4 Flames Collect ASUN Track & Field Weekly Honors

On the heels of a successful weekend at the Bob Pollock Invitational, four Liberty indoor track & field athletes have earned ASUN Conference weekly honors. The Flames award winners include Ally Kipchirchir (Men’s Track Athlete of the Week), Kennedy Sauder (Men’s Field Athlete of the Week), Makenzy Mizera (Women’s Field Athlete of the Week) and Paola Bueno (Women’s Freshman of the Week).

A native of Eldoret, Kenya, Kipchirchir collects his first career ASUN weekly notation after breaking the Liberty indoor men’s 800 record for the fourth time in the last three seasons. Making a successful 2022-23 season debut, Kipchirchir placed fifth in the men’s 800 in a time of 1:49.18 which eclipsed his previous standard of 1:49.19 from Feb. 11, 2022. He ranks No. 1 in the ASUN this season by more than two seconds and sits No. 33 on the NCAA national list.

Sauder, a two-time All-American from Lauderhill, Fla., earns his first ASUN Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honor this season and the third of his career. He cleared a season-best 7-1.75 to win the men’s high jump competition and move into a tie for No. 10 nationally.

Mizera, who hails from Maryville, Mo., garnered her first ASUN Women’s Field Athlete of the Week certificate this season and the fifth of her career (but the first in two years). She recorded season-best marks in both of her events, placing second in the triple jump (41-3.75) and ninth in the long jump (19-0.75). Mizera’s triple jump mark is No. 1 in the ASUN and tied for No. 50 in the NCAA this season.

Nyarit, Mexico native Bueno is now a two-time ASUN Women’s Freshman of the Week, after claiming the same honor on Jan. 18. She came in sixth in the women’s weight throw with a Liberty freshman-record mark of 65-2.75 which took down the previous standard of 64-7.75 set by Chelsea Igberaese at the 2019 ASUN Championship. Bueno now ranks No. 1 in the ASUN and No. 32 nationally (No. 2 among freshmen) this season. She also climbs to No. 4 all-time both at Liberty and in the ASUN Conference.

The first of the Flames’ three home meets this month, the Liberty Open will take place Saturday at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. Field events will get started at 8 a.m. with the men’s weight throw, while running events will commence at 10 a.m. with the men’s shuttle hurdles relay.

Featured in Main Photo (L-R): Ally Kipchirchir, Kennedy Sauder, Makenzy Mizera, Paola Bueno