Live From Laramie
5/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SATURDAY, MAY 16 (12:50 p.m.)
There's a little break right now, as we don't have anyone in the next couple track events. The 4x100-meter relay team got Air Force off to a good start, as Kellen Curry kicked it into overdrive during the last leg to push the Falcons to a third-place finish. Kellen also earned runner-up honors in the 110-meter hurdles. Bryce Bergman had a great finals, placing third to give the Falcons two all-conference selections! Okay, it's time to head back out into the sunlight (the soccer locker room that is doubling as the media workroom is really, really dark)
SATURDAY, MAY 16 (11:34 a.m.)
Good morning from sunny Laramie. We're about a half hour away from the start. Yesterday, we qualified kids into the finals in seven events, plus we have another 14 single-day finals going on today. Sara will complete her "quad-fecta" (a Scott Irving word) by competing in the shot put and javelin throw. She hasn't competed in the javelin throw for awhile, but she will be part of a strong AF contingent with Katie Weber and Paige Blackburn.
FRIDAY, MAY 15 (6:47 p.m.)
Well, I'm back at the hotel (after a quick stop for a sandwich at Bailey's) with the Rockies game in the background and getting ready to finish the recap and get a photo gallery on the website. We had three all-conference selections - including two from freshmen. Hopefully tomorrow's weather is as nice as today. Despite a little wind ... it was a lovely day.
FRIDAY, MAY 15 (4:36 p.m.)
So, we're winding down the third day of action here at the MWC Championships. The women's 200-meter preliminaries are going on right now and then we've got the 20,000 meters of championship action. The women are wrapping up the discus throw as well - Sara is in the finals - and then we still have the guys' discus with Kirk Devine and Robert. We just had the medal ceremony for the women's pole vault - congrats to Kimber Shealy for earning all-conference honors with a career-best matching 12'7½".
FRIDAY, MAY 15 (2:46 p.m.)
We just got done with the awards ceremony for the men's hammer throw ... it was nice and "blue" up there! Air Force had three scoring finishers, including Robert Drye, who earned all-conference honors. With a PR of 187'7", Robert moved into the Academy's all-time record book (seventh). Dan Paladino finished fourth, while Ian Hurdle placed seventh. It was a really competitive field, as Colorado State's Alex Godell upset conference leader Jake Shanklin of Wyoming for the title.
FRIDAY, MAY 15 (1:23 p.m.)
Well, this isn't working out quite as I had planned. The media workroom is under the stands, so I can't actually see the action and update this at the same time. But, we've got a break right now, as we don't have anyone running the women's steeplechase. Sara Neubauer broke her own Academy record in the hammer throw. With a distance of 182'10", she finished fourth among the 20 conference competitors. This is especially exciting because this is just her first year of throwing the hammer ... ever!
FRIDAY, MAY 15 (10:52 a.m.)
Greetings from the Mountain West Conference Track and Field Championships in Laramie, Wyoming. Before we get going, I just want to give a big CONGRATS to Skylar Morgan and Noah Palicia, who went one-two in the decathlon yesterday. It was great end of the season for both guys - Skylar spent time in the hospital early this outdoor season with a staph infection, while Noah has been hampered by injuries all year. Plus, he got his nose broken during the pole vault and went on to not only win that event, but to win the next two as well. So, again ... I just have to say congratulations to those two for getting the Falcons off to an amazing start. In addition to this blog, head coach Ralph Lindeman has been updating his Twitter page from the track. Fans can access that on the Falcons' track and field sidebar.
