Track and Field Honors Underclassmen
5/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Eight members of the Air Force track and field team were honored last night (May 16) during the program's annual Underclassmen Awards Banquet at the Academy's Lodge. Head coach Ralph Lindeman and his staff recognized six juniors and two freshmen for their impressive accomplishments during the current 2018 season. Juniors Sedacy Walden and Jaci Smith were honored with the program's two Drive and Determination Awards, as Walden received the Bret Hyde Award and Smith was presented the Callie Calhoun Award.
Walden, who is already ranked among the program's top-10 in the 400-meter dash, collected a pair of top-four finishes in his signature event at the Mountain West Championships this year (fourth indoors, second outdoors). In addition, Walden led off the 4x400-meter relays that captured conference titles at both the indoor and outdoor championship meets, ran the second leg of the Academy record-setting relay (3:09.18) and competed on the 4x100-meter relay that finished second at the outdoor championship.
The Mountain West champion in the indoor 5000-meter run, Smith shattered her own outdoor record at that distance during a third-place performance at last week's MW Outdoor Championships. Breaking the previous Meet Record with a time of 15:59.40, Smith became the first Air Force runner to break the 16-minute mark during the outdoor season. In addition to resetting her own Academy standard in the outdoor 5000-meter run, Smith also posted the second-fastest times in program history in the 10,000-meter run (33:36.52) and indoor 5000-meter run (15:59.91).
Another pair of juniors – Mickey Davey and Jerni Self – were recognized as the program's Most Improved Athletes. Backed by a pair of top-three finishes at the MW Indoor Championships (second in the 3000-meter run, third in the 5000-meter run), Davey combined for four scoring finishes at the conference championships in 2018. In addition, he also impacted the program's all-time standings in the 5000-meter run (13:59.38, fifth indoors), 10,000-meter run (29:15.24, fifth) and 3000-meter run (8:02.27, adjusted for altitude; eighth). Self, who captured top-five finishes in the pole vault at both Mountain West meets this year (fifth indoors, fourth outdoors), became the fourth Air Force vaulter to clear 13 feet during the outdoor season, as she registered a clearance of 13'0¼" at the Air Force Twilight Open.
After strong freshman campaigns, Mitch Lipe and Mahala Norris were selected as the team's Newcomers of the Year. Lipe, who posted a personal-best pole vault clearance of 16'2¾" during the indoor season, is a two-time all-conference selection, having finished second at the outdoor meet and tying for third at the indoor championship. Norris impacted the program's all-time standings in three events during her debut season, posting the sixth-fastest 5000-meter time (16:41.61), the eighth-fastest 1500-meter time (4:26.89) and the ninth-fastest mile time (4:53.92, adjusted for altitude).
Junior Kathryn Tomczak, the program's first-ever MW Outdoor champion in the pole vault, was honored with the Falcon Award for Spirit and Enthusiasm. Tomczak, who also became the Academy's first female vaulter to clear 14 feet during the indoor season (14'0½"), has been a staunch supporter of her teammates – both on-and-off – the track. Fellow junior Tyler Younkers rounded out the list of underclassmen awards, as he was named the program's Outstanding Manager.
2018 Awards for Underclassmen
Bret Hyde Award for Drive and Determination: Sedacy Walden
Callie Calhoun Award for Drive and Determination: Jaci Smith
Most Improved | Men: Mickey Davey
Most Improved | Women: Jerni Self
Newcomer of the Year | Men: Mitch Lipe
Newcomer of the Year | Women: Mahala Norris
Falcon Award for Spirit and Enthusiasm: Kathryn Tomczak
Outstanding Manager: Tyler Younkers
Players Mentioned
