Queens’ Melanie Welsing (school-record 8.37). Cartwright (formerly at Oral Roberts) placed third in the Summit League last season, Williams (formerly at ULM) took fifth in the Sun Belt Conference and Welsing was the South Atlantic Conference victor. Liberty’s Amani Hankton has stepped up at this meet during her career, placing third as a freshman in 2021 and taking fourth in a personal-best 8.80 last season.
Women’s 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jacksonville – 3:42.19
Conference Record: 3:35.79 by Jacksonville in 2020
Meet Record: 3:41.36 by Jacksonville in 2020
Facility Record: 3:39.60 by the Bullis School in 2018
Liberty Record: 3:39.06 in 2019
2023 Leader: Jacksonville – 3:46.20
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (2019)
Outlook: Jacksonville, which swept the 2022 ASUN indoor and outdoor 4 x 400 titles and owns the top seed time this season (3:46.20), will aim to become the first back-to-back champion of this event since Belmont in 2007 and 2008. Austin Peay claimed the OVC indoor and outdoor 4 x 400 crowns a season ago and boasts the conference’s top 400-meter runner in Kenisha Phillips. The top two contenders for the overall team championship, Liberty and Kennesaw State, will both run in the second and fastest seeded section of the 4 x 400. The Owls are expected to utilize All-American Sarah Hendrick as part of their squad.
Women’s Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jacksonville – 11:35.14
Conference Record: 11:05.14 by Kennesaw State in 2023
Meet Record: 11:32.29 by Jacksonville in 2013
Facility Record: 11:34.54 by Lake Braddock High School in 2017
Liberty Record: 11:41.12 in 2021
2023 Leader: Kennesaw State – 11:05.14
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 3 (2021)
Outlook: Kennesaw State shattered the school and ASUN all-time records with a blazing 11:05.14 distance medley relay earlier this season and will aim for the Owls’ first ASUN title in this event. Defending champion Jacksonville has won eight of 17 distance medley relay crowns in meet history. Liberty won three in a row between 2019 and 2021, and two runners who contributed to all three victories (Naomi Armstrong and Calli Doan) are still part of the roster. The facility record in this event (11:34.54) was set by Lake Braddock High School on the very first day of competition at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex, Jan. 13, 2017.
Women’s Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jasmine Akins (Kennesaw State) – 20-10.75 (6.37m)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Tayla Moreland (Kennesaw State) – 4th place
Conference Record: 21-8 (6.60m) by Natasha Harvey (Jacksonville) in 2008 and 2009
Meet Record: 21-8 (6.60m) by Natasha Harvey (Jacksonville) in 2009
Facility Record: 20-10.75 (6.37m) by Jasmine Akins (Kennesaw State) in 2022
Liberty Record: 19-10.25 (6.05m) by Ayanna Johnson in 2022
2023 Leader: Amani Sharif (Austin Peay) – 20-5 (6.22m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Ayanna Johnson – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Makenzy Mizera, Amani Hankton, Rebecca Allen
Outlook: Austin Peay freshman Amani Sharif popped a huge 20-5 leap at the Ed Temple Classic on Jan. 7 but has not approached that mark since. Lipscomb’s versatile Aislinn McElhaney has been the conference’s most consistent long jumper this season, including a program-record 19-9.5 her last time out. She will try to capture the Bisons’ first-ever ASUN long jump championship. Kennesaw State’s Tayla Moreland (fourth place) is the top returnee from last season’s meet. Liberty’s Makenzy Mizera was the 2020 ASUN champion but has not long jumped at this meet since then, due to illness in 2021 and a redshirt season in 2022. Her best mark so far this year is 19-0.75. The conference has not seen a two-time women’s long jump champion since De’Von Johnson of Kennesaw State went back-to-back in 2015 and 2016.
Women’s Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Defending Champion: Adja Sackor (Jacksonville) – 43-1 (13.13m)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Meredith Engle (Liberty) – 4th place
Conference Record: 43-2.25 (13.16m) by Adja Sackor (Jacksonville) in 2020
Meet Record: 43-2.25 (13.16m) by Adja Sackor (Jacksonville) in 2020
Facility Record: 47-7.75 (14.52m) by Thea LaFond (Unattached) in 2021
Liberty Record: 42-8 (13.00m) by Makenzy Mizera in 2021
2023 Leader: Makenzy Mizera (Liberty) – 41-4.5 (12.61m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): None
Liberty Entrants: Makenzy Mizera, Emma Arblaster, Rebecca Allen, Meredith Engle
Outlook: After the graduation of Jacksonville All-American Adja Sackor, Liberty’s Makenzy Mizera (41-4.5) and Kennesaw State’s Tayla Moreland (40-11.75) are the only two ASUN triple jumpers who have reached 40 feet this season. Moreland placed fifth indoors and fourth outdoors in 2022. Mizera, the program record holder at 42-8, is a four-time ASUN triple jump runner-up (2019 indoor, 2019 outdoor, 2020 indoor, 2021 outdoor). She will try to become Liberty’s first conference triple jump champion since 2017, when Janae Jones claimed the Big South indoor title. The Lady Flames’ Meredith Engle stepped up for a fourth-place finish at this meet last season in what is the only triple jump competition of her collegiate career to date.
