LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty will close out the regular-season portion of its 2026 outdoor track & field campaign on Wednesday with its lone home meet, the Liberty Twilight Qualifier. The first meet at the newly resurfaced Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex will provide one final opportunity for the Flames’ 23 seniors to compete at their home facility.
Athletes from 28 colleges and universities are entered in the one-day meet, headlined by competitors from Duke, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Hampton, High Point and Radford.
Competition will begin at 11 a.m. with the women’s discus, women’s long jump and lower-seeded section of the men’s pole vault. The senior day ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m., just prior to the beginning of running events at 1:55 p.m.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Live results will be available throughout Wednesday’s action, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing.
Weather Report
Wednesday’s high temperature is expected to reach the mid-70s, with rain and thunderstorms possible, especially in the morning and late evening. A southwest breeze is anticipated, which would mean a tailwind for the sprints and hurdles down the primary straightaway.
Salute to Seniors
Liberty will recognize 23 seniors during an on-track ceremony at 1:30 p.m. These include 11 Lady Flames (Rebecca Allen, Emily Atha, Patasha Bryan, Meredith Engle, Paige Greenhagel, Mahogany Mobley, Jessica Palisca, Stephanie Robson, Isabela Ross, Katrina Schlenker and Katie Sigerud) and a dozen Flames (Sean Aiken, Beau Backes, Josh Blalock, Hunter Bleam, Jack Cottrell, Christian Hicks, Isaiah Idore, Nicholas Kiprotich, Brendan Pitcher, Ben Shughart, Ethan Stansbury and Gabriel Willis).
Down to the Wire
Wednesday’s meet and next week’s CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will provide Liberty athletes with two final opportunities to qualify for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet. The East Region’s top 48 declared athletes in each event at season’s end will earn the right to compete in the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet, May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky.
The athletes listed in bold are expected to compete in these events on Wednesday.
Currently Ranked Between No. 40 and 48 – Beau Backes (Men’s Discus – No. 42), Mahogany Mobley (Women’s 400 – No. 43), Christian Hicks (Men’s Shot Put – No. 44), Trevor Veenstra (Men’s Shot Put – No. 48)
Currently Outside the Top 48 – Markus White (Men’s Triple Jump – No. 50), Bethany Tate (Women’s Discus – No. 57), Todd Benhase (Men’s Pole Vault – No. 60), Raini Mayo (Women’s Steeplechase – No. 64), Trevor Veenstra (Men’s Hammer – No. 65), Josh Blalock (Men’s 400 Hurdles – No. 67)
Carrying on the Tradition
Josh Blalock will attempt to defend his Liberty Twilight Qualifier men’s 400 hurdles title and extend the home team’s winning streak to four in this event. Previously, Flames Felix Lawrence (2023) and Jacob Torres (2024) won the Liberty Twilight Qualifier men’s 400 hurdles crown.
The defending CUSA men’s 400 hurdles champion, Blalock currently ranks No. 3 in CUSA and No. 67 in the East Region with his season best of 52.26 from the Florida Relays.
Blalock should have good competition on Wednesday in the form of Virginia Cavaliers Anders Felts (52.05 season best) and Gage Gose (52.26 season best).
Top 20 Flames
Two of Liberty’s athletes who are ranked among the top 20 nationally in their respective events are slated to compete on Wednesday, including Markus White (No. 14 in men’s long jump) and Christian Hicks (No. 20 in men’s discus). Both Flames will try to make it back-to-back Liberty Twilight Qualifier titles in their respective events.
Both of White’s long jump competitions this season (program-record 25-10.25 at Florida Relays) and 25-6.25 at Virginia Challenge have seen the junior sail past the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex facility record of 25-6, co-held by Allen Simms (2010) and Charleston Southern’s Braxton Drummond (2016).
White has won three consecutive long jump competitions, dating back to the CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships in February. His top challenge on Wednesday could come in the form of his brother, Hampton’s Marquis White, the reigning CAA indoor long jump champion.
Hicks’ personal-best 194-7 discus effort at the Virginia Challenge has the redshirt senior knocking on the door of becoming just the fourth 60-meter thrower in program history. Hampton’s Delano Lawrence, the defending MEAC discus champion, also figures to be in the mix.
Record Breakers
Liberty has taken down program records in eight different events during the first seven weekends of the 2026 outdoor season, with Isabella Frattura breaking the women’s javelin mark twice and Michael Long taking down the men’s 800 standard twice.
