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Team Liberty continues to break Virginia 10 Miler corporate records

As thousands pounded the pavement of Lynchburg’s historic Genworth Virginia 10 Miler course on Saturday morning, Liberty University was well represented. A corporate record 606 faculty and staff members participated in the races, which also included a 4-mile run or walk.

“It’s exciting to be able to join other community organizations and offer this opportunity to employees to contribute to their overall well-being,” said Jamie Swyers, Liberty’s director of Recreation Centers. “Liberty faculty and staff are not only able to train for an event to improve their physical health but are also able build relationships and enjoy the community that the Virginia 10 and 4 Miler fosters. The Liberty University camaraderie was apparent on the course on Saturday.”

Liberty broke the corporate registration record last year when it more than doubled the previous year’s participation. This year’s 298 10 Miler runners, 214 4 Miler runners, and 94 4 Mile Walk participants surpassed that mark.

For the second time, Liberty swept all six divisions of the corporate competition, including the men’s and women’s 10 and 4 Miler Corporate Team Challenges, as well as the mixed (incorporating top male and female finishers) challenges for both. To date, only Liberty has achieved this feat.

Every year, the Virginia 10 Miler events draw more than 4,000 runners to downtown Lynchburg. The course has remained unchanged throughout its 43-year history, making it one of the longest-running road races in the United States.

The event would not be possible were it not for the more than 1,300 volunteers who give their time to help out. Many of the volunteers are Liberty students. Student-athletes have a strong presence among the volunteer staff, both on race day as well as at the Amazing Mile Children’s Run, held Friday evening in conjunction with packet pickup and a pre-race celebration.

Liberty cheerleaders handed out the children’s medals at the finish line Friday while men’s hockey and volleyball players, wearing their jerseys, cheered the runners on from the sidelines.

Liberty’s 10 Miler Corporate Team challenge victories were paced by four female and two male finishers with top 10 corporate finishing times: Khristina Kangy (1 hour, 11 minutes, 22 seconds, No. 3), Rebekah Ricksecker (1:12:02, 4), Alissa Keith (1:15:51, 6), and Kate Shetler (1:17:47, 8) for the women and Brenton Swyers (1:06:27, 3) and Mitchell Dieudonne (1:10:51, 9) for the men.

For the 4 Miler, two men and two women were among the top 10 corporate finishers: Joshua Chatraw (26:22, 4) and Justin Kilian (28:04, 8) for the men and Holly Nickerson (28:57, 3) and Cindi Perry (35:04, 9) for the women.

Complete results are available online.

The university was also a community leader in the 100 Mile Challenge, a local health initiative which encourages people to run or walk at least an average of a mile a day between July 1 and Sept. 24. Together, Team Liberty logged over 25,500 miles, finishing second in the corporate standings.

Participation in the 10 Miler is promoted as part of the Live Healthy Liberty initiative, which encourages student, faculty, and staff wellness and sustains a healthy campus culture. From offering healthy dining options to a number of indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities, Liberty remains committed to the well-being of those who attend, work at, or visit its campus. Liberty recently joined the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Healthier Campus Initiative, promising to meet nutrition, education, physical activity, and programming guidelines that will continue to enhance well-being on campus.

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