WOMEN ROTER Name Event Yr. Ht. Hometown/Highchool (Previous chool) Mia Aghaji Jumps/Hurdles Fr. 5-9 Chester, Va./Matoaca H Danielle Aitken Fr. 5-4 Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin H Kati Albright Fr. 5-6 Wake Forest, N.C./Home chooled Andrea Beckles prints Jr. 5-5 Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy Dacia Bushman Fr. 5-6 Castalia, Iowa/Home chooled Rod Esther Castor Mid-distance Fr. 5-6 Hamilton, N.J./teinert H Cimber Cummings Pole Vault o. 5-8 Athens, Ga./Athens Christian Kristen Dalton Javelin Jr. 5-2 Wanchese, N.C./Manteo H (High Point) Elizabeth DeCastro Jumps Fr. 5-4 Milford, Del./Cape Henlopen H Danielle Fortune Javelin Fr. 5-7 Goode, Va. Chenoa Freeman prints o. 5-4 Lincoln, Del./Christian Tabernacle Academy Emily Funderburke Pole Vault Jr. 5-7 Fredericksburg, Va./Courtland H JoEllyn Graham Hurdles R-o. 5-6 Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy of Louisville (Louisville) Jennifer Healey Heptathlon Fr. 5-6 Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam H Brittany Heath prints o. 5-5 Freeport, Grand Bahamas/unland Baptist Academy heronica Henton Heptathlon o. 5-3 Raeford, N.C./Hoke H Charlene Hibbert prints/jumps r. 5-8 Mississauga, Ontario/Lorne Park econdary Rachel Houseknecht Hurdles/PV Fr. 5-5 Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville H Erin Hudson Pole Vault o. 5-6 Whitacre, Va./James Wood H Carol Jefferson r. 5-7 chwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley H Melissa Martens* o. 5-2 Baraboo, Wis./auk Prairie H (Wisconsin-Whitewater) Krystle Matthews Heptathlon Fr. 5-7 Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek H Chelaine McCarty High Jump o. 6-2 Houston, Ala./Addison H (Auburn) Nicole Miglis Mid-distance Fr. 5-11 outh Plainfield, N.J./outh Plainfield H Piper Newby r. 5-5 Hayden Lake, Idaho/Coeur d Alene H Tristyn Olson High Jump Fr. 5-7 Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley H Ashley Osborne Jr. 5-2 Bristol, Va./John. Battle H Rebekah Ricksecker Mid-distance Jr. 5-7 Laurel, Del./ussex Technical H arah Roberts Mid-distance r. 5-6 Zieglerville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley H hekina ims Throws Fr. 5-4 Midlothian, Va./Manchester H Ashley Teer Mid-distance o. 5-5 Abbotsford, British Columbia/W.J. Mouat econdary Rachel Valliere r. 5-5 an Luis Obispo, Calif./an Luis Obispo H (Cal Poly) Jaime Watson Mid-distance Jr. 5-6 Ravenna, Mich./Allendale H Marie Williams Heptathlon r. 5-9 Tampa, Fla./The Cambridge chool Richlyn Yond Jr. 5-3 Dumfries, Va./Forest Park H * - Completing a year in residence at Liberty 11
WOMEN OUTLOOK 2008 TRACK & FIELD TRACK & FIELD For the first time since 2004, Liberty enters the season as the defending Big outh Women s Outdoor Track & Field Champion. The Lady Flames, competing on their home track at the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex, held off perennial conference power Coastal Carolina to win the 2007 title by 13.5 points. Many key components from the championship squad, including five past Big outh individual event titlists (Carol Jefferson, Piper Newby, Rebekah Ricksecker, Jamie Watson and Marie Williams), return for the 2008 campaign. Add to the returnees a sizable and talented crop of newcomers, and the Lady Flames figure to be in the conference title hunt once again. Head coach Brant Tolsma, in his 22nd season at Liberty, is guarded in his optimism, though. We didn t graduate a lot from last year s team, but we lost a couple key athletes, Tolsma observed. o, we re in a sort of rebuilding mode. The biggest loss from the 2007 Lady Flames is heptathlete Arlene Zelinskas. he graduated after winning three events at the Big outh outdoor meet (400 hurdles, high jump, 4 x 100 relay) and claiming a pair of runner-up finishes (100 hurdles, long jump). o, Liberty will need to compensate for her point-scoring ability somehow. If we re going to have a strong team this year, stated Tolsma, we need a major contribution from our newcomers. The team s potential impact newcomers include mid-distance/distance performers Kati Albright, Dacia Bushman and Rachel Valliere, all of whom helped the Lady Flames repeat as Big outh Cross Country Champions this past fall. Jumper Mia Aghaji and hurdler Rachel Houseknecht also