Women’s 400 – Mahogany Mobley – 52.76
Women’s 5K – Allie Zealand – 15:26.38
Women’s Javelin – Isabella Frattura – 166-1
Women’s Heptathlon – Patasha Bryan – 5,567
Men’s 800 – Michael Long – 1:46.77
Men’s Long Jump – Markus White – 25-10.25
Men’s Triple Jump – Gilles Ouedraogo – 52-4.5
Men’s Javelin – Ben Shughart – 253-11
CUSA’s Best
The following Flames and Lady Flames rank No. 1 in Conference USA in their events at this late stage of the 2026 outdoor track & field season. The 2026 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, May 14-16 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Women’s 1,500 – Allie Zealand – 4:10.57
Women’s 5K – Allie Zealand – 15:26.38
Women’s Shot Put – Bethany Tate – 52-1
Women’s Heptathlon – Patasha Bryan – 5,567
Men’s 800 – Michael Long – 1:46.77
Men’s Steeplechase – Dale Hall – 9:00.61
Men’s Long Jump – Markus White – 25-10.25
Men’s Triple Jump – Gilles Ouedraogo – 52-4.5
Men’s Shot Put – Christian Hicks – 57-11
Men’s Discus – Christian Hicks – 194-7
Men’s Hammer – Kellen Kimes – 221-8
Men’s Javelin – Ben Shughart – 253-11
Men’s Decathlon – Gabriel Willis – 7,341
Pack Your Bags for Lexington
The 2026 NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet will be contested at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility, May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky. The following Flames and Lady Flames appear to be qualified for the meet, based upon historical results.
Isabella Frattura – Women’s Javelin
Sophie Gonzalez – Women’s Hammer
Mahogany Mobley – Women’s 400
Katrina Schlenker – Women’s Steeplechase
Bethany Tate – Women’s Shot Put
Allie Zealand – Women’s 800, 1,500 & 5K
Beau Backes – Men’s Discus
Tahj Brown – Men’s 110 Hurdles
Christian Hicks – Men’s Discus
Chase Johnson – Men’s Pole Vault
Kellen Kimes – Men’s Hammer
Michael Long – Men’s 800
Gilles Ouedraogo – Men’s Triple Jump
Ben Shughart – Men’s Javelin
Trevor Veenstra – Men’s Discus
Markus White – Men’s Long Jump
Reagan Wise – Men’s Pole Vault
Mapping Out the Multis
Heptathlon and decathlon are the two events which are not contested at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet. The nation’s top 24 competitors in each event qualify directly to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, slated for June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore.
Although Liberty has a rich history of success in these two events, the Flames have not sent a heptathlete to the NCAA national meet since 2005 (Danielle McNaney) and have not qualified a decathlete since 2018 (Markus Ballengee).
At this point in the season, Patasha Bryan ranks among the top 24 nationally.
No. 24 – Patasha Bryan – Heptathlon – 5,567
Up Next
For the second year in a row, the CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 14-16. The Liberty women’s squad is two-for-two in winning team titles at this event since joining CUSA.
Athletes from 28 colleges and universities are entered in the one-day meet, headlined by competitors from Duke, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Hampton, High Point and Radford.
Competition will begin at 11 a.m. with the women’s discus, women’s long jump and lower-seeded section of the men’s pole vault. The senior day ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m., just prior to the beginning of running events at 1:55 p.m.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Live results will be available throughout Wednesday’s action, courtesy of Blue Ridge Timing.
Weather Report
Wednesday’s high temperature is expected to reach the mid-70s, with rain and thunderstorms possible, especially in the morning and late evening. A southwest breeze is anticipated, which would mean a tailwind for the sprints and hurdles down the primary straightaway.
Salute to Seniors
Liberty will recognize 23 seniors during an on-track ceremony at 1:30 p.m. These include 11 Lady Flames (Rebecca Allen, Emily Atha, Patasha Bryan, Meredith Engle, Paige Greenhagel, Mahogany Mobley, Jessica Palisca, Stephanie Robson, Isabela Ross, Katrina Schlenker and Katie Sigerud) and a dozen Flames (Sean Aiken, Beau Backes, Josh Blalock, Hunter Bleam, Jack Cottrell, Christian Hicks, Isaiah Idore, Nicholas Kiprotich, Brendan Pitcher, Ben Shughart, Ethan Stansbury and Gabriel Willis).
Down to the Wire
Wednesday’s meet and next week’s CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will provide Liberty athletes with two final opportunities to qualify for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet. The East Region’s top 48 declared athletes in each event at season’s end will earn the right to compete in the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet, May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky.
The athletes listed in bold are expected to compete in these events on Wednesday.
Currently Ranked Between No. 40 and 48 – Beau Backes (Men’s Discus – No. 42), Mahogany Mobley (Women’s 400 – No. 43), Christian Hicks (Men’s Shot Put – No. 44), Trevor Veenstra (Men’s Shot Put – No. 48)
Currently Outside the Top 48 – Markus White (Men’s Triple Jump – No. 50), Bethany Tate (Women’s Discus – No. 57), Todd Benhase (Men’s Pole Vault – No. 60), Raini Mayo (Women’s Steeplechase – No. 64), Trevor Veenstra (Men’s Hammer – No. 65), Josh Blalock (Men’s 400 Hurdles – No. 67)
Carrying on the Tradition
Josh Blalock will attempt to defend his Liberty Twilight Qualifier men’s 400 hurdles title and extend the home team’s winning streak to four in this event. Previously, Flames Felix Lawrence (2023) and Jacob Torres (2024) won the Liberty Twilight Qualifier men’s 400 hurdles crown.
