Air Force Academy
FHSU Tiger Open
Falcons Conclude Action at Tiger Invitational
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 16, 2010
HAYS, Kan. - Sophomore Seth Pelletier paced members of the Air Force men's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at the 2010 Tiger Invitational, hosted by Fort Hays State, on Saturday, Oct. 16, in Hays, Kan. Pelletier was one of two Falcons to finish within the top 30 of the 156-runner field, as all five scoring runners placed within the top 50 of the 8000-meter race.
Pelletier clocked a career-best time of 25:12.30 to place 24th overall, while classmate Andrew Quallio placed 27th in a personal-best time of 25:18.80. Freshman Gavin Owens improved his time by over one minute to 25:47.10, placing 36th, while junior Ryan Del Grosso bettered his season-best time by nearly two minutes to place 43rd in a time of 25:59.90. Freshman Jake Hawkins rounded out the top five finishers with a 49th-place finish in a career-best time of 26:10.70.
As a team, the Falcons amassed 148 points to place fifth in the 12-team race. Western State, ranked fifth in the Division II National poll, won the meet with 27 points, while No. 2 Colorado School of Mines placed second with 41 points. Colorado (107) and Nebraska-Kearny finished third and fourth, respectively, rounding out the top five with Air Force.
Sophomore Sam O'Hair shaved over three minutes off of his previous 8K time, as he finished 52nd in a time of 26:16.60. Freshmen Dan Bailey and Matthieu Caldwell also improved their times at that distance. Bailey recorded a time of 26:19.00 to place 58th, while Caldwell finished 60th in a time of 26:25.50. Junior Cameron Edwards made his season debut with a 65th-place time of 26:33.90.
Sophomore Ted Artz placed 72nd in a season-best time of 26:40.50, while sophomore Matt Cain (26:42.10, season-best) and freshman Carson Fugal (26:43.20, career-best) finished 75th and 76th, respectively. Fellow freshman Carl Eifert clocked a career-best time of 26:45.90 to place 79th, while sophomore Tommy Heikkinen finished 83rd in a personal-best time of 26:49.90. Junior Nick White (27:15.80, season-best, 98th) and sophomore Gage Owens (27:59.30, 117th) rounded out the Air Force runners.
Four members of the women's team also ran at the Tiger Invitational, competing as individuals in the only 5000-meter race of the season. Freshman Stephaney Saari paced the quartet with a time of 19:14.30 to finish 38th in the 105-runner field. Classmate Tasha Mayne finished right behind Saari, placing 39th in 19:16.30. Junior Alexa Ramsier (44th, 19:33.20) and senior Whitney Beck (52nd, 19:59.50) rounded out the field of Air Force runners.
Players Mentioned