Women’s High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Bella Jackson (Lipscomb) – 5-7.75 (1.72m)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Jackson
Conference Record: 6-0 (1.83m) by Kristi Snyman (Jacksonville) in 2023
Meet Record: 5-9.75 (1.77m) by Katerina Vodova (ETSU) in 2014
Facility Record: 6-0 (1.83m) by Morgan Smalls (Panther Creek High School) in 2020 and Shelby Tyler (Unattached) in 2019
Liberty Record: 5-10.75 (1.80m) by Kena Butts in 2005
2023 Leader: Kristi Snyman (Jacksonville) – 6-0 (1.83m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): None
Liberty Entrants: Meredith Engle, Patasha Bryan, Kacy Cox
Outlook: Lipscomb’s Bella Jackson swept the ASUN women’s indoor and outdoor high jump titles as a freshman last season and has matched her indoor personal-best clearance of 5-9.75 in 2023. However, she finds herself looking up on the ASUN performance list at the top two indoor high jumpers in conference history—South African Kristi Snyman of Jacksonville (6-0) and Englishwoman Lucy Walliker of Queens (5-10.5). With such firepower assembled, the meet record of 5-9.75 will certainly be in jeopardy Friday evening. It must be noted that a number of the conference’s top high jumpers will have competed in the pentathlon earlier in the day on Friday, including Liberty’s top duo of Meredith Engle (5-8.5) and Patasha Bryan (5-6), along with Walliker. Last season, Engle came back to finish second to Jackson in the high jump following a pentathlon victory.
Women’s Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jada Smith (Kennesaw State) – 13-0.25 (3.97m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Emory Pafford (Liberty) – 2nd place
Conference Record: 13-5.25 (4.10m) by Taylen Langin (Liberty) in 2022
Meet Record: 13-0.25 (3.97m) by Jada Smith (Kennesaw State) in 2022
Facility Record: 15-1 (4.60m) by Alina McDonald (KMR Athletics) in 2022
Liberty Record: 14-0 (4.26m) by Andrea Wildrick in 2002
2023 Leader: Karlijn Schouten (Austin Peay) – 13-2.5 (4.03m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Taylen Langin – 2019)
Liberty Entrants: Taylen Langin, Mia Bowers, Leah Wood, Emory Pafford
Outlook: Competing at the ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships for the final time, Liberty’s Taylen Langin hopes to bookend her indoor collegiate career with conference pole vault victories. She burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2019 with an ASUN title and new meet record. This season, Langin is the No. 2 seed at 12-11.5, sandwiched between top seed Karlijn Schouten of Austin Peay (13-2.5) and Lady Flames teammate Mia Bowers, who was third a year ago. A native of the Netherlands, Schouten owns a personal best of 13-9.25 and captured the OVC title a year ago. The meet record in this event has gone down three times in the last four years, most recently to last year’s champion, Kennesaw State’s Jada Smith (13-0.25), who has since graduated. First-year KSU vaulter Katie Jones is a wild card. Her season best is just 12-5.5, but she cleared 14-1.75 a year ago for Penn State.
Women’s Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Defending Champion: Naomi Mojica (Liberty) – 52-4.75 (15.97m) (Fourth in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Alyssia Richard (Jacksonville) – 2nd place
Conference Record: 52-4.75 (15.97m) by Naomi Mojica (Liberty) in 2022
Meet Record: 52-4.75 (15.97m) by Naomi Mojica (Liberty) in 2022
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Patience Marshall (Campbell) in 2020
Liberty Record: 53-5.5 (16.29m) by Mychelle Cumings in 2014
2023 Leader: Megan Mann (Liberty) – 47-8 (14.53m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 4 (Naomi Mojica – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Megan Mann, Sofia Mojica, Meredith Engle, Kali Grayson, Patasha Bryan
Outlook: For the first time since Liberty joined the ASUN Conference, someone other than Naomi Mojica will win the ASUN shot put title. She captured each of the last ASUN indoor and outdoor women’s shot put gold medals but has now graduated. In Mojica’s absence, former teammate Megan Mann (47-8) and Jacksonville’s Alyssia Richard (46-7.25) have emerged as the top two title contenders. They shared the podium with Mojica a year ago, with Richard coming in second and Mann third. Mann added a foot to her personal best at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational two weeks ago, reaching 47-8. The shot put will be Meredith Engle’s eighth and final event of the two-day meet.
