2006 ROSTER Women s Cross Country Roster Name Yr. Ht. Hometown High School (Previous School) Carol Jefferson Jr. 5-6 Schwenksville, Pa. Perkiomen Valley HS Meleia Johnson R-So. 5-7 Pine City, Minn. Pine City HS Molly Morgan R-So. 5-7 Clarkston, Mich. Barnesville HS Piper Newby Jr. 5-5 Hayden Lake, Idaho Coeur d'alene HS Ashley Osborne So. 5-2 Bristol, Va. John S. Battle HS Reyna Quiroz R-Jr. 5-4 Canyonville, Ore. Canyon Christian Academy Leah Ramey Fr. 5-4 Marengo, Ohio Highland HS Rebekah Ricksecker So. 5-7 Laurel, Del. Sussex Technical Sarah Roberts Jr. 5-6 Zeiglerville, Pa. Perkiomen Valley HS Rebekah Wahlquist Jr. 5-6 Richmond, Va. Douglas Southall Freeman HS Jaime Watson So. 5-4 Ravenna, Mich. Allendale HS Jo Welch Jr. 5-1 Castro Valley, Calif. Redwood Christian HS (California Baptist) Men s Cross Country Roster Name Yr. Ht. Hometown High School (Previous School) James Doak So. 5-11 Kintnersville, Pa. Palisades HS Joshua Edmonds Fr. 5-11 Cooperstown, N.Y. Cooperstown Central HS Nate Edwards Jr. 6-1 Warren, Mich. Warren Mott HS Clint Jackson Jr. 6-3 Cascade, Colo. Colorado Springs Christian HS Jarvis Jelen Jr. Sioux Falls, S.D. Lincoln HS (Augustana) Amos Mburu Fr. 5-4 Thika, Kenya Gatunyu Secondary Jordan McDougal R-So. Peru, N.Y. Home School Josh McDougal Jr. Peru, N.Y. Home School Andrew Ponder Jr. 6-0 Colonial Heights, Va. Colonial Heights HS Jordan Whitlock Fr. Elmhurst, Ill. York HS Head Coach: Brant Tolsma (21st year at Liberty) Assistant Coach: Heather Zealand (Fifth year at Liberty) Assistant Coach: Greg Jimmerson (First year at Liberty) Lady Flames by State Flames by State/Country California (1) Jo Welch Ohio (1) Leah Ramey Colorado (1) Clint Jackson Pennsylvania (1) James Doak Delaware (1) Rebekah Ricksecker Idaho (1) Piper Newby Michigan (2) Molly Morgan Jaime Watson Minnesota (1) Meleia Johnson Oregon (1) Reyna Quiroz Pennsylvania (2) Carol Jefferson Sarah Roberts Virginia (2) Ashley Osborne Rebekah Wahlquist Illinois (1) Jordan Whitlock Michigan (1) Nate Edwards New York (3) Joshua Edmonds Jordan McDougal Josh McDougal South Dakota (1) Jarvis Jelen Virginia (1) Andrew Ponder Kenya (1) Amos Mburu 9
THE LADY FLAMES CAROL JEFFERSON 5-6 Schwenksville, Pa. 5K (18:37), 6K (22:02) 2006 CROSS COUNTRY 11:10 at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships, placing her third in the event 2004 (Fr.): Crossed the line 33rd at the Big South Cross Country Championships Placed in the Big South steeplechase at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships Prep: Attended Coeur d' Alene High School twice advanced to the Idaho state track and field meet in the pole vault Personal: Daughter of Vern and Kristine Newby majoring in kinesiology birthday is on April 16. ASHLEY OSBORNE CROSS COUNTRY Established herself as one of the top distance runners in the Big South Conference a season ago 2005 (So.): Big South all-conference performer placed fifth at the season-opening Virginia Tech Invitational won the VMI Invitational was the Big South Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week on 9/21 finished ninth at the Big South Cross Country Championships was the top Liberty finisher at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, placing 59th won the 5,000 meters at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships in a time of 17:06 was victorious in the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships broke the 10,000-meter school record at the ECAC Regional Championship, running a 36:17 to place sixth 2004 (Fr.): Finished 15th at the Big South Championships crossed the line fifth in the mile at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships in a time of 5:09 Prep: Attended Perkiomen Valley High School a high school teammate of Sarah Roberts finished sixth at the Pennsylvania Indoor Track and Field State Meet in the mile with a time of 5:12 won Coaches Award during both her junior and senior seasons first-team all-league for both cross country and track Personal: Daughter of David and June Jefferson majoring in interiors and fashion merchandising birthday is on June 19. PIPER NEWBY 5-5 Hayden Lake, Idaho 5K (19:35), 6K (23:13) Has become a consistent performer for the Lady Flames enjoyed a breakthrough spring in the steeplechase looks ready to be a consistent scorer for LU this fall 2005 (So.): Big South Presidential Honor