Liberty Flames Invitational
@Tolsma Indoor Track, Liberty University
Meet Records - Facility Records
Performance wise this meet is going to be huge. There are more athletes entered here in more events than anywhere else in the state this weekend and only two meets have been larger this entire season! Being such a large meet means many out of state teams make the trip up or down to race on this unique surface. One of such teams is NC powerhouse Parkland. Last season they put on a clinic without one of their aces and still managed to handle any event they put their athletes in... simply it was fun to watch.
This season Parkland and High Point both will be putting relays and athletes in many events with the intention of winning them as well. Golden Kumi-Darfour (South Lakes) will be trying to break up this monopoly and is seeded first in both the 500 and 1000 entering the weekend.
In the longer events it is going to be a huge showdown amongst the NXN team from Blacksburg. They seem to be racing everyone this week including freshman 3A State Champ Sophia Link! She and all the other Blacksburg girls are going to get their first shot at Libby Davidson and Sara Freix in the 1600 on Friday. Hometown girl, Noel Palmer though could sneak up and win the 3200 if she gets to run it fresh on Saturday.
Maria Muzzio of James Robinson though may have the biggest historical performance of the weekend as she attempts to move her way up the all-time list in the shot put. She enters the competition as a big favorite but is chasing records not competition this weekend.
Just like in the girls' races, you have to go to the distance events to find a VA athlete really favored over the Parkland and other NC athletes. In the 1000 it should be quite the showdown between Sam Teller, Hunter Jutras, Seamus Otto, Ben Fleming, Brett Shaffer, Michael Shelton, and many more seeded within a second of each other. On this tight track, you can expect this race to come down to the final lap and a half.
A lot of the same names feature highly in the other distance races as well.
In the relays it could be an exciting atmosphere with Granby seeded just behind High Point Central in the 4x200. If they run anywhere close to the times they are seeded at then you know they mean business. Keep an eye on Lee-Davis though in the 4x400 for boys.
This meet may not produce a ton of VA #1's this weekend but it certainly is going to have national caliber athletes and fill a lot of the state qualifiers.