Women’s Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 3 p.m.
Defending Champion: Grace Artis (Liberty) – 63-10.5 (19.47m)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Kali Terza (Kennesaw State) – 3rd place
Conference Record: 67-9.75 (20.67m) by Sade Meeks (Jacksonville) in 2020
Meet Record: 66-5.25 (20.25m) by Kree Clark (Jacksonville) in 2016
Facility Record: 66-9.25 (20.35m) by Victoria Merriweather (Charlotte) in 2017
Liberty Record: 67-5.5 (20.56m) by Jocelyn Williams in 2014
2023 Leader: Paola Bueno (Liberty) – 65-2.75 (19.88m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 3 (Grace Artis – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Paola Bueno, Megan Mann, Sofia Mojica, Annika Hantho
Outlook: The top two entrants in the women’s weight throw each competed in the hammer at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Colombia, including Liberty’s Paola Bueno and Kennesaw State’s Kali Terza. Bueno won the silver medal for Mexico and has learned the weight throw quickly in her first year throwing the implement. Her Liberty freshman-record mark of 65-2.75 ranks No. 4 in conference history. She will now try to become the first freshman to win this event at the ASUN meet since Jacksonville’s Shunisha McClinton at the inaugural championship in 2006. If successful, Bueno would also become the third different Lady Flame to win the ASUN women’s weight throw in the last three years, joining Chelsea Igberaese (2021) and Grace Artis (2022). Terza, the No. 2 seed at 62-4, took third place last season.
Women’s Pentathlon
Event Schedule: Begins Friday at 9:15 a.m.
Defending Champion: Meredith Engle (Liberty) – 3,896
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Engle
Conference Record: 4,412 by Jordan Gray (Kennesaw State) in 2019
Meet Record: 4,202 by Jordan Gray (Kennesaw State) in 2019
Facility Record: 4,324 by Shaina Burns (Unattached) in 2023
Liberty Record: 3,986 by Kylie Polsgrove in 2019
2023 Leader: Meredith Engle (Liberty) – 3,960
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Meredith Engle – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Meredith Engle, Patasha Bryan
Outlook: Liberty’s Meredith Engle won the Lady Flames’ first ASUN pentathlon title last season and enters this year’s meet as the No. 1 seed at 3,960. That score, achieved at the Liberty Kickoff, is knocking on the door of the program record of 3,986 set by Kylie Polsgrove in 2019. Engle’s top competition could come in the form of rapidly improving teammate Patasha Bryan, who set a Liberty freshman record of 3,865 her last time out at the Brant Tolsma Invitational. Melanie Welsing of Queens, the defending South Atlantic Conference pentathlon champion, scored a personal-best 3,664 points at the Brant Tolsma Invitational. She then recorded personal bests in the 60 hurdles (8.37) and high jump (5-6) two weeks ago at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. If Engle can defeat this field and defend her title, she would become the first repeat champion of this event since Kennesaw State’s Jordan Gray claimed three ASUN pentathlon titles in succession between 2015 and 2017.
Men’s 60-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:10 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 1:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Christian Lyon (Liberty) – 6.72 (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Kobe Gill (Central Arkansas) – 3rd place
Conference Record: 6.66 by Drew Duggans (Kennesaw State) in 2015
Meet Record: 6.66 by Drew Duggans (Kennesaw State) in 2015
Facility Record: 6.63 by Davonte Burnett (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 6.71 by Christian Lyon in 2020
2023 Leader: Omari Lewis (Liberty) – 6.74
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 3 (Christian Lyon – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Omari Lewis, Donald McClinton
Outlook: Liberty went 1-2-4 in last season’s ASUN men’s 60 final, led by three-time defending champion Christian Lyon. All three of those sprinters have graduated, but a Flame (Omari Lewis – 6.74) still owns the ASUN’s fastest time of 2023 thus far. Teammate Donald McClinton has been better at 200 meters than 60 this season, but he does own a share of the ASUN all-time record for 100 meters with his wind-legal 10.29 from the 2022 outdoor campaign. Kobe Gill of Central Arkansas (third place) is the top returnee from last season. Kennesaw State also boasts two returning finalists (Tyriq Hussie and Xavier Paris) along with a pair of talented freshmen in Chance Cross (6.76) and Nicholas Mabilo (6.80). The Owls’ Cameron Bolden was the last freshman to race to the ASUN men’s 60 title, doing so in 2017.
