RADFORD, Va. – Liberty’s men and Coastal Carolina’s women finished off dominant performances with wins at the 2009 New Balance Big South Track & Field Championships at Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium Saturday.

The men of Liberty sealed the win with 216 points, and Coastal Carolina’s women finished with 228 points.  Both teams bested the field by more than triple figures.

Taking home outstanding track performer honors on the women’s side in the win was Coastal Carolina’s Ikeiylah Brown, with victories in the 100m (11.59) and 200m (23.42) events on Saturday.  Brown’s times in both events met the NCAA qualifying standard and set Cupp Stadium records; her 100m time was a new Big South championship record, and  her 200m mark set a new overall conference record.

On the men’s side, Levi Brooks of Charleston Southern wrapped up outstanding track athlete honors.  Brooks had wins in the 200m (21.26) and 400m (47.67) events, and hit both the NCAA qualifying mark and a Cupp Stadium record in the 200m. 

Helping the Flames to a win on the men’s side was freshman Anthony Bryant, with a hat-trick of victories in the high jump, triple jump and long jump to earn Big South Outstanding Field Performer honors.  Bryant set a Big South overall and facility record in the triple jump (15.85m), and a championship and stadium record in the high jump (2.15m). 

The women’s outstanding field performer was Marie Williams of Liberty, who took a heptathlon championship, along with a second place high jump finish.  Williams topped the heptathlon field by more than 100 points (4,760), setting a new championship record .

Freshman of the year on the men’s side went to Liberty’s John Talbert, who helped the Flames to victory with a first-place finish in the discus throw.  The women’s freshman of the year was Radford’s Aimee Veatch, the Big South hammer throw champion and a third-place finisher in the discus throw.

Liberty's Phil Leineweber and Marcie Veitch of Coastal Carolina were named the League's Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Coach of the year on the men’s side was Liberty’s Brant Tolsma, who delivered the Flames their 14th straight men’s title.  Alan Connie was named women’s coach of the year  for the women, bringing Coastal Carolina its second straight outdoor title.

Men’s Team Scoring (Final)
1) Liberty - 216
2) VMI – 107
3) Coastal Carolina - 101.5
4) Radford - 99
5) High Point - 86
6) Charleston Southern - 75
7) Gardner-Webb – 67.5
8) Winthrop - 58
9) UNC Asheville - 5
 
Women’s Team Scoring (Final)
1) Coastal Carolina – 228
2) Liberty – 128.5
3) High Point - 97
4) Charleston Southern - 92
5) Gardner-Webb – 82.5
6) Radford – 81.5
7) Winthrop – 54.5
8) VMI – 38
9) UNC Asheville – 15
 
Men’s Track Performer of the Year
Levi Brooks, Charleston Southern

Women’s Track Performer of the Year
Ikeiylah Brown, Coastal Carolina

Men’s Field Performer of the Year
Anthony Bryant, Liberty

Women’s Field Performer of the Year
Marie Williams, Liberty

Men’s Freshman of the Year
John Talbert, Liberty

Women’s Freshman of the Year
Aimee Veatch, Radford

Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Phil Leineweber, Liberty

Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Marcie Veitch, Coastal Carolina

Men’s All-Academic Team
Will Beasley, UNC Asheville
Jean Pierre Poisson, Charleston Southern
Josh Morgan, High Point
Phil Leineweber, Liberty
Paul Steinke, Gardner-Webb
Matt Dobson, Radford
Kevin Davis, Coastal Carolina
Trevor Beesley, Winthrop

Women’s All-Academic Team
Kelly Bridges, Gardner-Webb
Zsannett Kis, High Point
Andrea Beckles, Liberty
Marcie Veitch, Coastal Carolina
Carly Moss, Winthrop
Zipporah McCann, VMI
Brittany Owens, Charleston Southern
Ashlyn Sinclair, Radford
Natalie Pearson, UNC Asheville

Men’s Coach of the Year
Brant Tolsma, Liberty

Women’s Coach of the Year
Alan Connie, Coastal Carolina