Air Force Quartet Prepares For NCAA Championships
6/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Four members of the Air Force track and field program will step onto the national stage this weekend (June 8-11) at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
The quartet is comprised of one senior, two juniors and a sophomore who are competing in four different events.
Senior Makisi Haleck (pole vault) and junior Dana Pounds (javelin) advanced to the national meet after winning their respective events at the regional meet.
Sophomore Olivia Korte used an Academy record-setting performance in the discus to advance with a third-place finish. Junior Mark Walter earned an at-large bid to nationals following a top-eight performance at regionals.
Pole Vault -- Makisi Haleck
Javelin Throw -- Dana Pounds
Discus Throw -- Olivia Korte
1500-Meter Run -- Mark Walter
*Click on the .pdf file below for updated bios on this weekend's participants.
WEDNESDAY (JUNE 8)
11:00 a.m. -- Discus Throw Qualifying -- Olivia Korte -- ranked 13th nationally
6:00 p.m. -- Pole Vault Qualifying -- Makisi Haleck -- ranked 7th nationally
8:30 p.m. -- Javelin Throw Qualifying -- Dana Pounds -- ranked 1st nationally
THURSDAY (JUNE 9)
7:35 p.m. -- 1500-Meter Run Qualifying -- Mark Walter -- ranked 18th nationally
FRIDAY (JUNE 10)
12:00 p.m. -- Discus Throw Finals
6:30 p.m. -- Pole Vault Finals
8:00 p.m. -- Javelin Throw Finals
SATURDAY (JUNE 11)
6:20 p.m. -- 1500-Meter Run Finals
LAST YEAR AT THE NATIONAL MEET
Dana Pounds became the first female All-American in the Division I history of the track and field program, as she finished fifth in the javelin at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Pounds posted a mark of 170'4" on her third throw of the day to earn the fifth-place mark. Pounds topped the sixth-place finished by nearly five feet.
Paul Gensic set a new Academy pole vault record en route to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 national meet. With the finish, Gensic earned his second All-America award of the season and became the first Division I athlete to earn the prestigious honor on more than one occasion. Gensic cleared a new program-best mark of 18'0?". That mark broke the previous Academy record of 17'11" that he had set the previous week to win the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING - DANA POUNDS: "I'll have a much different approach going into NCAAs this year. Having competed in the NCAA meet last year and at the Sacramento State track from (the Olympic) trials, I pretty much know what to expect. There are a few girls that are right on my heels and it will take a solid throw, if not a personal-best, to pull out a win. Coach has confidence in my ability to compete and I just have faith!"
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING - MARK WALTER: "I am very excited about going to the national meet and hope I can do well against some very talented runners. This is a nice way to top off a very good season for the team. After the regional meet... I think I have a very good chance of making it into the finals and having a good race there as well."
NEWS TO KNOW
Last season, Dana Pounds became the 50th individual All-American selection in the Academy's 47-year history, as well as the first javelin All-American (male or female). While Pounds was the first female Division I athlete to earn the elite status, she joined 26 others who earned All-America honors at the Division II level.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday wishes for the month of June go to Kalib Wilkinson (June 3), Dana Pounds (June 5), Priscilla Giddings (June 6), Amy Gilliland (June 17), Olivia Korte (June 20), Veronica Dawson (June 26), Richard Elmore (June 27) and Paul Gensic (June 27).
The quartet is comprised of one senior, two juniors and a sophomore who are competing in four different events.
Senior Makisi Haleck (pole vault) and junior Dana Pounds (javelin) advanced to the national meet after winning their respective events at the regional meet.
Sophomore Olivia Korte used an Academy record-setting performance in the discus to advance with a third-place finish. Junior Mark Walter earned an at-large bid to nationals following a top-eight performance at regionals.
Pole Vault -- Makisi Haleck
Javelin Throw -- Dana Pounds
Discus Throw -- Olivia Korte
1500-Meter Run -- Mark Walter
*Click on the .pdf file below for updated bios on this weekend's participants.
WEDNESDAY (JUNE 8)
11:00 a.m. -- Discus Throw Qualifying -- Olivia Korte -- ranked 13th nationally
6:00 p.m. -- Pole Vault Qualifying -- Makisi Haleck -- ranked 7th nationally
8:30 p.m. -- Javelin Throw Qualifying -- Dana Pounds -- ranked 1st nationally
THURSDAY (JUNE 9)
7:35 p.m. -- 1500-Meter Run Qualifying -- Mark Walter -- ranked 18th nationally
FRIDAY (JUNE 10)
12:00 p.m. -- Discus Throw Finals
6:30 p.m. -- Pole Vault Finals
8:00 p.m. -- Javelin Throw Finals
SATURDAY (JUNE 11)
6:20 p.m. -- 1500-Meter Run Finals
LAST YEAR AT THE NATIONAL MEET
Dana Pounds became the first female All-American in the Division I history of the track and field program, as she finished fifth in the javelin at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Pounds posted a mark of 170'4" on her third throw of the day to earn the fifth-place mark. Pounds topped the sixth-place finished by nearly five feet.
Paul Gensic set a new Academy pole vault record en route to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 national meet. With the finish, Gensic earned his second All-America award of the season and became the first Division I athlete to earn the prestigious honor on more than one occasion. Gensic cleared a new program-best mark of 18'0?". That mark broke the previous Academy record of 17'11" that he had set the previous week to win the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING - DANA POUNDS: "I'll have a much different approach going into NCAAs this year. Having competed in the NCAA meet last year and at the Sacramento State track from (the Olympic) trials, I pretty much know what to expect. There are a few girls that are right on my heels and it will take a solid throw, if not a personal-best, to pull out a win. Coach has confidence in my ability to compete and I just have faith!"
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING - MARK WALTER: "I am very excited about going to the national meet and hope I can do well against some very talented runners. This is a nice way to top off a very good season for the team. After the regional meet... I think I have a very good chance of making it into the finals and having a good race there as well."
NEWS TO KNOW
Last season, Dana Pounds became the 50th individual All-American selection in the Academy's 47-year history, as well as the first javelin All-American (male or female). While Pounds was the first female Division I athlete to earn the elite status, she joined 26 others who earned All-America honors at the Division II level.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday wishes for the month of June go to Kalib Wilkinson (June 3), Dana Pounds (June 5), Priscilla Giddings (June 6), Amy Gilliland (June 17), Olivia Korte (June 20), Veronica Dawson (June 26), Richard Elmore (June 27) and Paul Gensic (June 27).
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