Lynchburg, VA - The N.C. Wesleyan track & field program got off to a blazing start at the Liberty kickoff to begin the 2023-24 season. A record setting day saw a conference record shattered and several Battling Bishops earn top ten national rankings.

Women's Team Highlights:

• Junior Mariah Brooks emerged as a standout among many DI competitors, claiming fourth place overall in the fiercely competitive 60-meter dash. Her swift time not only secured her a national ranking of 5th but also demonstrated her readiness for a strong push towards the national championship in Virginia Beach.
• Freshman Kamiyah Wooten, in her collegiate debut, held her own against fierce competition the 60-meter dash, finishing sixth overall. Despite nerves,Wooten's performance earned her a remarkable eleventh national ranking in the event. Both Brooks and Wooten stood out as the only non-Division I athletes to make the finals among 47 total women.
• Sophomore Ahnia Cherry showcased her speed in the 200-meter dash, securing seventh place out of 63 athletes. Cherry's time of 25.50 marked her as the top-ranked non-Division I female athlete in the event, earning her a national ranking of sixth overall.
• In the field events, Christian Van Norden made history in shot put, claiming sixth place overall with a throw of 39' 2.5". This impressive performance not only set a USA South Conference indoor track and field record, but also marked the furthest non-Division I throw out of 29 competitors. Van Norden is currently ranked third in the NCAA Division III South Region.

Coach Dunn expressed satisfaction with the women's team's competitiveness and highlighted the impressive openers from the women's team.. He commended Christian's hard work, acknowledging her personal record in shot put, and praised the nerve-wracking but commendable performance of freshman Kamiyah Wooten.

"Our women's team was very competitive across the board," Coach Dunn stated. "They are ready to make another strong push towards their goals of winning a national championship."

Men's Team Highlights:

• Graduate student Desmond Barnes, transitioning from the football field, made a remarkable start in shot put with a personal best throw of 40'11.75". This achievement positions the USA South football all-conference selection thirteenth in the NCAA South Region, signaling a promising future in throws.
• Freshman Emmanuel Carrillo-Mendez showcased his talent in the 1000-meter race, finishing twelfth overall with a time of 2:49.43. Despite being new to indoor track, his debut was noteworthy, earning praise from Coach Dunn along with Barnes

" Desmond did really well by starting off with a personal best in the shot put. He is setting himself up to make a splash in the throws," said Coach Dunn. "I was also impressed by my freshman Emmanuel in the 1000-meter race. The men's team is young and still looking to improve, but they will get there once they build confidence."

With a successful start to the season, both the women's and men's teams from North Carolina Wesleyan indoor Track & Field are poised for growth and success as they continue to train for the VCU Indoor Invitational on January 7th.