Liberty University Women's Track & Field

A familiar face returned to Liberty Mountain with Lance Bingham taking over as Liberty’s Director of Track & Field and Cross Country for the 2020-21 athletic...

After spending her final season of collegiate competition at Liberty in 2025, Akilah Lewis is remaining in the Hill City to serve as an assistant coach. In this role, Lewis primarily works with the Flames’ sprinters. Lewis qualified for the 2025 NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet in both the 100 and 4 x 100 relay, helping lower the Lady Flames’ 4 x 100 record to 44.49. She was part of record-setting 4 x 100 squads at all three of her collegiate institutions (also Minnesota and Ole Miss). Lewis raced to a third-place finish in the 2025 CUSA women’s 100 final and went on to take third in the Trinidad and Tobago women’s 100 final as well. Lewis enjoyed a memorable 2024, competing for Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s 4 x 100 relay squad in the Paris Olympics. She also helped Ole Miss race to the 2024 NCAA Division I women’s 4 x 100 relay national title. Competing for Minnesota, Lewis earned second team All-America honors at 60 meters with a 14th-place showing at the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier that season, Lewis was the Big Ten women’s 60 runner-up. The sister of former Liberty standout sprinter Omari Lewis is currently working toward an MBA. She previously graduated from Minnesota in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in finance and human resource & industrial relations.

Alonzo Lopez arrived at Liberty in June of 2022 and primarily works with the cross country and track & field teams. Lopez received his Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training from Liberty in 2022 and currently resides in Lynchburg.

Barry Finke is one of the senior members of the Liberty University Athletic Training staff, having joined the staff in August 2005. He currently works with the Flames' track & field program following a lengthy tenure with the football team. Prior to the start of the 2012 football season, Finke was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Trainer. During his time on the football staff, Finke was part of a program that has won eight Big South titles (2007-10, 2012-14, 2016) and saw the program make its first-ever appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2014. Before joining the staff at Liberty, Finke served as assistant athletic trainer at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., from 2002-05. He was responsible for initial medical assessment of sport-related injuries during middle school and high school athletic events and practices, while also providing treatment and rehabilitation of injuries which occurred during athletic events. Finke got his start at The McCallie School in 2001 as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and served in the role for one year before receiving a full-time position. Finke graduated from UT-Chattanooga in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, fitness and wellness. While pursuing a master’s degree in advanced athletic training, he served as a graduate assistant at UT-Chattanooga, working closely with the football program and supervising several student athletic trainers within the program. Upon completing his undergraduate degree at UT-C

Liberty Athletics Hall of Famer and All-American Heather Zealand made a successful return to her alma mater as a track & field/cross country assistant coach ...

Former Liberty standout Isaac Wendland returned to the Flames as an assistant track & field/cross country coach in January 2019 before being promoted to head...

Lincoln London is joining the Liberty track & field staff as an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season. In his role, London will primarily work with the Flam...

After becoming one of Liberty’s most successful jumpers, Makenzy Willis (formerly Mizera) has continued to serve the program, taking on the role of director of operations in June 2025. In her current position, Willis directs the program’s team and business operations. Her main areas of responsibility include team travel, budget planning and financial administration over recruiting, equipment and team-related operations. Willis served as an assistant coach during the 2024-25 season, primarily working with the jumpers and hurdlers. A native of Maryville, Mo., Willis punctuated her time as a Lady Flame by triple jumping at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Willis, who graduated as the school record holder for the indoor (42-8) and outdoor (42-6) women’s triple jump, was a four-time individual conference champion and a 13-time all-conference performer. Willis was named the Female Field Performer of the Meet after sweeping the women’s long jump and triple jump crowns at the 2024 CUSA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Willis became (at the time of her graduation) one of only five Flames ever to earn four USTFCCCA All-Academic Team accolades (2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024). She has completed two degrees at Liberty, including a bachelor’s in exercise science (2022) and a master’s in human performance (2024). Willis is currently working on a MBA. She was married to Gabriel Willis in October 2024.

Shawn Venable joined the Liberty track & field staff as an assistant coach for jumps and hurdles in the fall of 2016, after spending the previous four season...