possess considerable potential in their respective disciplines. Jefferson is the lone member of the Liberty roster who has competed in a national meet. he ran the 10,000 meters at last season s NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Champ-ionships. Now a senior, the 10-time All-Big outh performer hopes to return to the national meet. Fellow seniors Charlene Andrea Beckles Hibbert and Newby and junior Watson are other Lady Flames who could compete for a national meet berth as well. prints Hibbert, Watson, junior Andrea Beckles and sophomore Chenoa Freeman will form the heart of an experienced sprint corps, leading Tolsma to remark, We re hoping for some good things from the sprints this year. Hibbert placed fourth at 200 meters at the Big outh outdoor meet, running a personal-best 24.27. A versatile athlete, the Canadian looks to close out her Liberty career with a strong season. Watson, a mid-distance specialist, has shown considerable ability at the 400-meter distance as well. Beckles is the team s most natural performer in the short sprints. he set the Liberty 60-meter dash record last season, clocking 7.62, and was the Big outh 100-meter dash runner-up. Freeman s specialty as a freshman was the 400-meter dash. he placed fourth in the event at both the Big outh indoor and outdoor championships. Williams, a senior multi-event specialist, should also contribute in the sprinting events. he split 56 seconds during a 4 x 400 relay last season. peaking of relays, the Lady Flames set school records in both outdoor sprint relays in 2007, clocking 45.95 for the 4 x 100 and 3:41.00 for the 4 x 400. Of the two, the Liberty 4 x 400 squad appears to be the most formidable this season. Three of the four legs are back from the record-setting unit, including Williams, Hibbert and Freeman. Watson looks to be the top candidate to fill the vacancy. Meanwhile, Beckles and Hibbert are back for the 4 x 100 relay, but the other two spots are a bit uncertain. ophomore Brittany Heath and Houseknecht are two possible additions to the relay squad. Mid-distance The mid-distance events are another area of strength and depth for the Lady Flames track team. Tolsma believes his team could possibly put four runners under 2:15 in the 800 and four runners under 4:40 in the 1,500- meter run. The unit is paced by a pair of titlists from the 2007 Big outh Outdoor Track & Field Championships, juniors Watson (800 meters) and Ricksecker (1,500 meters). Other returning All-Big outh performers in the mid-distance races include senior arah Roberts, back after an injury-plagued 2007 campaign, and junior Ashley Osborne, a standout distance runner who possesses the foot speed to run shorter races as well. A trio of freshmen Albright, Rod Esther Castor and Miglis round out the 800/1,500 specialists. Albright has displayed considerable potential early on in her Liberty career, garnering All-Big outh honors in cross country. Castor and Miglis both hail from New Jersey and both ran 2:20 or faster in high school. The Lady Flames wealth of talented mid-distance athletes could afford Liberty a realistic attempt at the program outdoor 4 x 800 (8:59.48) and distance medley relay (11:45.48) records. 12
WOMEN OUTLOOK Liberty s distance runners have not only claimed back-to-back Big outh cross country team titles, but also played an important role in the Lady Flames outdoor track crown last season. Liberty athletes won the steeplechase, 5K and 10K and claimed five of nine All-Big outh distinctions in the three disciplines. Newby returns for her senior season of the steeplechase, after capturing her first Big outh title in the event in 2007. he is the Lady Flames highest returning finisher from the NCAA East Regional Championships, where she placed 14th in the steeplechase in a school-record time of 10:35.19. Bushman, the 2007 Big outh Women s Cross Country Freshman of the Year, will serve as Newby s understudy in the event. Jefferson is one of the most decorated female distance runners in Big outh Conference history. A six-time conference champion, the senior has won the conference indoor 5,000 meters and outdoor 5,000 and 10,000- meter races two-straight seasons. he made her first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last