Liberty University
South Carolina Invitational
Lyon's 21.03 Takes Down Liberty, ASUN 200 Records
2/8/2020 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Redshirt junior Christian Lyon broke the first records of his young Liberty career, Saturday at the South Carolina Invitational. His 200 time of 21.03 took down the event's Liberty and ASUN Conference all-time records on a day where Tanner Ealum also won the women's 800 in a facility-record 2:07.12 at the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex.
Lyon's clocking, which placed third in the one-lap event, eclipsed the previous Liberty and ASUN standards of 21.04. Those marks were simultaneously by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata at the 2019 ASUN meet.
Running the first 800 of her senior season, Ealum pulled away from conference rival Sarah Hendrick of Kennesaw State to win in 2:07.12. The previous facility record (2:08.66) was set by another ASUN runner, North Florida's Sonja Andenmatten, in 2019.
Ealum's time, which shaved more than three seconds off the Alaska native's previous indoor best, ranks No. 3 in both Liberty and ASUN Conference history.
In the men's 800, redshirt senior Bradley Prentice almost did some record setting of his own. His runner-up time of 1:51.06 was the fastest indoor effort by a Flame since Johnny Prettyman's hand-time school record of 1:50.7 in 1992 and sits No. 3 in ASUN Conference history.
Behind Prentice, Ally Kipchirchir grabbed a fifth-place finish and a spot inside the Flames' all-time top 10 with a 1:52.87 effort.
Liberty freshmen recorded lofty finishes in both sections of the men's high jump on Saturday. Quinten Clay cleared 6-8 for second place in the invitational section, while Cole Peterlin made it over 6-4 to share third place in the open section.
Kyle Mitchell continued his strong junior campaign, heaving the shot put 60-10.75 for third place in the invitational section. Teammate Jose Ballivian came in eighth with a season-best mark of 57-5.75.
Naomi Mojica paced the Lady Flames in both of Saturday's women's throwing events. The Mexico native placed fourth in the invitational women's shot put (season-best 49-3.75) and 10th in the invitational women's weight throw (54-10.25).
Makenzy Mizera added an eighth-place finish in the invitational women's triple jump, stretching the tape to 39-4.5.
Women's Event Winners
Tanner Ealum – 800 – 2:07.12
Men's Top 3 Finishers
2nd – Quinten Clay – Invitational High Jump – 6-8
2nd – Bradley Prentice – 800 – 1:51.06
3rd – Christian Lyon – 200 – 21.03
3rd – Kyle Mitchell – Invitational Shot Put – 60-10.75
Tie for 3rd – Cole Peterlin – Open High Jump – 6-4
Women's Record Breakers
Facility Record – 800 – Tanner Ealum – 2:07.12
Old Record: 2:08.66 by North Florida's Sonja Andenmatten in 2019
Men's Record Breakers
School and ASUN Record – 200 – Christian Lyon – 21.03
Old Records: 21.04 by Alejandro Perlaza Zapata at the 2019 ASUN Championship
Other Updates to Liberty's All-Time Women's Top 10 List
800 – No. 3 – Tanner Ealum – 2:07.12
Other Updates to Liberty's All-Time Men's Top 10 List
800 – No. 2 – Bradley Prentice – 1:51.06
800 – No. 10 – Ally Kipchirchir – 1:52.87
Up Next
Liberty will play host to the sixth annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, Friday and Saturday at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. The meet will mark the Flames' final tune-up for the 2020 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 28-29).
