Liberty University
Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet
Drew, Palmer Sweep Doc Hale VT Elite Meet 3K Crowns
2/7/2020 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Liberty's distance crew continued its strong start to the 2020 indoor track & field season, Friday at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet. Flames Ryan Drew and Noel Palmer swept the men's and women's 3K titles on the opening day of competition at Rector Field House.
Drew clocked 8:27.30 for his second consecutive victory, following his triumph in the Liberty Kickoff men's mile. Teammate Nick Doan followed in third place in 8:30.91.
Palmer also won her second straight race with a season-best 10:02.55 effort, defeating a quartet of Kentucky Wildcats. The junior had previously claimed the Liberty Kickoff women's 5K title two weeks prior.
The distance runners' successful day also included Calli Parlier's fifth-place showing in the women's 800. The sophomore's personal-best time of 2:12.37 ranks No. 6 in program history.
Senior Katie Dodson ran a personal-best 60 hurdles time of 8.79 for seventh place in the event final. She now shares eighth place on the Lady Flames' all-time list.
Other Liberty finalists in the straightaway events included freshman Zach Wendt (third place in men's 60 hurdles, personal-best 8.77) and redshirt sophomore Nikayla Hoyte (seventh place in women's 60, personal-best 7.73).
Making her sophomore season debut, Taylen Langin cleared 12-4.5 for third place in the unseeded section of the women's pole vault, an effort which ranks No. 2 in the ASUN this season. Teammate Rachel Milnes made it over 11-10.5 for fourth in the competition.
Women's Event Winners
Noel Palmer – 3K – 10:02.55
Men's Event Winners
Ryan Drew – 3K – 8:27.30
Other Women's Top 3 Finishers
3rd – Taylen Langin – Unseeded Pole Vault – 12-4.5
Other Men's Top 3 Finishers
3rd – Nick Doan – 3K – 8:30.91
3rd – Zach Wendt – 60 Hurdles – 8.77
Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
800 – No. 6 – Calli Parlier – 2:12.37
60 Hurdles – Tie for No. 8 – Katie Dodson – 8.79
Up Next
Liberty will resume competition at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet Saturday at noon, when Emma Arblaster and Abby Thorpe begin the women's high jump.
Meanwhile, the Flames' first events on Saturday at the South Carolina Invitational will get started at 10 a.m.
