Lynchburg, Va. – The University of Lynchburg track & field team clinched another conference record and two program-best marks at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier on Tuesday at the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex.

Cooper Hurst improved his 3,000m steeplechase conference record with an 8:55.18 performance to finish second in the field. After improving from a 9:01.76 result at the Bryan Clay Invitational earlier this season, the senior solidified a six-second PR to become the first man under the nine-minute mark in Old Dominion Athletic Conference history. His time would qualify for 10th-fastest in DIII going into Tuesday.

Josh Fretwell also clocked the fifth-fastest time in program history, crossing the line in 9:27.37 for seventh place.

In the women's discus, Kenzie Swicegood set a school-record mark for the third time this season with a 137' 1½" (41.80m) hurl. The sophomore began the season with a 37.00m mark and has improved over four meters throughout the outdoor season.

Swicegood also earned fifth place in the women's hammer throw, setting a 132' 6" (40.39m) mark.

Sam Llaneza posted the second-fastest 800m time in program history with a 1:49.03 performance to finish fourth in the field. The personal best marks Llaneza's first time under 1:50 in the event this season despite boasting a 1:49.13 PR coming into Tuesday.

In the men's 5k, Alex Jordan lowered his personal best with a 14:38.07 result to finish second. The freshman earned a podium finish at the ODAC Championships in the 10k last time out.

Also in the top eight, Aidan Riggle clocked 15:08.85 for fifth and Cameron Sidebotham earned 15:19.69 for sixth place.

Tristan Wright clocked 10.44 in the men's 100m dash prelims for fifth against DI competition, while Jaylen Jones placed ninth with a 10.70 finish. On the women's side, Rylee Turner qualified with a 12.47 performance in prelims to finish eighth, moving on to finals and clocking 12.66 for fifth.

Betsy Mohnkern emerged victorious in the women's 100m hurdles with a 14.70 performance. Mohnkern currently holds the ninth-best time in the nation with a 14.07 performance at the ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Michael Hamm placed inside the top ten of the men's 200m dash, earning eighth place after crossing the line in 21.84. To complete the sprinting events, the women's 4x100m relay squad earned second place with a 47.81 performance after winning the ODAC Championships. 

Hannah Edwards tallied another podium finish in the women's 800m, crossing the finish line in 2:14.03 for third.

In field events, the Hornets earned the top three positions in the men's high jump. Jamarcus Brown won the event with the 6' 9¾" (2.08m) bar. Jaren Lee earned second (6' 3¾" or 1.93m) while Elijah Rose finished third at the same height, though he tallied more attempts. In the men's triple jump, Demetri Hinton cracked the podium with a 45' 10¾" (13.99m) leap.

Kacey Kelly threw 131' 3¾" (40.03m) in the women's javelin and earned fourth place, finishing just five-hundredths of a meter behind her personal best.

The Lynchburg track & field squads will continue the postseason as coaches prepare to send athletes to either Lee University, the University of Mount Olive or Widener University for last-chance meets this weekend.

For full results from the Liberty Twilight Qualifier, click here.

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--LYN--