Several Regional Qualifying Marks Set at Arizona State

March 29, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Air Force track and field team wrapped up a successful spring break training trip with an impressive showing at the Arizona State Invitational in Tempe, Ariz., late Saturday night (March 28). In addition to collecting two first-place finishes, seven regional qualifying marks were set and seven changes were made to the program's all-time record book.

Junior Ally Romanko was a part of all three, winning the 800-meter dash with a regional qualifying time of 2:07.92. Romanko's career-best time improved her second-place standing in the program's all-time list. The junior was one of two Air Force runners in the 800 to make an imprint on the record book, as classmate Becca Burditt moved into 10th-place with a time of 2:15.36.

Like Romanko, Justin Tyner won an event in a regional qualifying, record book changing time. Clocking a career-high regional time of 9:00.68, Tyner finished first in the 3000-meter steeplechase with. That time moves the sophomore into fifth in the all-time standings. He was one of two Falcons to finish within the top three, as senior Justin Mason placed third in 9:23.40.

Junior Sara Neubauer picked up a pair of regional marks behind matching fourth-place finishes in the shot put and discus. Neubauer improved her personal-high in the discus to 169'1", placing fourth with the second-farthest throw in Academy history. She also recorded a distance of 48'7½" in the shot put to finish fourth and secure another spot at the regional meet.

Fellow junior Katie Weber improved her seasonal distance in the javelin throw to earn a regional qualifying mark. Weber placed fifth with a distance of 147'2". Weber was one of two javelin throwers to post a regional mark, as sophomore Connor Van Fossen threw a career-best distance of 210'11" to finish second in the men's meet. The eighth Falcon to clear the 200-foot plateau, Van Fossen surged into fifth on the Academy's all-time list.

Also punching a ticket to the NCAA regional meet was senior Kellen Curry, who clocked a regional qualifying time of 14.23 to place second in the 110-meter hurdles. Curry also moved into eighth on the all-time list for the 200-meter dash, as he recorded a time of 21.38.

Freshman Paige Blackburn improved her 10th-place standing in the all-time discus throw records, with a toss of 141'4". Freshman Kimber Shealy cleared 12'1½" to place fourth in the pole vault, while senior Harmon Gage earned the same placement in the men's javelin at 200'1". Dillon Stucky rounded out the Falcons' top-five finishers with a fifth-place distance of 46'6¾" in the triple jump.

The Falcons will split up next week for a pair of meets. Select members will travel to the Texas Relays on April 3-4, while the rest of the squad will travel to Greeley for the Tom Benich Classic on April 4.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.