Track and field stand out at Big South Championships

Liberty Flames track and field hurdled over the competition February 24 and 25 in the Big South Indoor Track Championships in Clemson, S.C.

“The 2010 Liberty track and field team is, I believe, the strongest track team in Liberty history,” head coach Brant Tolsma said. “We would like to finish out the year with our best performances, many school records and notable performances at the Big South, regional and national levels.”

Flames track and field is on their way to a second Double-Triple Crown.

“If we can win back to back double-triple crowns in the Big South, we would be only the third NCAA Division 1 team in the country to have ever done that in their conference, with Army and BYU being the other two,” Tolsma said. “We would also very much like to improve on last year’s 13th place finish at nationals.”

During the meet, there were plenty of standout performers. In the sprinting events, redshirt sophomore Taylor Courtney won the 400-meter dash. It was Liberty’s first conference title in that event since 2003.

After winning the mile, 3k and finishing second in the 5k, junior Jennifer Klugh was named the Women’s Outstanding Track Performer. Klugh scored 28 points for the Lady Flames at the meet.

After being 10 points down after the 200-meter, victory was just inches away for the Lady Flames. The most decided advantage over Coastal Carolina in the women’s meet as a whole came in the distance events. Coastal took the lead during the final day, before Liberty roared back in three key events, the 5k, pole vault and triple jump.

Redshirt senior Sam Chelanga also made his mark by winning his third Big South title in a row, while redshirt senior Geren Woodbridge was victorious for the third straight year in the heptathlon.

With plenty of upsides to the season, there is always the somber feeling of saying goodbye to those graduating.

“We are recruiting for next year and that is going well, but we are also losing a group of exceptional seniors who will be sorely missed,” Tolsma said. “Although five of our victories were from freshmen and sophomores, seven of the victories were from seniors.”

In light of those graduating, Tolsma keeps focused on the upcoming outdoor season.

“Presently, we are more concerned and focus toward outdoors than toward next year,” Tolsma said.

Liberty University prides itself in faith in God and training of champions. Tolsma prides his team in this same doctrine.

“Every student at Liberty should be learning to be victorious at the things that are important,” Tolsma said. “Dr. Falwell called that ‘Training Champions for Christ,’ and there is no nobler calling for a university.”