Dylan Bell, Zach Perkins Earn All-America Status
6/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
NEW ORLEANS - The Air Force track and field team claimed two All-America honors this afternoon, as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its Division I list of All-Americans from last week's national meet at Oregon's Historic Hayward Field. Senior Zach Perkins received first-team status from the USTFCCCA, while junior Dylan Bell claimed second-team honors.
Perkins captured First-Team All-America honors following a second-place finish in the 1500-meter run. It was the second such citation for Perkins, who became the program's first runner to ever capture All-America status at that distance during a runner-up performance in 2013. The recently-commissioned second lieutenant won his semifinal heat on Wednesday, June 10, in 3:45.63, before using a strong final kick to take second (3:55.08) in the NCAA final on Friday, June 12.
Bell claimed Second-Team All-America status in the pole vault after tying for 16th on Wednesday, June 10. The junior, who first claimed All-America honors at the 2015 indoor championships, cleared 16'10¾" to tie for 16th during his first appearance at the NCAA's outdoor meet. Bell's award marked the sixth time in eight years that Air Force has been honored with All-America status in the pole vault (2008-2009-2010-2012-2013-2015) at the outdoor championship meet.
In addition, junior Hannah Everson earned Honorable Mention status from the USTFCCCA, after finishing 21st in the 10,000-meter run (35:16.09) on Thursday, June 11.
Any athlete that claimed a scoring finish (a share of first through eighth) at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships was awarded first-team status, while those placing ninth through 16th were named second-team selections and any athlete who participated in the championship meet but did not place within the top 16 earned honorable mention status.
Players Mentioned
