LYNCHBURG, Va. – It may have been cold and snowy outside, but the athletes of EMU Track & Field were nice and warm inside the Liberty University Indoor Track Complex in Lynchburg for the Liberty Kickoff Invitational on Thursday and Friday to open up their 2025-26 indoor campaign. The Royals put their training to the test against a deep field that included several Division I schools as well as ODAC rivals Lynchburg, Hampden-Sydney, Hollins, and Randolph, Roanoke, and Sweet Briar.
The women's team got their season off on the right foot with some solid performances, including a couple of EMU all-time top 10 performances in the throwing events.
Highlights
- SPRINTS
- 60m Dash: Nia Boyd began her senior indoor season with a personal record performance of 8.71.
- 200m Dash: Boyd ran an indoor PR time of 30.11 in the 200m.
- 300m Dash: Tinyia Terrell, a first-year from Caroline County, Va., made her Royals debut by clocking in at 44.50 in the 300m.
- JUMPS
- Long Jump: Angel David, a junior from Richmond, Va., leapt 4.68m (15'-4.25") in the long jump on Thursday.
- Triple Jump: David completed her jumps double by landing in the sand pit at 10.02m (32'10.5") in the triple jump.
- THROWS
- Weight Throw: Lily Gatesman, a junior from Broadway, Va., had a breakthrough performance in the weight throw, getting a mark of 12.14m (39'9.75"). Not only was the throw a 1.46m PR, but it also puts Gatesman at #2 all-time in EMU history for the indoor weight throw. First-year teammate Addison Shanholtz, also from Broadway, made the top-10 list as well, with her best throw of the day landing at 10.34m (33'-11"). Shanholtz is now #10 in EMU history for the indoor weight throw.
What's Next
EMU Track & Field's opening weekend continues this Sunday, Dec. 7 with a trip to Winchester for the Holiday Kickoff Open, hosted by Shenandoah University. It will be the Royals' last meet before an extended break from competition for the holidays. The meet at Wilkins Athletics & Events Center in Winchester will begin at 11 a.m.
