Doan, Clay Excel on Indoor Track Season’s Opening Day

Competing in December for the first time in six years, Liberty made the most of its early beginning to indoor track & field season, Thursday at the newly named Brant Tolsma Indoor Track at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. All-American Calli Doan blazed an ASUN all-time record 16:12.91 to win the Liberty Kickoff women’s 5K title, while Quinten Clay’s winning long jump effort of 25-0 scared a long-standing Liberty record. The host Flames also swept the weight throw titles, with Grace Artis and John Hicks doing the honors.

Just 12 days after finishing 28^th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, Doan took to the oval for the second track 5K of her collegiate career. Her only previous attempt at the distance came at the ASUN Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 11, 2019, when the Apex, N.C., native clocked 17:59.37 for sixth place.

Paced by teammate Adelyn Ackley for the opening mile, Doan pushed the tempo from the get-go. She clocked 3:11 for the opening K, and her 3K split of 9:38 has only been bettered by two Lady Flames in program history racing the 3K distance.

In the end, Doan won by 22 seconds with a time of 16:12.91 that shattered the previous ASUN record of 16:19.82, set by Lipscomb’s Courtney Brenner in 2020. It also ranks No. 2 in program history.

Behind Doan, Anna Hostetler came in fourth with a time of 17:00.23 which puts her No. 7 all-time at Liberty. Kyley Sorg lopped 26 seconds off her 5K PR, crossing the line in 17:42.04 for sixth.

Clay’s 25-0 long jump, which came in round four, was the longest of his career to date, indoors or out. He landed just one centimeter shy of the program record James McKnight has held since 1994. Clay also moved up to No. 5 on the ASUN all-time long jump chart.

Teammate Jeremy Davis’ indoor personal-best 24-1.5 effort netted runner-up honors. Davis is now tied with Gerald Swann for No. 7 in program history.

Matt Adams made a successful debut as Liberty’s throws coach on Thursday. The Lady Flames went 1-2-3 in the women’s weight throw, while Hicks dominated the men’s weight throw with a mark of 61-2.25 that won by 14 feet.

Liberty’s trio of women’s weight throw podium finishers included champion Artis (54-10.75), runner-up Megan Mann (51-10) and third-place Annika Hantho (personal-best 48-0.75), who celebrated her birthday on Thursday.

In one of the day’s deepest events, two-time ASUN champion Taylen Langin pole vaulted 12-10 for third place. Freshman teammate Emory Pafford tied for fifth with a 12-4 clearance in her collegiate debut, stamping her name at No. 7 on the Lady Flames’ all-time top 10 list.

A couple other highly touted Flames freshmen fared well competing unattached on Thursday. Patasha Bryan was the pentathlon runner-up with a score of 3,596 that would have set a Liberty freshman record if she had represented the Lady Flames. Meanwhile, Will Jefferson rolled to victory in the men’s mile in 4:19.47.

Ayanna Johnson was the top collegiate performer in the women’s long jump, placing second overall with a leap of 19-1.5.

Liberty’s lone entrant in the heptathlon, reigning ASUN champion Anthony Bryan is the day one leader with 2,807 points. He won the long jump (21-6) and shot put (personal-best 43-5.75) disciplines on Thursday.

Women’s Event Winners (2)

Grace Artis – Weight Throw – 54-10.75

Calli Doan – 5K – 16:12.91

Men’s Event Winners (2)

Quinten Clay – Long Jump – 25-0

John Hicks – Weight Throw – 61-2.25

Women’s Record Breakers

ASUN Record – 5K – Calli Doan – 16:12.91

Old Record: 16:19.82 by Courtney Brenner (Lipscomb, 2020)

Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Women’s Top 10 List

5K – No. 2 – Calli Doan – 16:12.91

5K – No. 7 – Anna Hostetler – 17:00.23

Pole Vault – No. 7 – Emory Pafford – 12-4

Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Men’s Top 10 List

Long Jump – No. 2 – Quinten Clay – 25-0

Long Jump – Tie for No. 7 – Jeremy Davis – 24-1.5

Up Next

The second and final day of the Liberty Kickoff will begin Friday at 11:20 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.

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