Konrad Steck, Sarah Deresky Pace Falcons at UCCS Open

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A runner-up finish from junior Konrad Steck paced the Air Force cross country team on Saturday, Oct. 12, as it wrapped up competition at the UCCS Open at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs. While Steck led the men's team in the non-scoring event, sophomore Sarah Deresky led a small contingent of women.

Steck clocked an 8K time of 24:41.3 to finish second in the 126-runner event. The junior was one of six Falcons to place within the top 10 – and one of eight to better the previous Course Record – at Monument Valley Park on Saturday. Freshman Ryan Johnson joined Steck in the top five after clocking a fourth-place time of 24:56.4, while senior Marshall Wheeler (24:58.9), sophomore Matt Zacharias (25:00.2), junior Drew Lester (25:05.0) and freshman Scott Maison (25:09.1) finished seventh through 10th, respectively.

Junior Hunter Boyer (12th, 25:12.8) and sophomore Luke Nolley (18th, 25:16.9) finished within the top 20, while sophomore Joseph Wittig and (23rd, 25:27.1) and freshman Aidan Boyle (24th, 25:27.3) added for top-25 finishes in the non-scoring race.

"We had a lot of guys run really patient, well-executed races today – led by Konrad, Ryan and Marshall," Air Force head coach Ryan Cole said. "Quite a few on our roster improved from our race at the beginning of the season at that location."

Deresky also bettered the Course Record at the 5K distance, as she clocked a time of 18:19.3 to finish second amongst collegiate runners – and third overall – in the 59-runner field. Classmate Andi Almodovar also placed within the top 10, as she posted a seventh-place time of 18:41.8, and freshman Shannon Osoba added a top-25 time of 19:31.2 (24th).

"Sarah and Andi also had really strong run, working up into the front of the field over the course of the race," Cole added. "I'm very pleased with our showing today."

The Falcons return to action next Friday (Oct. 18), when they travel to Madison, Wis., for the annual Nuttycombe Invitational at Thomas Zimmer Championship Course.

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