Jefferson Makes Successful Return in Raleigh Relays 1,500

Running his first race in nearly six months, Liberty sophomore Will Jefferson was the Flames’ top performer on the opening day of the Raleigh Relays. He clocked a team-best 1,500 time of 3:47.36 at N.C. State’s Paul Derr Track Facility on Thursday.

Jefferson, who set the Liberty freshman record in the men’s 1,500 (3:45.28) and placed third in the ASUN final a year ago, had not competed since the Sept. 30 Joe Piane Invitational due to injury. On Thursday, his 3:47.36 effort paced the Flames and placed 42^nd of 196 competitors across 15 sections of the “metric mile.”

Teammate Kyle Harkabus finished just behind Jefferson in 3:47.92, while Liberty’s Tristian Merchant (3:50.71) and Isaiah Schulties (3:51.05) each recorded new personal-best times in their heats.

Closing out Liberty’s day of competition, Nicholas Kiprotich (14:24.96) and Caleb Olson (14:31.92) notched solid 5K times.

Up Next

Liberty’s lone Friday event in Raleigh will be the women’s 1,500, with six Lady Flames set to compete beginning at 4:20 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Flames will get started at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational at the University of Lynchburg on Friday, beginning at 2 p.m. with the men’s javelin.

Featured in Main Photo: Will Jefferson