Steeplechasers Rewrite Record Book at Beach Invitational

April 14, 2017

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Freshman Lindsey Blanks and sophomore Shanna Burns registered two of the three-fastest steeplechase times in women's history, as the Air Force track and field team opened competition at the Beach Invitational on Friday, April 14. With just three events on the schedule, the Falcons combined for four improvements to the Academy record book.

Blanks, who set the steeplechase record at 2000 meters in the outdoor opener earlier this spring, posted a time of 10:47.31 in her first race at the 3000-meter distance. The top collegiate finisher (second overall), Blanks debuted in second on the Academy's all-time standings and crushed the program's 13-year-old Freshman Class Record by nearly 13 seconds. Burns, competing in just her second collegiate steeplechase at any distance, posted a career-best time of 10:47.51 to move into third on the Academy's all-time standings and break the program's 12-year-old Sophomore Class Record.

On the men's side, junior Andrew Milliron debuted in seventh on the all-time standings after winning the steeplechase in a career-best time of 8:58.90. Milliron, who deleted nearly 10 seconds off of his previous best time, became the first Falcon in three years to impact the Academy's top 10 of that event.

In their first steeplechase at 3000 meters, sophomores Trevor Siniscalchi and Nathan Thomas helped Air Force to a sweep of the top-three finishes in the collegiate standings. Siniscalchi posted a time of 9:07.41 -- a mark just shy of the original top-10 -- to finish second amongst collegiate runners and fourth overall, while Thomas registered a run of 9:14.23 to place third in the college division and sixth overall.

From the field, junior Donny Crabill debuted on the program's all-time standings in the javelin throw, as he recorded a distance of 214'3" to finish fourth out of 31 throwers. He was one of two throwers to finish within the top half of the standings, as classmate Luke Piper placed 15th with a toss of 193'2".

Air Force, which continues action in southern California later this evening, when senior Matt Dorsey competes in the 1500-meter run at the Mt. SAC Relays, returns to Jack Rose Stadium tomorrow (April 15) for the final day of competition at the Beach Invitational.

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