Falcons Prepare For KT Woodman Classic
4/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
April 8, 2004
The Air Force track and field program travels to Wichita, Kan., for the KT Woodman Classic on Saturday, April 10. The field events will begin at 10 a.m., with the women's javelin and men's hammer throw. The first track event will be the women's 3000-meter steeplechase at 11 a.m. All events will take place at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Falcons are coming off of a weekend with temperatures that may have been better suited for the indoor season. But despite that, a number of Falcons had impressive showings at the Tom Benich Classic in Greeley, Colo., on April 3. Five members of the team won their respective events, while another school record fell and two members of the women's team set NCAA Qualifying Marks. Team highlights from the Tom Benich Classic can be found on pages 2-3 of this release.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
For the fourth time in the last two meets, a member of the Air Force track and field program has made a another school record become obsolete. Dominique Boivin, who already held the Academy's discus throw standard, improved her record at the Tom Benich Classic, when she threw a 159'6". That displaced the previous mark of 158'10" that she set last season.
NCAA QUALIFYING MARKS
In addition to setting an Academy record in the discus throw, Dominique Boivin's performance at the Tom Benich Classic was a NCAA Regional Qualifying mark. Freshman Caitie Holliday recorded a distance of 141'9" in the javelin throw, which make her eligible for the NCAA Regional Championships.
UP NEXT FOR THE FALCONS
The Blue and Silver return to California next weekend for the Mt. SAC events. The decathlon and heptathlon run Thursday-Friday (April 15-16) in Azusa, Calif., while the relays will take place in Walnut, Calif., on Friday-Sunday (April 16-18). The relays will take place at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College.
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MEN'S HIGHLIGHTS
HURDLING OFF WITH A WIN
A pair of Falcons swept the hurdles titles at the Tom Benich Classic. Senior Luke Marker and sophomore Kory Pearson each took home a title on the hurdle events, as Marker won the 110-meter high hurdles and Pearson finished first in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. (Pearson's winning time of 53.41 was just off of his personal best time).
OFF TO A GOOD START
A pair of freshmen won their first event titles as well this past weekend. Wes Wilkening won the pole vault with a personal-best height of 14'11", while Marcus Wells posted a distance of 189'6" to win the javelin. Wells' mark was a new personal record by over 10 feet.
DOUBLE DIPPING
Sophomore Daniel St. Clair recorded TWO personal-best marks last weekend, en route to earning TWO team awards on Monday. He threw a 154'9" in the discus and a 145'9" in the hammer to earn the program's weekly "Breakthrough Performance" award and the "Field Athlete of the Week" award.
WE'RE MOVING IN
Two first-year Falcons made their way into the team's all-time record books over the weekend. Marcus Wells posted a distance of 189'6" in the javelin to move into ninth-place on the team's all-time list, while Brandon Murphy is right behind him in the standings with a 10th-place mark of 186'1".
TAKING A PERSONAL DAY
Seven members of the men's team set significant personal records over the weekend, with four of those coming in the discus throw. Bryan Jones distanced a 140'5" in that event, while Nick Herald also posted a personal-best mark of 125'3". Rich Ellis and Caleb Pelger also landed with respective career-best marks of 131'8" and 116'10". Ellis also added to his day, posting a career-best 129'11" in the hammer throw. Elsewhere, Wes Wilkening recorded a career-best 14'11" mark in the pole vault, while classmate Brian Walsh posted a 136'7" in the javelin. Senior Steven Lizzol recorded a personal-best distance of 145'10" in the hammer throw.
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WOMEN'S HIGHLIGHTS
A LITTLE BIT MORE
As mentioned earlier, Dominique Boivin set a new school record in the discus throw with a distance of 159'6". What wasn't mentioned, though, was the fact that Boivin met the NCAA Qualifying Standard for that event.
GOING HOME A WINNER
Freshman Caitie Holliday may have been the lone event winner at the Tom Benich Classic, but she did it in a dominating fashion. Breaking her old personal record by over 10 feet, Holliday won the javelin with a distance of 141'9". In addition to meeting the NCAA Qualifying Standard, she also moved into fourth on the Academy's all-time list.
AFTER ALL OF THAT...
With all of their weekly accolades, Dominique Boivin and Caitie Holliday were named the program's weekly "Field Athletes of the Week". They joined sophomore Jen Neville, who earned the team's "Track Athlete of the Week" award, after placing second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 65.09 - a time just off of her lifetime best.
A TRUE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Earning "Newcomer of the Week" honors - in the truest sense of the phrase - was freshman Dawn Higginbotham. Higginbotham, who spent the winter as a member of the Air Force women's basketball team, made her season debut in the high jump at the Tom Benich Classic. Jumping to a height of 5'3", Higginbotham made her way into the 10th-spot on the program's all-time list.
FIELD DAY!
Kristine Muth posted two career-best marks last weekend and strengthened her position in the all-time records. Muth threw a 143'2" in the discus to remain at No. 7 all-time, while recording a distance of 147'4" in the hammer throw - which improves her spot in the all-time rankings (again at No. 7).