Roll finished 15th at the VMI Invitational placed 20th at the Big South Championships ran an 18:20 5K at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships, good for eighth place broke the school record multiple times in the 3,000-meter steeplechase best effort in the steeplechase was an Sophomore 5-2 Bristol, Va. 5K (19:05), 6K (23:43) Showed consistent improvement throughout her freshman year will likely be one of the Lady Flames' top contributors this fall 2005 (Fr.): Big South Presidential Honor Roll placed eighth at the VMI Invitational was 22nd at the Big South Championships finished fifth in the 3,000 meters at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships ran a 17:58 in her first 5K on the track at the UNC- Charlotte 49er Classic earned Big South Outdoor Track and Field all-conference status with her third-place finish in the 10,000 meters was also fourth in the 5,000 meters at the Big South meet Prep: Attended John S. Battle High School ran a 19:05 cross country 5K won state Single-A title in the 3200 meters and was second in the 1600 meters Personal: Daughter of Michael and Sue Osborne majoring in nursing birthday is on August 16. REYNA QUIROZ R- 5-4 Canyonville, Ore. 5K (19:09), 6K (22:35) Has persevered through injuries and other setbacks throughout her career at Liberty Should be among the top performers in 2006 2005 (R-So.): Placed fourth at the VMI Invitational was 13th at the Big South Championships was Liberty's fourth finisher at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, placing 86th overall ran a 5K PR of 18:14 at the Big South Indoor Track and 10
Field Championships, finishing seventh in the race 2004 (So.): Redshirted the 2004 running season 2003 (Fr.): Raced to a 19th-place finish at the Big South Championships was Liberty's third finisher at the NCAA Regional Championships Prep: Attended Canyonville Christian Academy ran a 4:53 1,500-meter race and a 19:30 cross country 5K Borderclash meet qualifier placed fourth at the state meet Personal: Daughter of Griselda Quiroz majoring in Spanish birthday is on December 3. REBEKAH RICKSECKER Sophomore 5-7 Laurel, Del. 5K (19:25), 6K (22:46) A talented athlete who could step up to make a significant contribution 2005 (Fr.): Big South Presidential Honor Roll bounced back from a knee injury to place 16th at the Big South Championships placed fourth in the 800 meters and seventh in the mile at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships took fourth in the 800 meters and fifth in the 1500 meters at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships clocked season bests of 2:12 in the 800 meters and 4:38 in the 1500 meters Prep: Attended Sussex Technical High School Delaware state champion in the 800 meters, state runner-up in the 1600 meters in 2004 placed fourth at state cross country meet conference champion in four events as a senior Personal: Daughter of Robert and Ruth Ricksecker majoring in elementary education birthday is on November 25. SARAH ROBERTS 5-6 Zeiglerville, Pa. 5K (18:03), 6K (21:54) THE LADY FLAMES Hard-working and experienced, she will provide solid leadership to the distance squad 2005 (So.): Big South allconference performer Big South Presidential Honor Roll finished second to teammate, Carol Jefferson, at the VMI Invitational was Liberty's top performer at the Pre- National meet, placing 91st with a PR time of 21:54 for the 6K took second place at the Big South Championships with an 18:03 effort stress fracture ended promising season prematurely bounced back to place eighth in the mile at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships earned Big South all-conference laurels after placing second in the 800 meters at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships was also sixth in the 1,500 meters at the Big South meet 2004 (Fr.): Big South all-conference performer placed ninth at the Great American Festival took 10th at the Big South Championships two-time Big South all-conference athlete during the outdoor track and field season finished third in both the 800 meters and the 1500 meters at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships Prep: Attended Perkiomen Valley High School a high school teammate of Carol Jefferson placed fourth in the AAA state meet as a senior, running a 5:00.03 for 1,600 meters ran a 2:13 split in the 4 x 800 relay at the state meet won eight individual conference titles athlete of the year in 2003 placed fifth in the state meet in the 1,600 her junior year won Summit Outstanding Career Award in 2004 Personal: Daughter of Dave and Janice Roberts majoring in art birthday is on January 27. JO WELCH 5-1 Castro Valley, Calif. 