Air Force Track and Field Hands Out Annual Awards
5/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
May 24, 2009
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Several members of the Air Force track and field team were honored at the Academy this evening (May 24), as the team handed out its yearly awards at the end-of-season banquet. Senior Sean Houseworth and junior Sara Neubauer earned the MVP award for their respective teams, while senior Kellen Curry and junior Ally Romanko earned Most Outstanding Competitor distinction.
In his final season, Houseworth won a pair of conference titles and set another Academy record. The MVP of the cross country team, Houseworth won conference titles in the two longest distances of the indoor championships (3000-meters and 5000-meters) and the MWC High Point Award. During the outdoor season, he broke the Academy record in the 10,000-meter run and earned an automatic spot in the NCAA Championship meet. Neubauer repeated as the MVP of the women's team after breaking her own record in the indoor and outdoor shot put and setting a new standard in the hammer throw. She also moved up the all-time lists in the weight throw, discus throw and javelin throw. Neubauer, who also won the team's High Point Award, Gail Conway Performance Award and Laura Piper Ironman Award, became the first athlete to score in all four throwing events at the MWC Outdoor Championships.
Curry wrapped up a stellar senior season with the team's Outstanding Competitor Award. The High Point Award winner for the men's team won the conference title in the 200-meter dash at the indoor championships, while claiming all-conference honors in the 60-meter hurdles (indoor), 110-meter hurdles (outdoor) and as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team (outdoor). Romanko was a strong scoring threat for the Falcons, earning all-conference accolades in the 800-meter races at both the indoor and outdoor championships. She also improved her Academy-record time in that race during the indoor season, while clocking the second-fastest time ever during the outdoor season.
A quartet of freshmen shared the Newcomer of the Year award. Bryce Bergman and Robert Drye earned the nod for the men's team, while Paige Blackburn and Kimber Shealy claimed the distinction for the women's team. All four earned all-conference selections and already dot the program's record book. Bergman (110-meter hurdles, 4x100-meter relay), Drye (hammer throw), Blackburn (javelin throw) and Shealy (pole vault) all finished third in their respective events at the outdoor conference championships. Blackburn set a Freshman Class record in the javelin throw (fifth all-time), while Drye set a Class mark in the weight throw. Shealy recorded the third-best indoor pole vault mark and tied for the second-best outdoor mark, while Bergman ran a leg of the 10th-fastest 4x100-meter relay team. Shealy also earned the Falcon Award for Spirit and Enthusiasm.
Sophomore Justin Tyner claimed the men's Most Improved Award, while junior Becca Burditt earned the women's honor. Tyner earned regional berths in the 3000-meter steeplechase and 5000-meter run, while moving into the all-time record book in both events. Burditt also made an impact on the record book, clocking the seventh-best indoor and ninth-best outdoor times in the 800-meter run. Sophomore Noah Palicia, who overcame several injuries to take second in the decathlon at the MWC Championships, received the inaugural Comeback Award.
For the second straight year, junior Nick Frawley was named the winner of the Alonzo Babers Performance Award. A two-time all-conference pole vault selection, Frawley earned All-America status following a seventh-place finish at the national indoor championships. He also set a new Academy record during the indoor season at 18'1". Two awards were given out to individuals that display a strong drive and determination. Senior Skylar Morgan, who won the MWC decathlon title, was honored with the Bret Hyde Award, while freshman Auriele Fain, who became a strong presence in the Falcons' distance events, received the Callie Calhoun Award.
Setting a personal-best record in the javelin throw during his final collegiate competition, senior Harmon Gage received the Arne Arneson Award for Dedication. Classmate Matt Williams was honored with the General Tad Oelstrom Award for Character and Leadership, which is given annually to the senior that excels academically, militarily and athletically. Freshman manager Grant Boehme was given the Ernie Cunliffe Manager Award.
Morgan, Curry, Neubauer and junior Katie Weber were also honored as the team captains for the 2009 season.
