Liberty Newcomers Win 3 Events to Wrap Up Bob Davidson Memorial Invite

Liberty won three individual events on Saturday, the final day of the Bob Davidson Memorial Invitational, and all three victors were making their first-ever outdoor appearance in a Flames uniform. Liberty’s first-place finishers at Vert Stadium included Desmond Coleman (elite men’s discus – 187-11), Omari Lewis (men’s 100 – 10.40) and Shane Wang (men’s triple jump – 47-10).

Additionally, the Lady Flames’ quartet of Dawn Hilton, Jezelle Shaw, Emily Coates and Joelle Patton claimed victory in the afternoon’s first track event, the 4 x 100 relay (47.65).

Men’s Day 2 Recap

The men’s discus is expected to be one of Liberty’s strongest events this season, and the Flames showed why on Saturday. Coleman (personal-best 187-11) and 2022 All-American Kevin Nedrick (186-7) went 1-2 in a loaded elite section.

Coleman was redshirted as a freshman in 2022 and went on to place seventh in the discus at the World U20 Championships, representing Team USA. Throwing the discus as a Flame for the first time, Coleman overtook Nedrick for the victory in round five with a 187-11 toss that added 10 feet to his previous personal best.

Coleman now ranks No. 4 in program history, one spot behind Nedrick, and both Flames have safely qualified to the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet in May.

Liberty displayed even more depth in the event when redshirt freshman Christian Hicks came in second in the open men’s discus with a 153-3 heave.

Lewis was another Liberty newcomer who outperformed an All-American teammate on Saturday. The ASUN men’s 60 champion from Trinidad & Tobago edged Deron Dudley at the finish line, 10.40 to 10.41. The wind-aided time ranks Lewis seventh all-time for the Flames.

Donald McClinton, who earned All-America distinction as part of the Flames’ 4 x 100 relay squad in 2022, followed closely in third place in 10.44.

Wang, a true freshman from China, would have won the men’s triple jump with any of his last four attempts. His top effort of the afternoon, 47-10, came in round five.

The Flames’ only other top-three finish of the day came in the meet’s final race, the 4 x 400 relay. Daniel Van Duren, Hunter Bleam, Rayshawn Johnson and Caleb Barkwell teamed up for second place in 3:27.80. Barkwell’s 50.25 anchor leg moved Liberty up from fourth place to second.

Anders Janes cleared 15-11.75 for fourth place overall and third among collegiate entrants in the elite men’s pole vault. He also took some good attempts at 16-7.5 before bowing out of the competition.

Competing unattached, the Flames’ Felix Lawrence ran a wind-aided 14.53 to win the men’s 110 hurdles.

Women’s Day 2 Recap

Hilton, Shaw, Coates and Patton set the tone for the Lady Flames’ successful day by dominating the women’s 4 x 100 relay in 47.65. That time defeated runner-up Pitt-Johnstown by more than two seconds.

Hilton (12.33 100) and Shaw (57.66 400) went on to notch fifth-place finishes in individual events.

First-year Lady Flame Jasmine Williams clocked 14.07 for second place in the women’s 100 hurdles and a tie for eighth place in program history with Katie Dodson and Jaiden Mulder. The only athlete to defeat Williams was teammate Indea Cartwright (13.90), competing unattached.

Meredith Engle (fourth, 14.70), Patasha Bryan (sixth, 14.78) and Amani Hankton (seventh, 14.78) made it four Lady Flames among the 100 hurdles’ top seven finishers.

In the 400 hurdles, Nimeesha Coleman crossed the line fourth in 1:06.30.

On a windy afternoon, Taylen Langin cleared 12-11.5 for second place overall and first among collegiate entrants in the elite women’s pole vault.

Freshman Katie Sigerud made a successful track debut in a Liberty uniform, placing second in the women’s 1,500 in 4:43.10. Hope Carr won her heat and finished third overall in a time of 4:49.48 which represented a 16-second personal best.

Freshman Summer Bejarano added a sixth-place finish in 4:52.50 before later earning the same placement at 800 meters (2:21.91).

Kali Grayson (141-3) and Engle (130-11) got the morning started by placing 3-4 in the women’s javelin. For Grayson, it was her top mark in two years.

Megan Mann then punctuated an outstanding weekend for the Liberty throwers by reaching a new personal-best 159-9 for third place in the elite women’s discus and eighth all-time for the Lady Flames.

Men’s Day 2 Event Winners

Desmond Coleman – Elite Discus – 187-11

Omari Lewis – 100 – 10.40

Shane Wang – Triple Jump – 47-10

Women’s Day 2 Event Winners

Dawn Hilton, Jezelle Shaw, Emily Coates, Joelle Patton – 4 x 100 Relay – 47.65 

Other Men’s Day 2 Top 3 Finishers

2^nd – Christian Hicks – Open Discus – 153-3

2^nd – Kevin Nedrick – Elite Discus – 186-7

2^nd – Daniel Van Duren, Hunter Bleam, Rayshawn Johnson, Caleb Barkwell – 4 x 400 Relay – 3:27.80

3^rd – Donald McClinton – 100 – 10.44

Other Women’s Day 2 Top 3 Finishers

^2nd – Taylen Langin – Elite Pole Vault – 12-11.5 (1^st collegiate)

2^nd – Katie Sigerud – 1,500 – 4:43.10

2^nd – Jasmine Williams – 100 Hurdles – 14.07

3^rd – Hope Carr – 1,500 – 4:49.48

3^rd – Kali Grayson – Javelin – 141-3

3^rd – Megan Mann – Elite Discus – 159-9

New Men’s NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifiers

Desmond Coleman – Discus – 187-11

Kevin Nedrick – Discus – 186-7

Day 2 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Men’s Top 10 List

Discus – No. 4 – Desmond Coleman – 187-11

100 – No. 7 – Omari Lewis – 10.40

Day 2 Updates to Liberty’s All-Time Women’s Top 10 List

Discus – No. 8 – Megan Mann – 159-9

100 Hurdles – Tie for No. 8 – Jasmine Williams – 14.07

Up Next

Liberty will divide up between a pair of meets next weekend. A group of mid-distance and distance runners will race in the Raleigh Relays, March 23-25 in Raleigh, N.C. Other Flames will remain in the Hill City for the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, March 24-25 at the University of Lynchburg.

Featured in Main Photo: Desmond Coleman