Liberty Men's Track Ranked No. 9 Regionally
3/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
On the heels of its 14th consecutive Big South indoor team championship, the Liberty men's indoor track & field squad is listed No. 9 in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Regional Index.
ACC champion Virginia Tech holds the top spot in this week's Southeast Region rankings. Fellow Big South member Charleston Southern, who placed third in the conference meet, remains at No. 15 for the third straight week.
Liberty racked up 198 points at the Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships, held Thursday and Friday in Clemson, S.C. The Flames outdistanced runner-up VMI by 85 points to extend the longest streak of conference championships in Big South Conference history to 14.
Ryan Smith was recognized as Men's Outstanding Field Performer, after winning his second straight shot put title and finishing second in the weight throw. Liberty's other event champions included Sam Chelanga (mile), Taylor Courtney (400), Josh Edmonds (5K), Evans Kigen (3K), Clarence Powell (triple jump) and Geren Woodbridge (heptathlon).
Liberty will send a large group of athletes to Boston this weekend for the men's IC4A Indoor Track & Field Championships and women's ECAC Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Both meets will be contested on Saturday and Sunday.
USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Regional Index (2011 Indoor, Week #6)
Men's Southeast Region
1) Virginia Tech
2) North Carolina
3) Clemson
4) N.C. State
5) Virginia
6) Duke
7) Norfolk State
8) Louisville
9) Liberty
10) South Carolina
11) George Mason
12) Kentucky
13) Appalachian State
14) Charlotte
15) Charleston Southern