season, after clocking a schoolrecord 10,000-meter time of 34:37.27. Osborne looks to follow up a sophomore season of dramatic improvements with another stellar year. he cut her 5,000-meter time from 17:58 to a program-record 16:42.79 last season. Valliere will close out her career at Liberty after using her first three seasons of eligibility at Cal Poly. Hurdles The 100 and 400-meter hurdle events are two of the disciplines where Tolsma will have to rely on newcomers. Houseknecht is perhaps the most promising of the hurdling newcomers. he clocked 8.80 for the 60-meter hurdles during high school and won the Pennsylvania state title in the event indoors. Other options in the sprint hurdles include freshman heptathlete Krystle Matthews and junior JoEllyn Graham, a transfer from Louisville. Both have shown noticeable improvement during the preseason. Williams, another heptathlete, represents the Lady Flames most experienced option at the 400-meter hurdles. he placed third at the Big outh outdoor meet in the discipline last season, posting a personal best of 1:02.46. Throws Liberty lacks depth and experience in the throwing events this season, after the graduation of Caitlyn utterfield. The javelin looks to be the Flames strongest throwing event. Junior Kristen Dalton is a two-time Big outh placer in the javelin, and took fifth a season ago. Freshman Matthews has also thrown the spear over 110 feet. Jumps Aghaji looks to make an immediate impact in three of the four jumping events during her freshman campaign at Liberty, the high jump, the long jump (L-R): Rebekah Ricksecker, arah Roberts & Kati Albright and the triple jump. he will complement the Lady Flames more experienced jumpers, including Hibbert and Williams. Aghaji has the ability to clear 5-8 in the high jump, according to Tolsma. Williams, who leapt 5-3.25 a season ago, aims to raise the bar higher this season. Freshmen Matthews and Tristyn Olson add depth in the event. Hibbert ranks No. 3 on Liberty s all-time performance list in the long jump, owning a personal best of 19-6. Rookies Aghaji and Matthews will be regulars in the discipline as well. Aghaji s specialty, though, is the triple jump. he ranked among the top 10 high school performers in the nation as a senior at Matoaca High chool, reaching a wind-aided 40-11.75. Hibbert placed eighth at the Big outh outdoor meet last season, and freshman Jennifer Healey appears ready to sail past her personal best of 37-5 from high school. Junior Emily Funderburke and sophomore Erin Hudson return to anchor Liberty s pole vault crew. Funderburke placed third at the Big outh outdoor championships, going over 10 feet, and Hudson tied for fifth. Houseknecht, just learning the event, has also displayed potential. Heptathlon Williams will take the mantle from standout multi athletes Danielle McNaney and Zelinskas before her. he acquitted herself quite well a season ago, winning the Big outh pentathlon and heptathlon crowns. Williams also placed sixth at the ECAC Championships with a personal-best heptathlon total of 4,775. Tolsma and his staff will also look to aid in the development of freshmen Healey and Matthews this season. 13
WOMEN HEAD HOT P R I N T / H U R D L E Mia Aghaji heronica Henton Ashley Teer Andrea Beckles Charlene Hibbert Jaime Watson Chenoa Freeman Rachel Houseknecht Marie Williams 2008 TRACK & FIELD JoEllyn Graham Krystle Matthews TRACK & FIELD M I D - D I T A N C E Kati Albright arah Roberts Rod Esther Castor Ashley Teer Nicole Miglis Jaime Watson Rebekah Ricksecker 14
WOMEN HEAD HOT D I T A N C E Dacia Bushman Ashley Osborne Carol Jefferson Rachel Valliere Melissa Martens Piper Newby heronica Henton Dacia Bushman T H R O W Kristen Dalton heronica Henton Krystle Matthews hekina ims 15
WOMEN HEAD HOT 2008 TRACK & FIELD Mia Aghaji Emily Funderburke Jennifer Healey heronica Henton J U M P Charlene Hibbert Rachel Houseknecht Erin Hudson Krystle Matthews Tristyn Olson Marie Williams TRACK & FIELD H E P T A T H L O N Jennifer Healey heronica Henton Krystle Matthews Marie Williams 16
