Record-breaking runner serves God and community

In addition to setting numerous records as a member of Liberty University’s cross country and track & field teams, redshirt senior Calli Doan looks to leave an imprint on her community through service.

Over the last five years, Doan has demonstrated her athletic prowess as a Lady Flame. She currently holds three track & field individual program records for the indoor 1 mile (4:36.52), indoor 3K (9:24.67), and outdoor 3K steeplechase (9:52.15), as well as cross country program records in the 5K (16.15.1) and 6K (19:50.6).

Doan was one of two Liberty student-athletes to represent LU at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June, where she finished 11^th in the finals of the women’s steeplechase, qualifying as a second team All-American. (Redshirt senior Kevin Nedrick finished fifth in the men’s discus final.)

Doan’s collegiate accomplishments extend off the field. This summer, Doan was named Liberty’s first-ever ASUN Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year after graduating with a master’s in human performance with a 4.0 GPA.

“It was definitely an honor to receive that award,” said Doan, who was also one of six Liberty student-athletes to be named to the 2022-23 Virginia Sports Information Directors Academic All-State Team. “Coming into Liberty I had a lot slower times than the girls who are getting on our team now, and I wanted to do well in athletics, but I didn’t have any idea of where it could take me. So, getting all of these awards and getting to go to nationals, it just continues to solidify in my mind God’s faithfulness and how He has called me to continue in running when those doubts come in of, ‘Should I keep going with this?’”

Throughout all of her success, Doan, originally from Apex, N.C., continues to place a focus on being a witness for Christ.

“Running for Liberty, a school that stands for Jesus Christ, is a blessing because it gives you a platform that’s unlike any other, and people know when you have Liberty University on your shirt that you probably have some different beliefs. It makes it about a lot more than just the race,” she said. “It’s about having the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, this is why I’m running. It’s for the gifts that God has given me to glorify him. It’s not for myself.’ It’s something special, and I think having that motivation has enabled me to get as far as I have.”

As she continues to excel on the field and in the classroom, Doan also looks for opportunities to serve those around her. Alongside her husband, Nick, a former member of Liberty’s cross country and track & field teams, Doan leads a middle-school small group for Living Word Baptist Church’s youth group. She also serves on the church’s hospitality group.

“It’s really been awesome to be able to disciple middle school girls and see them grow in the Lord and to be pushed to be a good example for them as well,” she said.

Doan has also participated in multiple food drives and outreaches with her teammates, including the annual Trick Or Treat So Others Can Eat canned food drive and the Dollar Makes a Difference campaign for school supplies.

Track & field athletes regularly volunteer for outreaches specifically related to running, including hosting track meets on campus and participating in events such as the Virginia 10-miler. The opportunity to host events at Liberty are what Doan describes as “a mission field brought right to your home.”

“The academic advisors and the people who work at the Liberty Athletic Center help with academic enhancement and development — they always have a bunch of different opportunities that they send out that really encourage the athletes not only to serve in a track meet among our own sport but also in the community,” Doan said. “That has been super helpful, and it’s fun when the entire team goes and does something because it makes it not only a community outreach but also team development as well.”

As a highly decorated collegiate athlete, Doan positions herself to serve as a role model for her fellow athletes as well as the runners who will take up the mantle for Liberty Athletics after she leaves.

“If I’m not using running to serve others, then why am I doing it in the first place?”

Outside of her athletic community service, Doan also facilitates outreach projects through prison ministry and “egging” houses in the community for Easter.

Doan plans on returning for one final season of indoor and outdoor track & field after redshirting in 2022 when she was sidelined by injury. She will pursue her doctorate in health sciences in her last year of eligibility. After finishing her time as a Lady Flame, she hopes to sign a contract to run professionally.