Liberty’s Calli Doan records NCAA Regional Division I top-10 finish

On a soggy afternoon at Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky, the Liberty Flames cross country team competed against teams all across the East Coast for the right for certain individuals to qualify for the NCAA national meet later this year.  

The Lady Flames amassed 244 total points throughout the duration of the meet, finishing in the top 10 for the second consecutive year and ninth amongst the 32 women’s teams. However, the huge total did not surpass NC State, the No. 1 seed going in, who won its sixth consecutive national title. Their instate rivals finished second.

As for the Flames men’s team, they also finished ninth amongst 32 teams, thanks to a fantastic men’s 10K showing, completing the afternoon with a score of 289 total points. North Carolina and Virginia, ranked 12th and 19th respectively heading into the meet, upset seventh overall seed Wake Forest to earn both automatic qualifying bids in the NCAA meet.

Nicholas Kiprotich, who finished 16th overall in the men’s 10K, finished his run with a time of 30:08.7. He is the first Flame to collect an all-region medal since 2018, joining Azaria Kirwa, who finished seventh overall in his respective 10K.  

The Flames left with their heads held high, not only due to their top-10 performance, but also due to the fact that both Calli Doan and Nicholas Kiprotich claimed All-Region honors and were in the running for individual selection to the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. The two Flames, however, ultimately did not receive selection to the championship meet.

Palermo is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter