Falcons Complete First Day of Air Force Invitational

Feb. 13, 2009

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force weight throwers made an impact on the record book this evening (Feb. 13), as the track and field team concluded action during the first day of the 19th-annual Air Force Invitational. Two changes were made to the program's top-10 lists, while one Class record was set. Only four `scored' events were contested today, in addition to numerous qualifying heats and unseeded events.

The men received its first points of the night from a trio of throwers. Junior Dan Paladino placed sixth in the weight throw with a distance of 56'2½", while sophomore David Nan and freshman Robert Drye finished seventh (54'2") and eighth (53'2¼"), respectively. Nan's distance is a personal-best and the 10th-best distance in Academy history, while Drye's is a new Freshman Class record.

Junior Sara Neubauer recorded a career-best weight throw distance of 56'4¾" to finish third in the women's event. That mark improved Neubauer's placement in the all-time standings, as she moved from third to second, inching ever-closer to the Academy record of 57'1½".

The men's team also earned points from the distance medley relay team. Freshmen Alex Zubey and Matthew Cain, along with sophomore Tyler Stanley and senior Daniel Castle, placed second with a time of 10:31.30.

In the women's unseeded mile, Air Force claimed four of the top five collegiate spots. Freshman Elyse Willard was the top collegiate runner, finishing second overall, with a time of 5:24.66, while sophomore Katherine Ward placed third overall in 5:29.26. Additionally, freshmen Meghan Prinkey and Katherine Carroll finished fifth (5:40.65) and seventh (5:53.93), respectively. In the men's unseeded mile, senior Kyle Jones placed third in 4:39.09, while freshman John Welch finished fourth in 4:39.19. The unseeded pole vault was also contested, with junior Marshall Wills clearing 15'1" to place second. Freshman Jake Mersino matched that height, placing fifth based on attempts.

In addition, several qualifying races were contested. Freshman Margaret Weingart qualified for the finals of the 800-meter run with a time of 2:27.83, while sophomore Gloriemar Torre Santiago advanced with a time of 2:29.82. Freshman Max Lutton qualified for a place in the 400-meter finals, after finishing the preliminary with a time of 49.62. Senior Kellen Curry advanced to the finals of 200-meter dash with a career-best time of 22.03. That time improves his 10th-place standing on the Academy's all-time list. Freshman Nick White advanced in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.38, while junior Andy Schweitzer moved on to the finals of that race in a time of 1:59.22.

The Falcons conclude action tomorrow (Feb. 14) at the Air Force Invitational. Action begins at 9:30 a.m., with the men's and women's long jump.

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