The defending CUSA men’s 400 hurdles champion, Blalock currently ranks No. 3 in CUSA and No. 67 in the East Region with his season best of 52.26 from the Florida Relays.
Blalock should have good competition on Wednesday in the form of Virginia Cavaliers Anders Felts (52.05 season best) and Gage Gose (52.26 season best).
Top 20 Flames
Two of Liberty’s athletes who are ranked among the top 20 nationally in their respective events are slated to compete on Wednesday, including Markus White (No. 14 in men’s long jump) and Christian Hicks (No. 20 in men’s discus). Both Flames will try to make it back-to-back Liberty Twilight Qualifier titles in their respective events.
Both of White’s long jump competitions this season (program-record 25-10.25 at Florida Relays) and 25-6.25 at Virginia Challenge have seen the junior sail past the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex facility record of 25-6, co-held by Allen Simms (2010) and Charleston Southern’s Braxton Drummond (2016).
White has won three consecutive long jump competitions, dating back to the CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships in February. His top challenge on Wednesday could come in the form of his brother, Hampton’s Marquis White, the reigning CAA indoor long jump champion.
Hicks’ personal-best 194-7 discus effort at the Virginia Challenge has the redshirt senior knocking on the door of becoming just the fourth 60-meter thrower in program history. Hampton’s Delano Lawrence, the defending MEAC discus champion, also figures to be in the mix.
Record Breakers
Liberty has taken down program records in eight different events during the first seven weekends of the 2026 outdoor season, with Isabella Frattura breaking the women’s javelin mark twice and Michael Long taking down the men’s 800 standard twice.
Women’s 400 – Mahogany Mobley – 52.76
Women’s 5K – Allie Zealand – 15:26.38
Women’s Javelin – Isabella Frattura – 166-1
Women’s Heptathlon – Patasha Bryan – 5,567
Men’s 800 – Michael Long – 1:46.77
Men’s Long Jump – Markus White – 25-10.25
Men’s Triple Jump – Gilles Ouedraogo – 52-4.5
Men’s Javelin – Ben Shughart – 253-11
CUSA’s Best
The following Flames and Lady Flames rank No. 1 in Conference USA in their events at this late stage of the 2026 outdoor track & field season. The 2026 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, May 14-16 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Women’s 1,500 – Allie Zealand – 4:10.57
Women’s 5K – Allie Zealand – 15:26.38
Women’s Shot Put – Bethany Tate – 52-1
Women’s Heptathlon – Patasha Bryan – 5,567
Men’s 800 – Michael Long – 1:46.77
Men’s Steeplechase – Dale Hall – 9:00.61
Men’s Long Jump – Markus White – 25-10.25
Men’s Triple Jump – Gilles Ouedraogo – 52-4.5
Men’s Shot Put – Christian Hicks – 57-11
Men’s Discus – Christian Hicks – 194-7
Men’s Hammer – Kellen Kimes – 221-8
Men’s Javelin – Ben Shughart – 253-11
Men’s Decathlon – Gabriel Willis – 7,341
Pack Your Bags for Lexington
The 2026 NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet will be contested at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility, May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky. The following Flames and Lady Flames appear to be qualified for the meet, based upon historical results.
Isabella Frattura – Women’s Javelin
Sophie Gonzalez – Women’s Hammer
Mahogany Mobley – Women’s 400
Katrina Schlenker – Women’s Steeplechase
Bethany Tate – Women’s Shot Put
Allie Zealand – Women’s 800, 1,500 & 5K
Beau Backes – Men’s Discus
Tahj Brown – Men’s 110 Hurdles
Christian Hicks – Men’s Discus
Chase Johnson – Men’s Pole Vault
Kellen Kimes – Men’s Hammer
Michael Long – Men’s 800
Gilles Ouedraogo – Men’s Triple Jump
Ben Shughart – Men’s Javelin
Trevor Veenstra – Men’s Discus
Markus White – Men’s Long Jump
Reagan Wise – Men’s Pole Vault
Mapping Out the Multis
Heptathlon and decathlon are the two events which are not contested at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet. The nation’s top 24 competitors in each event qualify directly to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, slated for June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore.
Although Liberty has a rich history of success in these two events, the Flames have not sent a heptathlete to the NCAA national meet since 2005 (Danielle McNaney) and have not qualified a decathlete since 2018 (Markus Ballengee).
At this point in the season, Patasha Bryan ranks among the top 24 nationally.
No. 24 – Patasha Bryan – Heptathlon – 5,567
Up Next
For the second year in a row, the CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 14-16. The Liberty women’s squad is two-for-two in winning team titles at this event since joining CUSA.
