2024-25 Track and Field Roster
Kimes, Kellen
Kellen Kimes
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Position:
- Throws
- Height:
- 6-1
- Hometown:
- Ludington, Mich.
- Prev School:
- Hart High School
Bio
TFRRS Profile
CUSA Individual Titles (1)
2025 Indoor Weight Throw
All-CUSA Honors (3)
2024 Outdoor Hammer - 3rd
2025 Indoor Weight Throw - 1st
2025 Outdoor Hammer - 2nd
2024 Outdoor Track & Field (Fr.)
2023-24 Indoor Track & Field (Fr.)
Prep
Personal
Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
Great Christian community on the track team and a great program overall. Professors were also incredible and like-minded.
Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I set my eyes on Jesus and the path he has put in front of me.
Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My family inspires me because they model to me that walking in the fullness of Jesus Christ truly is the only way to live life on this side of eternity. You must lose your life to find it and my family has shown me the beauty of that.
What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
I’ve had great experiences in those rare moments of success but what I remember most are the days I fail, because in those moments I am reminded of the sovereignty of God, and I know that the bad days make the good days that much sweeter.
If you picked your jersey/uniform number, why is that number important to you?
I always gravitated to #8 or Tim Tebow number #15 in football. Tim Tebow is a great role model on honoring Christ in the blessings that he gives us athletes.
Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
Jozie, my oldest sister is a D1 heptathlete. Elli, my second oldest sister is a D2 Pole vaulter. Andee, my youngest sister is a D2 mid distance runner. My Mom and Dad ran track in D3.
Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
Steak will always be my favorite.
What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
My blood sugar monitor!
What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
I enjoy many things, I couldn’t put a finger on it, but I enjoy reading, guitar, hunting, hiking and fishing.
Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Tim Tebow
What is your favorite possession and why?
My Bible
What is your Go-To karaoke song?
Love Yourself by Justin Bieber
What is your dream vacation spot and why?
Far away from civilization.
CUSA Individual Titles (1)
2025 Indoor Weight Throw
All-CUSA Honors (3)
2024 Outdoor Hammer - 3rd
2025 Indoor Weight Throw - 1st
2025 Outdoor Hammer - 2nd
2024 Outdoor Track & Field (Fr.)
- Qualified for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet in the hammer, where he placed 44th
- Came in third in the CUSA hammer competition
- Opened his collegiate career with back-to-back CUSA Male Freshman of the Week honors (March 19 and 26)
- His personal-best 208-0 hammer at the Pacific Coast Invitational set a Liberty freshman record and sits No. 3 in program history
- USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
- CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal winner
- CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member
2023-24 Indoor Track & Field (Fr.)
- Did not compete in any meets for Liberty and was redshirted
- Competing unattached, posted a personal-best 65-7.5 weight throw at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
Prep
- Graduated from Hart High School
- New Balance Indoor Nationals weight throw champion as a senior in 2023
- Set Michigan state records in the weight throw (78-4.25 at 2023 New Balance Indoor Nationals) and the hammer (223-4 at 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals, where he placed second)
- Three-time Michigan state champion in the discus (2022 outdoor, 2023 indoor, 2023 outdoor) and captured one state weight throw title (2023)
- Other top marks included 58-8 (shot put) and 181-9 (discus)
- Maintained over a 4.0 GPA throughout high school
Personal
- Son of Ken and Jordi Kimes
- Father competed in track and football at Hope
- Mother competed in track and cross country at Hope
- Sister Jozie Weiler was a heptathlete at Eastern Washington
- Sister Elli Martin was a Division II national champion pole vaulter at Grand Valley State
- Sister Andee Mesman ran track at Grand Valley State
- Birthday is Sept. 4
- Biomedical sciences major
Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
Great Christian community on the track team and a great program overall. Professors were also incredible and like-minded.
Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I set my eyes on Jesus and the path he has put in front of me.
Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My family inspires me because they model to me that walking in the fullness of Jesus Christ truly is the only way to live life on this side of eternity. You must lose your life to find it and my family has shown me the beauty of that.
What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
I’ve had great experiences in those rare moments of success but what I remember most are the days I fail, because in those moments I am reminded of the sovereignty of God, and I know that the bad days make the good days that much sweeter.
If you picked your jersey/uniform number, why is that number important to you?
I always gravitated to #8 or Tim Tebow number #15 in football. Tim Tebow is a great role model on honoring Christ in the blessings that he gives us athletes.
Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
Jozie, my oldest sister is a D1 heptathlete. Elli, my second oldest sister is a D2 Pole vaulter. Andee, my youngest sister is a D2 mid distance runner. My Mom and Dad ran track in D3.
Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
Steak will always be my favorite.
What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
My blood sugar monitor!
What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
I enjoy many things, I couldn’t put a finger on it, but I enjoy reading, guitar, hunting, hiking and fishing.
Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Tim Tebow
What is your favorite possession and why?
My Bible
What is your Go-To karaoke song?
Love Yourself by Justin Bieber
What is your dream vacation spot and why?
Far away from civilization.
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Wednesday, May 14
Follow the Leader: Lance Bingham
Tuesday, May 13
Beau Backes: Following God's Calling in Two Worlds
Friday, May 02
Reagan Underwood: Running a New Race
Tuesday, April 15
