Ackley, Sauder Collect ASUN Weekly Honors

Two Liberty athletes who won events in record-setting fashion at the Virginia Challenge have earned ASUN Conference weekly honors. Adelyn Ackley is the ASUN Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, while Kennedy Sauder is the ASUN Men’s Freshman of the Week.

A sophomore from Mears, Mich., Ackley is the ASUN Women’s Track Athlete of the Week for the second time. Running the 10K for the first time in her career, Ackley won the event on Friday in a school-record time of 33:49.00. She eclipsed the record of 33:56.67 set by Noel Palmer at the 2019 Raleigh Relays. Ackley ran the fastest 10K by an ASUN runner since 2017 and currently ranks No. 31 nationally.

A native of Lauderhill, Fla., Sauder high jumped for the first time in six weeks on Saturday. His first collegiate outdoor competition resulted in a victory, thanks to a 7-1 clearance that tied the program record held by Matt Parker (2009) and Kyle Wheeler (2012). Sauder is tied for No. 18 nationally this season, including first among freshmen. He is now a three-time ASUN Men’s Freshman of the Week.

A group of Liberty sprinters will compete at the UNF Invitational, Friday and Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. Meanwhile, some Flames hurdlers, jumpers, throwers and multis will be in action at Sunday’s Virginia Grand Prix in Charlottesville, Va.