5K (19:28), 6K (22:51) A talented, determined and hard-working athlete who has worked her way into the top seven should continue to make an impact on the team 2005 (So.): Placed ninth at the VMI Invitational finished 19th at the Big South Championships was fifth among Liberty runners and 103rd overall at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships placed sixth in the 3,000 meters at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships, running a time of 10:21 ran an 18:25 in her first 5K on the track 2004 (Fr.): Attended California Baptist University recorded the 10th-best time in school history for the 5K (19:44) Prep: Attended Redwood Christian High School ran a 19:29 cross country 5K Personal: Daughter of Hernan and Joanne Welch majoring in worship and music ministry and religion birthday is on November 4. 11
THE FLAMES JOSHUA EDMONDS 2006 CROSS COUNTRY JARVIS JELEN Freshman 5-11 Cooperstown, N.Y. Sioux Falls, S.D. 8K (24:48), 10K (30:50) CROSS COUNTRY Promising newcomer who is expected to contribute Prep: Attended Cooperstown Central School as a senior after being home schooled for 11 years finished second at the New York Class D State Cross Country Meet was 10th at the State Federation Meet placed third at the New York State Track and Field Meet in the 3200 meters, running a 9:13.88 recorded PRs of 4:23 (1,600 meters), 9:13 (3,200 meters) and 15:38 (5,000 meters) Personal: Son of Dr. Lee and Jean Edmonds intending to major in either pre-med or criminal justice birthday is on January 8. CLINT JACKSON 6-3 Cascade, Colo. 8K (24:59), 10K (32:43) Talented runner with potential to be among the scorers has battled injuries during his time at Liberty 2005 (So.): Big South all-conference performer Big South Presidential Honor Roll placed 42nd at the Stanford Invitational with an 8K PR of 24:59 finished fourth at the Big South Championships 2004 (Fr.): Placed sixth in his first collegiate race at the Festival in the Fields was 11th at the Big South Championships Prep: Attended Colorado Springs Christian High School was Colorado state 2A runner-up in cross country league and regional champion in cross country, the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters Personal: Son of Dave and Lynda Bjorklund majoring in business birthday is on March 22. Focused and serious, he should play a major role in the Flames' plans this season 2005 (So.): Big South all-conference performer Big South Presidential Honor Roll finished 37th at the Stanford Invitational placed fifth at the Big South Championships was Liberty's second finisher at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, placing 26th overall won All-Big South distinction in indoor track and field meet placed second to Josh McDougal in the mile and was fifth in the 3,000 meters at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships clocked a 4:12 mile 2004 (Fr.): Competed for Augustana College Academic All-American ran 4:18 for indoor mile and 9:34 in steeplechase Prep: Attended Lincoln High School South Dakota state champion in cross country, the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters Personal: Son of Dale and Nancy Jelen majoring in kinesiology birthday is on October 19. AMOS MBURU Freshman 5-4 Thika, Kenya A relatively unknown commodity in distance running a converted sprinter who hopes to contribute in cross country Prep: Attended Gatunyu Secondary School began as a sprinter and hurdler, clocking sub-:48 for 400 meters and sub-:52 for the 400-meter hurdles ran 1:49 for 800 meters and 3:51 for 1,500 has run the 3,000 meters in 8:27 an honor student Personal: Son of James and Joyce Mburu undecided on a major birthday is on July 12. 12