WOMEN PROFILE Mia AGHAJI Freshman, 5-9 Jumps/Hurdles Chester, Va. High Jump - 5-8 Triple Jump - 40-11.75 Prep: Attended Matoaca H.. earned all-state recognition as a sophomore, junior and senior triple jumped a windaided 40-11.75 as a senior, ranking among the nation s top 10 high school performances posted a 5-8 high jump in high school, claiming district and regional titles in the event competed in the Down Under International Games in Australia and won the high jump gold medal Personal: Daughter of Virginia Aghaji biology major birthday is April 28. Kati ALBRIGHT Freshman, 5-6 Wake Forest, N.C. 800-2:15.99 Mile - 4:53.77 2007 Cross Country (Fr.): Finished eighth at the Big outh Championships, earning All-Big outh honors won collegiate debut, running unattached, at the Virginia Tech Invitational Prep: Home schooled won the freshman/sophomore race at the 2002 Foot Locker outh Regional Cross Country Championships by more than 40 seconds placed eighth in the two-mile at the 2003 Nike Indoor Championships, in 11:09 Personal: Daughter of Don and Cathi Albright major is missions intends to work in sports missions birthday is March 30. Andrea BECKLE Junior, 5-5 prints Lynchburg, Va. 60-7.62 100-11.96 2007 (o.): A part of two program-record performances clocked a Liberty record 7.62 in the indoor 60-meter dash led off for the Lady Flames Big outh champion 4 x 100 relay team outdoors, which ran a program and conferencerecord 45.95 conference runner-up at 100 meters outdoors and took third place at 60 meters indoors made the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2006 (Fr.): Ran a 7.73 for the indoor 60 meters finished seventh in the Big outh outdoor 100 meters included on the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll Prep: Attended Lynchburg Christian Academy her last two years of high school Personal: Daughter of Anthony and Bernie Beckles father is Liberty s Vice President for Finance elementary education major birthday is ept. 13. Dacia BUHMAN Freshman, 5-6 Castalia, Iowa 3,000-10:11.86 5,000-18:00.31 2007 Cross Country (Fr.): Named Big outh Freshman of the Year after placing sixth at the conference meet ran a Liberty freshman 6K record time of 21:39.30, taking 44th at the NCAA outheast Regional Championships served as Lady Flames No. 2 runner for most of the season Prep: Home schooled earned a pair of runner-up finishes at the Iowa state cross country meet (2003 & 2006) twice finished third at the Iowa state meet in the 1,500 meters (2006 & 2007) Personal: Daughter of Chuck and Maryls Bushman one of nine children nursing major birthday is ept. 16. Rod Esther CATOR Freshman, 5-6 Mid-distance Hamilton, N.J. 800-2:18.3 1,600-5:12.3 2007 Cross Country (Fr.): Earned top 10 finishes in each of her first two collegiate cross country meets, ending up sixth at the Virginia Tech Invitational and seventh at the Longwood Invitational Prep: Attended teinert H.. her best times included 2:18.3 for 800 meters and 5:12.3 for 1,600 meters Personal: Daughter of Villate and Marie Castor plans to major in kinesiology birthday is Dec. 7. 17
WOMEN PROFILE 2008 TRACK & FIELD TRACK & FIELD Kristen DALTON Junior, 5-2 Javelin Wanchese, N.C. Javelin - 122-1 2007 (o.): Placed fifth in the javelin at the Big outh Championships, with a season-best 117-7 heave 2006 (Fr.): Competed in both track and volleyball at High Point finished third in the javelin at the Big outh meet earned a spot on the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll Prep: Tabbed the Female Athlete of the Year at Manteo H.. as a senior Personal: Daughter of David and Ruth Dalton also a member of Liberty s 2007 Big outh Champion volleyball team kinesiology major birthday is March 4. Chenoa FREEMAN ophomore, 5-4 prints Lincoln, Del. 200-25.14 400-55.70 2007 (Fr.): Came in fourth in the 400-meter dash at both the Big outh indoor and outdoor meets helped the 4 x 400 relay team set a school record with a 3:41.00 at the ECAC outdoor championships notched a personal-best 400 time of 55.76 made the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll Prep: Attended Christian Tabernacle Academy Personal: Daughter of Leslie Freeman, Jr. and Cheryl N. Freeman majoring in English birthday is ept. 22. Emily FUNDERBURKE Junior, 5-7 Pole Vault Fredericksburg, Va. Pole Vault - 10-0.75 2007 (o.): Earned All-Big outh distinction with her thirdplace finish in the pole vault at the Big outh outdoor meet, after a personal-best 10-0.75 clearance took fourth at the indoor