Liberty Track/XC Adds 13 Signees
Liberty Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lance Bingham has announced 13 signees to the Liberty track & field/cross country program. Each of the 13 signees is set to enroll for the 2021-22 academic year.
"We are very blessed with the latest signees," Bingham stated. "As with those who have already signed, this is a very talented group of student-athletes who desire to come alongside our current team as we train for excellence to serve the Kingdom of God."
This group of signees is headlined by Kennedy Sauder of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., one of the nation's top high school high jumpers at 7-1.75. This group is also heavy on pole vaulters (three) and mid-distance/distance runners (six).
Liberty previously announced the following newcomers for the 2021-22 academic year during November: Jack Cottrell, Will Jefferson, Ellie Bevan, Patasha Bryan, Samantha Troup and Sofia Van Arsdale.
Men's Signees
Desmond Coleman
Decathlon | Providence Senior High School | Charlotte, N.C.
• Has qualified for this weekend's North Carolina 4A state meet in the shot put and discus
• Named 2021 So Meck 7 Conference MVP in the field events
• Younger brother of current Lady Flame Nimeesha Coleman
Shot Put: 53-10.5
Discus: 176-8
High Jump: 5-8
Landon Dinkel
Distance | Blacksburg High School | Christiansburg, Va.
• Placed ninth at the Virginia 4A state cross country championship as a junior and senior
• Top state finish on the track was sixth place in the 2021 Virginia 4A indoor 3,200 final
• Battled back after suffering a stroke during his sophomore year
1,600: 4:31.98
3,200: 9:38.75
Cross Country 5K: 15:53.9
Hunter Flack
Pole Vault | Upper Perkiomen High School | Green Lane, Pa.
• Pole vaulted 15-6 as a senior to break a school record that had stood since 1974
• Came in ninth in the pole vault at the Pennsylvania AAA state meet as a senior
Pole Vault: 15-6
Brendan Pitcher
Mid-Distance | Mason High School | Mason, Ohio
• As a senior, placed eighth in the Ohio Division I state 4 x 800 relay and 10th in the 800
• Raced at the Ohio Division I state cross country meet as a junior and senior, helping Mason finish second in the team standings in 2019
800: 1:54.08
Mile: 4:18.16
Cross Country 5K: 16:17.8
Kennedy Sauder
Jumps | Calvary Christian Academy | Lauderhill, Fla.
• His 7-1.75 high jump clearance during March 2021 ranks No. 3 nationally among high schoolers this season and is superior to Liberty's indoor (7-1.5) and outdoor (7-1) records for the event
• Florida 2A state high jump champion as a senior with a 7-0.5 clearance after placing third in 2019
• Also came in fifth in the triple jump at the Florida 2A state meet as a senior
High Jump: 7-1.75
Long Jump: 23-6.25
Triple Jump: 48-0.75
Isaiah Schulties
Mid-Distance | Kent Island High School | Chester, Md.
• Anchored his sprint medley relay team to gold at the 2021 Adidas Indoor Nationals while placing second in the 1,000 final
• At the 2020 Maryland 2A indoor state meet, took second in the 500, 800 and 4 x 800 relay
800: 1:54.11
1,000: 2:28.67
Kyle Thrush
Distance | Conestoga Valley High School | Leola, Pa.
• Pennsylvania AAA state qualifier in the 1,600 as a senior
1,600: 4:21.76
Women's Signees
Mia Bowers
Pole Vault/Hurdles | Downers Grove North High School | Woodridge, Ill.
• Placed third at the 2021 Illinois 3A state meet in the pole vault, ninth in the 4 x 100 relay, 11th in the 300 hurdles and 12th in the 100 hurdles
Pole Vault: 12-0
300 Hurdles: 46.81
Hope Carr
Distance | Lebanon High School | Lebanon, Ohio
• Helped her 4 x 800 relay team placed 10th at the Ohio Division I state meet as a senior
• Placed 74th at the Ohio Division I state cross country meet in 2020, helping Lebanon come in 11th as a team
800: 2:21.01
1,600: 5:14.26
Kacy Cox
High Jump | Greenbrier Christian Academy | Moyock, N.C.
• High jumped well at some high-level indoor meets in 2021, placing fifth at the Virginia Showcase and tying for third place at the Adidas Indoor Nationals
High Jump: 5-6
Emory Pafford
Pole Vault | Liberty Christian Academy | Evington, Va.
• Won three straight Virginia 3A pole vault state titles to close out her high school career (2020 indoor, 2021 indoor, 2021 outdoor)
• Set indoor (12-8) and outdoor (12-7) state meet records as a senior
Pole Vault: 13-0
Rebekah Simmons
Distance | Mountain View High School | Stafford, Va.
• At the 2020 Virginia Class 5 state indoor meet, helped Mountain View win the 4 x 800 relay and placed third in the 1,000
800: 2:22.72
1,000: 3:07.24
1,600: 5:25.74
Mackenzie White
Javelin | Biglerville High School | Biglerville, Pa.
• Won the YAIAA javelin title and placed third at the 2A district meet as a senior
Javelin: 118-7
