Falcons Wrap up First Day of California Invitational

April 13, 2016

AZUSA, Calif. – Backed by a decathlon-leading 3581 points from sophomore Calvin Berstler, four members of the Air Force track and field team kicked off competition at the California Invitational today (April 13) at Azusa Pacific University.

Highlighted by three finishes within the top-four of the 18-competitor "B" section of the decathlon, Berstler tallied 3581 points – an improvement of more than 400 points from his opening day score at last year's meet – to hold a one-point lead in the overall decathlon standings. The sophomore finished third in both of the day's running events, as he clocked a career-best 11.22 in the 100-meter dash and a personal-best 50.58 in the 400-meter dash. He also tied for fourth in the high jump after improving his outdoor-best clearance by three inches (6'3½"). Berstler rounded out the opening day with a sixth-place finish in the long jump (21'0") and a seventh-place finish in the shot put (37'8½", personal improvement of three feet).

Classmate Tyler Berson is in 12th after the first five events, with 3,105 points. The sophomore earned a pair of top-10 finishes on the day, as he finished sixth in the 400-meter dash (51.06) and ninth in the 100-meter dash (11.68). Berson posted a career-best clearance of 5'9¾" to tie for 11th in the high jump, while rounding out the day with 14th-place marks in the long jump (19'2¾") and shot put (31'4¾").

Freshman Sam Hinegardner, competing in his first collegiate decathlon, is currently in 14th after tallying 3001 points during the first five events. Hinegardner posted the Falcons' best finish of the day, as he tied for second in the high jump following a career-best clearance of 6'4¾". He recorded a distance of 19'9" in the long jump (13th), while making his outdoor debut in the 400-meter dash (55.53, 15th), 100-meter dash (12.00, 16th) and shot put (29'4½", 18th).

Competing in her first collegiate heptathlon, junior Alexa Chacon finished the opening day in 37th, with 2749 points. Chacon clocked a season-best time of 14.83 in the 100-meter hurdles to finish 18th out of 51 participants. She added a career-best clearance of 5'0½", before posting an outdoor debut of 29'6¾" in the shot put and a time of 26.50 in the 200-meter dash.

The Falcons' combined event athletes conclude action at the California Invitational tomorrow (April 14), while members of the Air Force distance squad open action at the Mt. SAC Relays.

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