conference meet in the event 2006 (Fr.): Tied for sixth indoors and was eighth outdoors at the conference meet in the pole vault Prep: Attended Courtland H.. Personal: Daughter of Dennis and Patricia Funderburke sister arah was a member of Lynchburg College track team VCAR (graphic design) major birthday is Oct. 3. JoEllyn GRAHAM R-ophomore, 5-6 Hurdles Louisville, Ky. 100 Hurdles - 14.49 2007 (o.): Took a redshirt during her first season at Liberty 2006 (Fr.): Ran for Louisville, clocking 14.49 for the 100- meter hurdles Prep: Attended the Christian Academy of Louisville Personal: Daughter of Jay and Terry Graham kinesiology major birthday is on April 3. Jennifer HEALEY Freshman, 5-6 Heptathlon Virginia Beach, Va. Triple Jump - 37-5 Prep: Attended Kellam H.. recorded personal bests of 37-5 in the triple jump and 42.76 in the 300-meter dash Personal: Daughter of Joe and Jill Healey intends to major in psychology birthday is Oct. 23. Chenoa Freeman 18
Brittany HEATH ophomore, 5-5 prints Freeport, Grand Bahamas 200-25.7 400-58.9 2007 (Fr.): Won the 400-meter dash title at the VMI Winter Relays included on the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll Prep: Attended unland Baptist Academy, graduating on the 1st Class Honor Roll Personal: Daughter of Jillian Bartlett and John Heath major is business finance birthday is March 4. heronica HENTON ophomore, 5-3 Heptathlon Raeford, N.C. 200-25.51 hot Put - 39-11.5 2007 (Fr.): Took home fourth place in the Big outh heptathlon and was fifth in the indoor pentathlon Prep: Attended Hoke H.. Personal: Daughter of Randy and Arnice Mercer business management major birthday is June 30. Charlene HIBBERT enior, 5-8 prints/jumps Mississauga, Ontario 400-55.67 Long Jump - 19-6 WOMEN PROFILE Brittany Heath at both 200 meters (24.27) and 400 meters (55.67) 2006 (o.): Placed fourth in the long jump, fifth in the 400 and sixth in the triple jump at the Big outh outdoor meet took sixth in the long jump at the indoor conference meet 2005 (Fr.): Came in seventh in the ECAC long jump indoors placed second in the long jump and third in the 400 at the Big outh indoor championships placed third in both the long jump and 400 outdoors Prep: Attended Lorne Park.. Personal: Daughter of Michael and Charmaine Hibbert sister of Liberty junior track athlete, Chris Hibbert business marketing and communications, public relations and advertising are her majors birthday is Dec. 30. 2007 (Jr.): Placed in five events at the Big outh Outdoor Track Championships, including first in the 4 x 100 relay in a school-record time of 45.95, third in the long jump and fourth in the 200 dash helped the Lady Flames finish second with a school-record 3:41.00 effort in the 4 x 400 relay at the ECAC outdoor meet claimed fifth place in both the triple jump and long jump at the Big outh indoor meet recorded a seventh-place finish in the ECAC indoor long jump became Liberty s No. 3 all-time outdoor performer 19
WOMEN PROFILE 2008 TRACK & FIELD Erin HUDON ophomore, 5-6 Pole Vault Whitacre, Va. Pole Vault - 9-7 2007 (Fr.): Tied for fifth in the pole vault at the Big outh outdoor meet placed seventh at the Big outh Indoor Championships Prep: Named Track Athlete of the Year at James Wood H.. Personal: Daughter of Donald and Bonnie Hudson kinesiology major birthday is May 1. Carol JEFFERON enior, 5-7 chwenksville, Pa. 5,000-16:50.86 10,000-34:37.27 TRACK & FIELD Erin Hudson Rachel HOUEKNECHT Freshman, 5-5 Hurdles/Pole Vault Hughesville, Pa. 100 Hurdles - 14.49 Prep: Attended Hughesville H.. won the 2007 Pennsylvania state 100-meter hurdles title in 14.49 seconds, after finishing third in the event in 2006 owns school records at 100 meters (12.40), 200 meters (25.92), 100 hurdles (14.49) and 300 hurdles (45.60) Personal: Daughter of Greg and Laurie Houseknecht kinesiology/cross-cultural studies major birthday is on Oct. 11. 