Liberty senior Josh McDougal made his 2008 outdoor track & field debut, racing to a NCAA East Regional qualifying time of 3:45.60 while winning the men’s 1,500 meters on a windy Saturday at the Lynchburg Track & Field Classic. The 14-time All-American was one of 10 Liberty event winners on the day at Shellenberger Field.

McDougal (Peru, N.Y.), racing for the first time since the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 15, went through 800 meters in 1:58.4. His official 3:45.60 final clocking eclipsed the eight-year-old meet record. He won the race by nearly 19 seconds and became the Flames’ ninth qualifier for the NCAA East Regional Championships.

McDougal’s distance mate Jarvis Jelen (R-Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) also claimed a comfortable victory. He ran to the 3,000-meter steeplechase title by 12 seconds, crossing the line in 9:20.82.