Men’s 200-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 6:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
Defending Champion: Diamantae Griffin (Liberty) – 21.15
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Malik Hussie (Kennesaw State) – 8th place
Conference Record: 20.86 by Donald McClinton (Liberty) in 2023
Meet Record: 20.99 by Christian Lyon (Liberty) in 2020
Facility Record: 20.68 by Caleb Boger (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 20.86 by Donald McClinton in 2023
2023 Leader: Donald McClinton (Liberty) – 20.86
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 3 (Diamantae Griffin – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Donald McClinton, Omari Lewis
Outlook: Liberty’s Donald McClinton is the top seed in the 200 by a wide margin after blasting to a Liberty and ASUN all-time record 20.86 in his last outing at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational. Teammate Omari Lewis is seeded No. 2 after clocking a personal-best 21.33 at the same meet. If either Flame is victorious on Saturday, he would become the fourth different Liberty runner to win this event in the Flames’ five years of ASUN membership, following Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (2019), Christian Lyon (2020) and Diamantae Griffin (2022). The lone interloper in that streak, 2021 champion Aaron Goodwin of Kennesaw State, will attempt to become just the second multiple-time ASUN indoor men’s 200 champion in meet history. McClinton edged Goodwin for second place in the 2022 ASUN outdoor men’s 200 final. KSU’s Malik Hussie (eighth place) is the only returnee from the 2022 indoor final in this event.
Men’s 400-Meter Dash
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 4:30 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 12:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jonathan Imes (Lipscomb) – 46.78 (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Armonte Paulk (Central Arkansas) – 3rd place
Conference Record: 46.07 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (Liberty) in 2019
Meet Record: 46.15 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (Liberty) in 2019
Facility Record: 46.15 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata (Liberty) in 2019
Liberty Record: 46.07 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata in 2019
2023 Leader: Jackson Gordon (Bellarmine) – 47.84
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Alejandro Perlaza Zapata – 2019)
Liberty Entrants: None
Outlook: Lipscomb’s Jonathan Imes has graduated after winning the last three ASUN indoor men’s 400 crowns in succession and four total during his career. He began his reign with a victory as a freshman in 2018, something top seed Jackson Gordon of Bellarmine (47.84) will attempt to match on Saturday. Hot on his heels are a pair of Kennesaw State Owls in Malik Hussie (47.95) and Sparticus Griffin (48.60) along with the top returnee from the 2022 final, Central Arkansas’ Armonte Paulk (third place). With talented freshman Elonzo Burroughs and three-time ASUN indoor 400 top-four finisher Michael Rose both unable to compete, Liberty will not enter anyone in the two-lap event this week. It will be the only event at this meet with no representation from the home team.
Men’s 800-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 5:45 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jonathan Schwind (Lipscomb) – 1:49.42 (Fourth in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Ally Kipchirchir (Liberty) – 2nd place
Conference Record: 1:47.65 by Ahmed Kadri (Eastern Kentucky) in 2023
Meet Record: 1:49.10 by Jonathan Schwind (Lipscomb) in 2022
Facility Record: 1:46.59 by Alex Amankwah (District Track Club) in 2021
Liberty Record: 1:49.18 by Ally Kipchirchir in 2023
2023 Leader: Ahmed Kadri (Eastern Kentucky) – 1:47.65
Liberty Event Titles (Last): None
Liberty Entrants: Ally Kipchirchir, Brendan Pitcher, Isaiah Schulties
Outlook: Lipscomb’s Jonathan Schwind has exhausted his eligibility after capturing four straight ASUN indoor men’s 800 titles and extending the Bisons’ streak to six consecutive first-place finishes in this event. Ally Kipchirchir of Liberty hopes to break through for his first conference title after finishing as the 800 runner-up three times in his career (including indoor and outdoor). He has lowered his program record to 1:49.18 this season and will try to become Liberty’s first indoor conference champion in this event since 2016 (Michael Todd – Big South). Eastern Kentucky’s Ahmed Kadri, an NCAA national qualifier in the steeplechase a year ago, broke the ASUN all-time record with an impressive 1:47.65 performance at Notre Dame last week but will not compete in the ASUN 800. The Flames’ Isaiah Schulties placed sixth in this event as a freshman a year ago, while current redshirt freshman teammate Brendan Pitcher is coming off a personal-best 1:51.57 effort at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. North Florida hopes for a nice chunk of points, with six runners listed among the conference’s top 10 performers at 800 meters this season.