2007 Cross Country (r.): Placed 22nd in the gold race at the Notre Dame Invitational helped the Lady Flames capture their second-straight Big outh team title 2007 (Jr.): Won three Big outh individual championships, increasing her career total to six swept the Big outh outdoor 5K and 10K titles for the second year in a row indoors, defended her Big outh 5K title and took second in the 3K finished second in the Penn Relays college 10K made her first appearance at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, in the 10K set indoor 5K (17:03.23) and outdoor 10K (34:37.27) Liberty and Big outh records 2006 (o.): Captured three Big outh first-place finishes won the 5K at the conference indoor meet was the 5K and 10K titlist at the Big outh Outdoor Championships placed sixth in the ECAC outdoor 10K race 2005 (Fr.): Placed fifth in the Big outh mile indoors ran a leg on the 4 x 800 relay squad which garnered All-East Honors Prep: Attended Perkiomen Valley H.. with Liberty teammate arah Roberts Personal: Daughter of David and June Jefferson interiors and fashion merchandising major birthday is June 19. 20
Krystle MATTHEW Freshman, 5-7 Heptathlon Chesapeake, Va. Heptathlon - 4,343 Prep: Attended Deep Creek H.. broke the school 300- meter hurdles and 4 x 400 relay records posted a 4,343 in the heptathlon also played basketball for three years Personal: Daughter of Karol and Elton Matthews kinesiology major birthday is Dec. 18. Piper NEWBY enior, 5-5 Hayden Lake, Idaho teeplechase - 10:35.19 5,000-17:08.80 2007 Cross Country (r.): Earned All-Big outh recognition with second-place finish at the conference meet also an all-region performer after coming in 17th in a Liberty 6K record time (21:07.70) at the NCAA outheast Regional Championships made both the Big outh and UTFCC- CA All-Academic teams 2007 (Jr.): Big outh steeplechase champion took fourth place in the ECAC steeplechase set a school steeplechase record at the NCAA East Regional Championships, 10:35.19 Big outh 5K runner-up indoors placed third at the conference cross country championships part of the Big outh All- Academic Team for cross country and the UTFCCCA All- Academic Team for track & field included on the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2006 (o.): Took third place in the steeplechase at the Big outh outdoor meet and was sixth in the 5K earned inclusion on the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2005 (Fr.): Crossed the line fourth in the Big outh steeplechase championship was seventh at the 5,000-meter distance indoors Prep: Attended Coeur d Alene H.. Personal: Daughter of Vern and Kristine Newby kinesiology major birthday is April 16. WOMEN PROFILE Ashley OBORNE Junior, 5-2 Bristol, Va. 1,500-4:39.29 5,000-16:42.79 2007 Cross Country (Jr.): Placed 14th at the Big outh meet, helping the Lady Flames repeat as conference champions finished as Liberty s No. 4 runner, placing 55th overall at the NCAA outheast Regional Championships 2007 (o.): et the Liberty 5K outdoor school record at the Penn Relays, 16:42.79 recorded second (10K), third (1,500 meters) and fourth-place (5K) finishes at the Big outh Outdoor Championships was third in the 5K and fourth in the 3K indoors broke through for an eighth-place finish and an 18:26 5K time at the Big outh Cross Country Championships included on the UTFCCA Women s All- Academic team made the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2006 (Fr.): Ended up third in the 10K and fourth in the 5K at the Big outh outdoor meet part of the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll Prep: Attended John. Battle H.. won Virginia Class A state title in the 3,200 meters and was second at 1,600 meters Personal: Daughter of Michael and ue Osborne nursing major birthday is Aug. 16. Ashley Osborne (L) and Piper Newby 21
WOMEN PROFILE Rebekah RICKECKER Junior, 5-7 Mid-distance Laurel, Del. 1,500-4:33.22 2007 Cross Country (Jr.): A consistent top four runner for the Lady Flames all season notched her career-best 5K time of 18:07 to finish seventh at the Big outh meet named Big outh Cross Country Runner of the Week on ept. 12, after finishing second at the season-opening Virginia Tech Invitational 2007 (o.): Big outh 1,500- meter champion outdoors and placed third in the 800 at the indoor conference meet, claimed runner-up honors in the mile and was fourth at 800 meters tabbed Big outh Women s Track Athlete of the Week on May 9, after posting a career-best 800 time of 2:11.33 at the Liberty Twilight meet nabbed seventh place at the Big outh cross country meet member of the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2006 (Fr.): Earned fourth-place finishes at 800 meters at both the Big outh Indoor and Outdoor Championships included on the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll Prep: Attended ussex Technical H.. won the Delaware state title at 800 meters Personal: Daughter of Robert and Ruth Ricksecker elementary education major birthday is Nov. 25. 