Liberty hosts huge high school track meet

Hundreds of high school athletes from Virginia and North Carolina are taking part in the Sixth Annual Flames High School Invitational track meet this weekend at Liberty University’s Tolsma Indoor Track.

The event is one of the largest track meets in the country, with more than 100 high school teams with more than 2,000 athletes participating.

The meet was sponsored by Liberty’s track and field staff, with the help of many Liberty students.

Brant Tolsma, Liberty’s head track and field coach, said the event raises money for Liberty’s track and field program and promotes the program and the school at the same time. It is also a boost to the local economy, he said, estimating the impact to be “in the range of $100,000 for the weekend.”

Tolsma said having the indoor track facility has benefited the region in many ways.

“When I was trying to convince Doc [Dr. Jerry Falwell, Liberty’s founder] and [Chancellor] Jerry Falwell, Jr. to build this track in that area, I told them about these possibilities and it has proved to be everything we hoped for and more.”

For more information on the meets, see the links below.

• News & Advance: LU track and field invitational stays on schedule
• WSET: Liberty track meet fills Lynchburg’s hotels