Men’s Mile
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 12:10 p.m.
Defending Champion: Ryan Drew (Liberty) – 4:02.10
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Jan Badia (Eastern Kentucky) – 5th place
Conference Record: 3:58.56 by Mac Franks (North Florida) in 2023
Meet Record: 4:02.10 by Ryan Drew (Liberty) in 2022
Facility Record: 3:56.79 by Antonio Lopez Segura (Virginia Tech) in 2022
Liberty Record: 4:01.27 by Ryan Drew in 2022
2023 Leader: Mac Franks (North Florida) – 3:58.56
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Ryan Drew – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Kyle Harkabus, Graham Mussmon
Outlook: Even though last year’s top three men’s milers graduated, the cupboard is anything but bare. Three of the ASUN’s five fastest milers in conference history are assembling this weekend, and eight different ASUN runners have broken 4:05 this season. Mac Franks, an NCAA Division II All-American at Western Washington, has flourished during his first year at North Florida. He ran 3:58.56 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston two weeks ago, becoming the first ASUN runner ever to break 4:00. First-year Lipscomb runner Braedon Palmer, a transfer from Grand Canyon, has clocked 4:02.52. That same meet saw Eastern Kentucky’s Ahmed Kadri post a 4:03.19, the No. 5 effort in ASUN history. Kyle Harkabus owns Liberty’s fastest clocking of the season at 4:04.76. He has placed inside the top six in the men’s mile at each of his first two ASUN championships. With so much talent assembled, could this be the second meet in facility history (also the 2022 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational) to see a sub-4:00 mile? Liberty has never had a runner of its own break 4:00 indoors, as two-time ASUN champion Ryan Drew holds the program record at 4:01.27.
Men’s 3,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 2:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nathan Jubran (North Florida) – 8:09.68
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Pedro Garcia-Palencia (Eastern Kentucky) – 2nd place
Conference Record: 7:47.34 by Ahmed Jaziri (Eastern Kentucky) in 2022
Meet Record: 8:09.68 by Nathan Jubran (North Florida) in 2022
Facility Record: 7:54.64 by Patrick Anderson (North Carolina) in 2022
Liberty Record: 7:48.24 by Sam Chelanga in 2011
2023 Leader: Aidan O’Gorman (North Florida) – 7:55.50
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Ryan Drew – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Tristian Merchant, Jack Cottrell, Kyle Harkabus, Nicholas Kiprotich
Outlook: North Florida’s Aidan O’Gorman posted a big personal-best 3K time of 7:55.50 in Boston two weeks ago, becoming the second ASUN runner ever to break 8:00. Last year’s ASUN runner-up, Eastern Kentucky’s Pedro Garcia-Palencia sped to a personal-best 8:01.96 in Boston in December. First-year Flame Tristian Merchant, a transfer from Northern Arizona, owns Liberty’s top mark of 2023 at 8:04.97, making him the No. 4 seed. North Florida’s Nathan Jubran set the meet record of 8:09.68 last season, and it could certainly be challenged Saturday afternoon. Seven of the 12 runners in the fourth and fastest section of this event have run 8:09.28 or faster this year.
Men’s 5,000-Meter Run
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6:55 p.m.
Defending Champion: Nathan Jubran (North Florida) – 14:08.81
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Aidan O’Gorman (North Florida) – 2nd place
Conference Record: 13:57.07 by Abdelhakim Abouzouhir (Eastern Kentucky) in 2023
Meet Record: 14:04.75 by Brent Leber (Lipscomb) in 2020
Facility Record: 13:43.27 by Athanas Kioko (Campbell) in 2022
Liberty Record: 13:19.79 by Sam Chelanga in 2009
2023 Leader: Abdelhakim Abouzouhir (Eastern Kentucky) – 13:57.07
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Felix Kandie – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Tristian Merchant, Nicholas Kiprotich, Jack Cottrell
Outlook: The ASUN men’s 5K record has gone down twice this season. Liberty’s Tristian Merchant set a conference record of 14:00.86 at Boston in December and Eastern Kentucky’s Abdelhakim Abouzouhir eclipsed it with a 13:57.07 effort two weeks ago in Nashville. North Florida’s Aidan O’Gorman, last year’s ASUN indoor and outdoor 5K runner-up, has been impressive at the 3K distance this season but has yet to race a 5K. Central Arkansas’ dynamic duo of Julian and Philipp Haessner will also make their 5K season debut on Friday. They finished 2-3 in the 2022 ASUN men’s 10K final. Former North Florida standout Nathan Jubran swept the 3K and 5K titles a year ago at this meet.
Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles
Event Schedule: Prelims – Friday at 3:55 p.m.; Final – Saturday at 12:35 p.m.
Defending Champion: Jordan Atkins (Central Arkansas) – 7.99
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Felix Lawrence (Liberty) – 3rd place
Conference Record: 7.72 by Paris Williams (Kennesaw State) in 2020
Meet Record: 7.76 by Jovaine Atkinson (Liberty) in 2020
Facility Record: 7.71 by Kurt Powdar (Hinds CC) in 2020 and Jovaine Atkinson (Liberty) in 2018
Liberty Record: 7.64 by Jovaine Atkinson in 2018
2023 Leader: Prosper Ekporere (Liberty) – 7.93
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Felix Lawrence – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Prosper Ekporere, Felix Lawrence, Cole Peterlin, Anthony Bryan, Luke Anderson, Daniel Van Duren
Outlook: If Liberty is able to continue its men’s team championship streak, the 60 hurdles will likely be a large reason why. Flames are currently ranked No. 1 through 5 in the ASUN this season, including Nigerian newcomer Prosper Ekporere (7.93), 2021 champion Felix Lawrence (7.99), Cole Peterlin (8.16), Anthony Bryan (8.17) and Luke Anderson (8.27). Liberty swept the first four places in this event in 2021, and Lawrence, Peterlin and Bryan all return from that squad. Lawrence will try to become the first ASUN runner to capture multiple men’s 60 hurdles titles since Lipscomb’s Wayne Newman won four in a row between 2014-17. If Bryan and Peterlin make the final, Saturday’s race would mark the 11th event of the meet for each of them.
Men’s 4 x 400 Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 3:20 p.m.
Defending Champion: Liberty – 3:13.70
Conference Record: 3:11.39 by Liberty in 2019
Meet Record: 3:11.65 by Liberty in 2019
Facility Record: 3:10.34 by St. Augustine’s in 2020
Liberty Record: 3:09.88 in 2018
2023 Leader: Kennesaw State – 3:11.42
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 3 (2022)
Outlook: Liberty raced to last year’s ASUN men’s 4 x 400 relay title for its seventh conference victory in eight years in this event. The Flames will be challenged to repeat on Saturday, as Kennesaw State owns the top seed at 3:11.42, just off the ASUN all-time record (3:11.39 by Liberty in 2019). Liberty and KSU will both take part in the second and fastest seeded section, which will be the final race of the two-day meet.
Men’s Distance Medley Relay
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 7:40 p.m.
Defending Champion: Liberty – 9:52.99 (Second in a row)
Conference Record: 9:52.99 by Liberty in 2022
Meet Record: 9:52.99 by Liberty in 2022
Facility Record: 9:50.29 by NC State in 2022
Liberty Record: 9:47.30 in 2018
2023 Leader: Bellarmine – 9:53.76
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (2022)
Outlook: Liberty has claimed back-to-back ASUN men’s distance medley relay championships, with last year’s victory coming in meet and ASUN all-time record fashion (9:52.99). Three of the Flames’ four legs from that squad (Kyle Harkabus, Luke Anderson and Isaiah Schulties) are back as options for Friday’s race. Eastern Kentucky, Lipscomb, North Florida and Bellarmine all boast the ability to field sub-10:00 relay squads as well, depending on who lines up for the race. North Florida was the last team to win this event three years in a row (2015-17).
Men’s Long Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Quinten Clay (Liberty) – 25-0.75 (7.64m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Clay
Conference Record: 26-2.25 (7.98m) by Bilal Abdullah (Kennesaw State) in 2016
Meet Record: 25-5.5 (7.76m) by Andre Dorsey (Kennesaw State) in 2014
Facility Record: 25-6.25 (7.78m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 25-0.75 (7.64m) by Quinten Clay in 2022
2023 Leader: Kaelen Mitchell (Kennesaw State) – 24-8.25 (7.52m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 4 (Quinten Clay – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Quinten Clay, Donald McClinton, Anthony Bryan, Joshua Smith, Daniel Van Duren
Outlook: Liberty has won the men’s long jump title at all four of its ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships appearances, including the last two in a row by Quinten Clay. Last year, Clay was victorious with a program-record leap of 25-0.75. This time around, he will attempt to become the ASUN’s first-ever three-time men’s long jump champion at this meet. Kaelen Mitchell of Kennesaw State, last year’s third-place finisher, enters with the ASUN’s top mark of 2023 at 24-8.25. Liberty’s Donald McClinton will long jump for just the second time this season on Friday. He was the runner-up to Clay at last year’s ASUN outdoor meet. The top eight entrants in this event include five Liberty Flames and a trio of Kennesaw State Owls.
