Liberty University
Hornet Indoor Sprints, Jumps & Throws Challenge
Charnuski, Schmidt & Smith Star at LC
1/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Competing across town at Lynchburg College's Wake Field House Wednesday evening, the Liberty men's and women's track & field teams resumed the 2010-11 indoor season in fine fashion. Olivia Charnuski picked up an ECAC qualifier, while Taylor Schmidt and Ryan Smith were both double event winners at the Hornet Indoor Sprints, Jumps & Throws Challenge.
Women's Meet Recap
The Liberty women's squad won five of the seven events it entered on Wednesday, including Charnuski's dominating victory in the 55-meter hurdles. The junior's 8.30 clocking led a 1-2-3 sweep by the Lady Flames. Krystle Matthews was second in 8.45 seconds, while Christina Mitchell took third in 8.61.
Charnuski's fastest hurdles time of the night, 8.24, actually came during the preliminary round. It qualified her for the ECAC Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships and ranks No. 5 on the Lady Flames' all-time performance list.
Mitchell's night was not finished with the hurdles. She won the high jump with a 5-1.75 clearance, while Matthews followed in the runner-up spot at 4-11.75.
The Lady Flames were victorious in the night's other vertical jumping event, as well. Shelley Parker took top honors in the pole vault, sailing over 11-3.75 for the second time this season.
Liberty won both of the women's throwing events. In the shot put, freshman Rachel Barnes topped the field by a foot with her 40-2.75 effort. Melinda Bendik's margin of victory in the weight throw was nearly a yard, thanks to her 50-11 toss.
Although Liberty did not boast a winner in the 55-meter dash, the Lady Flames did post a couple notable performances. Charnuski was the top qualifier, at 7.33 seconds, tying for eighth place on the program's all-time performance list. However, she did not run the final. In Charnuski's absence, freshman Kylie McMichael came in second with a 7.78 clocking.
Men's Meet Recap
Liberty finished first in six of the eight events it entered on the men's side, with four of the triumphs coming by Schmidt and Smith.
Schmidt's pair of wins came in the 55-meter hurdles (7.99) and pole vault (season-best 13-11.75).
Meanwhile, Smith was dominant in both throwing events. He won the shot put by more than nine feet, with an indoor personal-best throw of 57-0.25. Smith, who had already qualified for the IC4A meet at the Liberty Kickoff, moves up to No. 3 on Liberty's all-time indoor shot put list.
Earlier in the meet, Smith captured the weight throw title by four and a half feet, stretching the measuring tape to 57-3.75.
Not to be completely overshadowed by his teammate, redshirt senior Elliot Galeone fared well in both throws. He took second in the shot put at 47-9, adding almost a foot to his personal best. Galeone nearly set a personal best in the weight throw as well, placing third at 48-11.
Clarence Powell cleared a season-best 6-8.75 in the high jump to win the competition. Powell also ran a 6.69 to place third in the 55-meter dash final.
The 55 title was won by his teammate Andre Washington, in 6.54 seconds. Washington also clocked a stellar 6.52 during the prelims.
Tashan Duff was Liberty's top performer in the men's long jump, coming in second with a 21-5.5 leap.
Liberty will now travel across the Commonwealth to compete in this weekend's Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. The two-day meet at Rector Field House will get underway Friday at 4 p.m., with the women's 3K. Saturday's first event will be the women's high jump, which is set for a 10 a.m. start.