THE FLAMES JORDAN McDOUGAL R-Sophomore Peru, N.Y. Cross Country PR: 8K (23:46) Talented and energetic looking to build upon promising freshman season the younger of Liberty's McDougal brothers 2005 (R-Fr.): Finished second behind his brother at each of the first three cross country meets of the year ran an 8K PR of 23:46 to place second at the Stanford Invitational, defeating Stanford's Nef Aria, the eventual 11th-place finisher at the national meet placed fifth at the USA Track and Field (USATF) Cross Country Championships, earning him a trip to Japan for the World Championships 5,000-meter champion and 3,000-meter runner-up at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships 5,000- and 10,000-meter champion and 1,500-meter runner-up at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships finished second to his brother at the Penn Relays 5K in a PR time of 14:03 2004 (Fr.): Redshirted the cross country season placed fourth at the USA National Championships in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:29 ran under 8:22 for 3,000 meters Prep: Homeschooled with his brother did not run for a team but clocked 25:46 for 8K at an open Dartmouth cross country race placed 23rd at the Foot Locker Northeast regional Personal: Son of Rob and Lisa McDougal majoring in kinesiology birthday is on June 5. JOSH McDOUGAL Peru, N.Y. 8K (23:12), 10K (29:32) Talented, tough and experienced continues to make a name for himself and for Liberty one of the elite collegiate distance runners of all-time 2005 (So.): Became first Liberty athlete to earn NCAA Division I All-American honors in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field in the same academic year won four All- American honors, increasing his career total to six enjoyed undefeated cross country season until NCAA Division I National Championships placed fourth at national meet won NCAA Southeast Regional Championships for second straight year Big South champion for second straight year broke course records at the Stanford Invitational and Pre-Nationals previous course record holder at Stanford was Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi 2005 Big South Runner of the Year 2006 Big South Track and Field Athlete of the Year 2005-06 Big South Howard Bagwell Male Athlete of the Year USA Track and Field (USATF) Cross Country Runner of the Year finished fourth at NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 5,000 meters and was fifth in the 3,000 meters placed ninth in the 5,000 meters at NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2004 (Fr.): Earned a pair of All-American honors as a freshman Undefeated in cross country until 13th-place finish at national meet Big South Runner of the Year Big South Rookie of the Year after becoming first freshman to win the Big South individual title set four course records in his first six races broke Olympian Alan Webb's course record at Winthrop placed fourth at the US World Cross Country Team Trials, four seconds behind Tim Broe and ahead of Alan Webb finished fifth in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships Prep: Finished fourth at the Foot Locker Cross Country National meet earned USATF Athlete of the Week honors for breaking a 22-year-old course record at Van Cortland Park in New York qualified for the USA team at the World Cross Country Championships by clocking 24:27 on the 8K course ran 2004's fastest indoor twomile by a high schooler (8:50.40) ran fifth-fastest all-time high school indoor 3,000 meters second at Adidas Outdoor Nationals two-mile ended up 12th in World Championship 5,000 meters three-time high school All-American Personal: Son of Rob and Lisa McDougal majoring in kinesiology birthday is on June 1. ANDREW PONDER 6-0 Colonial Heights, Va. 8K (25:50), 10K (32:18) Steady and consistent has performed beyond expectations 2005 (So.): Big South all-conference performer Big South Presidential Honor Roll placed 10th at the Big South Championships was Liberty's fourth finisher at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, finishing 82nd enjoyed a great track and field season in the steeplechase won All-Big South distinction at the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships, placing second in the steeplechase placed fourth in the 5,000 meters at the same meet 2004 (Fr.): Finished 19th at the Big South Championships was 100th at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships clocked a 9:37 in his first season trying steeplechase Prep: Twice a district runner-up in cross country recorded a PR of 16:29 for the cross country 5K Personal: Son of Jim and Anna Ponder majoring in physical education birthday is on October 9. 13