Men’s Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Defending Champion: Quinten Clay (Liberty) – 48-11.75 (14.93m)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Clay
Conference Record: 53-4.5 (16.27m) by Andre Dorsey (Kennesaw State) in 2014
Meet Record: 52-7.5 (16.04m) by Andre Dorsey (Kennesaw State) in 2013
Facility Record: 53-1.5 (16.19m) by Shakwon Coke (Barton County CC) in 2020
Liberty Record: 51-0 (15.54m) by Darrel Jones in 2018
2023 Leader: Kelvin Campbell (Kennesaw State) – 50-5.5 (15.38m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Quinten Clay – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Quinten Clay, Shane Wang, Joshua Smith, Cole Peterlin, Gabriel Willis
Outlook: Liberty and Kennesaw State have combined to win the last 10 men’s triple jump titles at this meet, and the last two conference champions (Kennesaw State’s Kelvin Campbell – 2021 winner – 50-5.5 season best and Liberty’s Quinten Clay – 2022 winner – 50-2.5 season best) own the ASUN’s top two marks of 2023. The Flames’ talented freshman duo of Shane Wang (48-9) and Joshua Smith (48-8.75) also figures to contend for spots on the podium Saturday afternoon in the meet’s final field event.
Men’s High Jump
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at Noon
Defending Champion: Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) – 7-4.25 (2.24m)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Sauder
Conference Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) in 2022
Meet Record: 7-4.25 (2.24m) by Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) in 2022
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
2023 Leader: Kennedy Sauder (Liberty) – 7-3.25 (2.22m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Kennedy Sauder – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: Kennedy Sauder, Gabriel Willis, Cole Peterlin, Quinten Clay
Outlook: Then freshman Kennedy Sauder provided arguably the most exciting moment of last year’s ASUN meet with a 7-4.25 high jump clearance which broke the conference, meet, program and facility records. Since then, he has earned a pair of All-America honors in the event and appears bound for Albuquerque in two weeks to try for another. Sauder is currently tied for No. 5 nationally with his winning leap of 7-3.25 at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, two weeks ago in Albuquerque. The athletes who have combined to capture the last four ASUN indoor high jump titles are entered on Saturday, also including 2019 and 2020 champion Jaasiel Torres of North Florida and 2021 victor Sultan Simms of Kennesaw State. Liberty’s Quinten Clay only high jumped at the ASUN meet during his 2022 season and it worked out pretty well. He made it over a personal-best 7-0.5 to finish second behind teammate Sauder. Saturday will again mark Clay’s season debut in the high jump.
Men’s Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: AJ Johnson (Kennesaw State) – 16-1.75 (4.92m)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Johnson
Conference Record: 17-7.75 (5.38m) by Elliott Haynie (Gardner-Webb) in 2008
Meet Record: 17-1 (5.21m) by Jack Rhea (Kennesaw State) in 2021
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
2023 Leader: AJ Johnson (Kennesaw State) – 16-9.25 (5.11m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 1 (Reilly Stroot – 2019)
Liberty Entrants: Anders Janes, Hunter Flack, Anthony Bryan
Outlook: Liberty’s Anders Janes will try one final time to capture the ASUN indoor pole vault crown which has eluded him. Janes has been the runner-up in this event each of the past three seasons (2020, 2021 and 2022). He has cleared 16-2 in 2023 but finds himself looking up at a pair of Kennesaw State underclassmen entering the meet. Sophomore AJ Johnson, the defending champion, is the top seed at 16-9.25, while freshman teammate Simon Seid has cleared 16-6.75. Kennesaw State’s Hunter Arnold was the last pole vaulter to go back-to-back, claiming crowns in 2016 and 2017. Three different Owls have won this event the last three seasons. All but one of the eight entrants in this event compete for either Liberty or Kennesaw State.
Men’s Shot Put
Event Schedule: Final – Saturday at 1 p.m.