2008 TRACK & FIELD arah ROBERT enior, 5-6 Mid-distance Zieglerville, Pa. 800-2:15.67 1,500-4:40.95 2007 Cross Country (r.): Returned from injury to run at the Big outh Cross Country Championships and help Liberty claim its second-consecutive conference crown 2007 (Jr.): Garnered her third All-Big outh honor in cross country, taking a sixth-place finish at the conference meet hampered by injury the entire track season earned a spot on the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2006 (o.): Part of the victorious distance medley relay team and was eighth in the mile at the Big outh indoor meet outdoors, was the 800-meter runner-up and took sixth at 1,500 meters Big outh runner-up in cross country made the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2005 (Fr.): Claimed a pair of third-place finishes (800, 1,500) at the Big outh Outdoor Championships came in 10th at the Big outh cross country meet Prep: Attended Perkiomen Valley H.., where she was a teammate of fellow Liberty senior Carol Jefferson Personal: Daughter of Dave and Janice Roberts VCAR (visual communication) major birthday is Jan. 27. Ashley TEER ophomore, 5-5 Mid-distance Abbotsford, British Columbia 800-2:22.72 TRACK & FIELD Ashley Teer 2007 (Fr.): Ran a season-best 800-meter time of 2:22.72 at the Liberty Asics Invitational finished second in the 800 at the VMI Winter Relays Prep: Attended W.J. Mouat econdary Personal: Daughter of Tim and Judy Teer father, Tim, played basketball and baseball at Duke two older sisters, Allison and Amy, ran track for Liberty communications/advertising major birthday is April 29. 22
WOMEN PROFILE Jaime WATON Junior, 5-6 Mid-distance Ravenna, Mich. 400-55.23 800-2:08.34 Jaime Watson, on her way to winning the 2007 Big outh outdoor 800-meter title. Rachel VALLIERE enior, 5-5 an Luis Obispo, Calif. 3,000-10:13.29 5,000-17:41.86 2007 Cross Country (r.): Crossed the line at the Big outh meet as Liberty s fifth finisher and 13th place overall Previous chool: Ran three years for Cal Poly, serving as her team s No. 1 distance runner most of the time Prep: Attended an Luis Obispo H.. named top female athlete at the school finished 15th at the California state cross country meet as a senior also played tennis and ran track Personal: Daughter of Donny and tephanie Valliere graduated from Cal Poly with a bachelor s degree in kinesiology currently pursuing a master s degree in theological studies at Liberty Theological eminary birthday is Jan. 2. 2007 (o.): Claimed her second-straight Big outh 800- meter outdoor title and broke her own meet record by running 2:10.50 also ran on the second-place 4 x 400 relay unit at the Big outh outdoor meet made the Big outh Presidential Honor Roll 2006 (Fr.): et a pair of indoor school records (800 and 4 x 400 relay) finished second in the 4 x 400 relay, third in the 800 and fourth in the mile at the Big outh indoor meet won the Big outh outdoor 800- meter crown and anchored the 4 x 400 relay to second place Big outh Presidential Honor Roll member Prep: Attended Allendale H.. Personal: Daughter of Duane and Laurie Watson sport management major birthday is Aug. 21. Marie WILLIAM enior, 5-9 Heptathlon Tampa, Fla. Pentathlon - 3,504 Heptathlon - 4,775 2007 (Jr.): wept the Big outh pentathlon and heptathlon titles also claimed third place in the conference 400- meter hurdles was part of the quartet which placed second in the ECAC outdoor 4 x 400 relay and set a school record of 3:41.00 finished sixth in the ECAC heptathlon, scoring a personal-best 4,775 points 2006 (o.): Placed third in the Big outh heptathlon for the second-consecutive season 2005 (Fr.): Came in third in the Big outh heptathlon Prep: Attended The Cambridge chool placed in three events at the Florida state track meet as a senior, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 300-meter hurdles Personal: Daughter of Clyde and Joanie Williams communications major birthday is Oct. 26. 23