Falcons Set for ASU Invitational
3/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
March 26, 2009
The Air Force track and field team wraps up its spring break training trip to Arizona this weekend (March 27-28) at the Arizona State Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. The hammer throw will take place on Friday, with the remainder of the events being run on Saturday. In addition, four members of the distance squad will travel to the prestigious Stanford Invitational on Friday, March 27.
WHO'S WHO
Air Force was one of 13 programs invited to compete at the ASU Invitational. Joining the Falcons and host Arizona will be Colorado State, Dartmouth, Georgia, Kansas State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Northern Arizona, Ohio State, Purdue, St. Louis, Texas A&M and UC Riverside.
ASU MEET INFORMATION
The Arizona State Invitational will be held at the Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium. Only one event (hammer throw) will be held on Friday. The full meet kicks off at 10 a.m. (PST) with the discus throw. Running events will begin at 5 p.m., and continue on a rolling schedule.
STANFORD INVITATIONAL INFORMATION
All four Air Force runners will compete on Friday, beginning with the 3000-meter steeplechase at 5:58 p.m. (PST). The Falcons will continue action until 10:48 p.m., when the final section of the 10,000-meter run has its shotgun start.
NEUBAUER FOR TWO
Junior Sara Neubauer had a strong start to the outdoor season at the Willie Williams Classic, winning a pair of events, setting two regional qualifying marks, adjusting her spot in two top-10 records and posting two personal-best marks. She won the shot put (48'11½") and discus throw (161'2") with regional qualifying marks, while upping her second-place standing on the program's all-time discus list. In addition, Neubauer threw a 138'5" in her hammer throw debut to move into ninth-place on the program's all-time standings.
GOING REGIONAL
Sara Neubauer wasn't the only Air Force field event athlete to record regional qualifying marks on March 20-21. Classmates Nick Frawley and Dan Paladino tallied marks in the pole vault and hammer throw, respectively. Frawley won the pole vault with a clearance of 16'10¾", while Paladino picked up a fourth-place distance of 187'3" in the hammer.
ROMANKO'S A-RUNNIN'
Junior Ally Romanko had a strong weekend at the Willie Williams Classic, winning the 800-meter run and placing third in the 1500-meter run. Her time of 2:11.52 in the 800 topped the field by nearly a second, while she crossed the finish line of the 1500 in 4:38.47. Freshman Auriele Fain joined Romanko among the top-eight in both events.
A STELLAR DEBUT
Freshman Paige Blackburn made her mark in two of the program's all-time lists during her outdoor debut on March 21-22. Blackburn recorded the fifth-best shot put toss (42'9¾") in program history, while notching the 10th-best discus distance (139'9") ever.
OTHER RECORD BOOK ADDITIONS
Several other Falcons made an impact on the record book at the Willie Williams Classic. Freshman Kimber Shealy recorded the third-best pole vault clearance in Academy history at 12'3½", while sophomore Nercressaine White (100-meter dash, 12.48) and junior Jessica Mapes (400-meter dash, 58.04) moved into ninth and 10th all-time in their respective events. On the men's side, senior Kellen Curry was the runner-up in the 200-meter run with the 10th-best time in Academy history (21.53).
HOW DEVINE
Senior Kirk Devine won the Willie Williams Classic discus throw with a toss of 168'7".
WHAT'S ON DECK
Select members of the Falcons' team will travel to Austin, Texas, for the annual Texas Relays on April 3-4, while the rest of the squad travels to Greeley, Colo., for the Tom Benich Classic on April 4.