Defending Champion: Tyler Blalock (Kennesaw State) – 62-9.25 (19.13m) (Second in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Caleb Hartley (Kennesaw State) – 2nd place
Conference Record: 64-1.75 (19.55m) by Tyler Blalock (Kennesaw State) in 2022
Meet Record: 62-10.5 (19.16m) by Kyle Mitchell (Liberty) in 2020
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
2023 Leader: Warren Barrett (Liberty) – 64-1.25 (19.54m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 2 (Kyle Mitchell – 2020)
Liberty Entrants: Kevin Nedrick, Desmond Coleman
Outlook: Liberty’s Kyle Mitchell set a meet and program record of 62-10.5 while winning the 2020 ASUN men’s shot put title. Now serving as a volunteer assistant for the Flames, he has helped coach two fellow Jamaica natives to marks better than his own. Warren Barrett (64-1.25) ranks No. 1 in the ASUN and No. 16 nationally, while Kevin Nedrick (63-5) sits No. 2 in the conference and No. 20 in the nation. Barrett will not compete on Saturday, leaving Nedrick to try to match his first-place finish from the 2022 ASUN outdoor competition. The top returnee from Kennesaw State’s 1-2-3 finish in this event a year ago, runner-up Caleb Hartley will make his season debut on Saturday. Courtney Lawrence boasts the Owls’ best mark thus far this season, a 62-1.25 which sits No. 3 in the ASUN and No. 26 in the nation.
Men’s Weight Throw
Event Schedule: Final – Friday at 6 p.m.
Defending Champion: John Hicks (Liberty) – 65-0.75 (19.83m) (Third in a row)
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Hicks
Conference Record: 79-11.5 (24.37m) by Isaiah Rogers (Kennesaw State) in 2023
Meet Record: 65-2.75 (19.88m) by Martynas Sedys (Kennesaw State) in 2015
Facility Record: 76-9.75 (23.41m) by Alex Young (Unattached) in 2022
Liberty Record: 66-6.5 (20.28m) by Jon Hart in 2008
2023 Leader: Isaiah Rogers (Kennesaw State) – 79-11.5 (24.37m)
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 3 (John Hicks – 2022)
Liberty Entrants: John Hicks, Stuart Folkerts, Christian Hicks
Outlook: Liberty’s John Hicks has won the ASUN men’s weight throw three straight times to begin his collegiate career and is coming off a personal-best 65-9.5 effort which is knocking on the door of Jon Hart’s program record (66-6.5) which has stood for 15 years. However, Hicks will be challenged to join Kennesaw State legend Martynas Sedys (2013-16) as the only four-time ASUN men’s weight throw champions. KSU’s Isaiah Rogers (79-11.5) and Anthony Harrison (69-9.5) rank first and 27th, respectively, in the NCAA this season. The meet (65-2.75) and facility (76-9.75) records are certainly in peril Friday evening with the only three ASUN throwers ever to eclipse 20 meters gathered. The last time Liberty’s Stuart Folkerts competed at this meet (2021), he stepped up for third place. Folkerts also notched a new personal best (58-3) two weeks ago at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.
Men’s Heptathlon
Event Schedule: Day One – Begins Friday at 9 a.m.; Day Two – Begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
Defending Champion: Timon Dresselhaus (Central Arkansas) – 5,116
Top Returnee from 2022 Meet: Anthony Bryan (Liberty) – 2nd place
Conference Record: 5,941 by Bilal Abdullah (Kennesaw State) in 2015
Meet Record: 5,600 by Bilal Abdullah (Kennesaw State) in 2015
Facility Record: 5,608 by Dylan Cooper (Athletic Lab TC) in 2022
Liberty Record: 5,537 by Markus Ballengee in 2018
2023 Leader: Anthony Bryan (Liberty) – 5,334
Liberty Event Titles (Last): 3 (Anthony Bryan – 2021)
Liberty Entrants: Anthony Bryan, Cole Peterlin, Daniel Van Duren, Desmond Coleman, Hunter Flack, Gabriel Willis
Outlook: Six of the seven entrants in the heptathlon are Liberty Flames, giving the host squad good odds at winning this event for the fourth time in five years and picking up a good chunk of team points. Leading the way is 2021 champion Anthony Bryan, the top seed by more than 400 points at 5,334. Kennesaw State’s Jordan Fick, the only non-Liberty competitor in this event, is the No. 2 seed at 4,930 and placed third a year ago, just 41 points behind runner-up Bryan. Daniel Van Duren and Cole Peterlin are back after placing 4-5 last season. Since then, Peterlin has played wide receiver for the Liberty football team. Desmond Coleman, Hunter Flack and Gabriel Willis are all entered in a multi-event competition for the first time in their respective collegiate careers.
Featured in Main Photo (L-R): Kennedy Sauder, John Hicks, Meredith Engle