Eighteen members of the Liberty men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams have qualified for the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet, scheduled for May 27-30 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The event is significant as it determines which athletes will advance to the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The competition at the UK Outdoor Track & Field Complex marks the second time in three years that Lexington has hosted this round.
Among those representing Liberty are eleven men: Beau Backes (discus), Tahj Brown (110 hurdles), Christian Hicks (discus), Chase Johnson (pole vault), Kellen Kimes (hammer), Michael Long (800 meters), Gilles Ouedraogo (triple jump), Ben Shughart (javelin), Trevor Veenstra (discus), Markus White (long jump) and Reagan Wise (pole vault). Seven women will also compete: Isabella Frattura (javelin), Sophie Gonzalez (hammer throw), Mahogany Mobley (400 meters), Alivia Rivera-Norman (100 hurdles), Katrina Schlenker (steeplechase), Bethany Tate (shot put) and Allie Zealand (1,500 meters).
The four-day meet begins May 27 at 10 a.m. with the men’s hammer throw. Men’s events take place on May 27 and 29, while women’s events are scheduled for May 28 and 30. Evening running events will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The top twelve finishers in each event from both the East First Rounds in Lexington and West First Rounds in Fayetteville, Arkansas, will advance to compete at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon during the national championships from June 10-13.
