Friday, December 6
USAFA
3:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Air Force Holiday Open
Track and Field Opens 2019-20 Season on Friday
12/4/2019 5:11:00 PM | Track and Field
The Falcons will host their annual Air Force Holiday Open, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
The track and field team kicks off the 2019-20 season this weekend, when it hosts the ninth-annual Air Force Holiday Open on Friday, Dec. 6. The non-scoring meet, which will be held at the Cadet Field House, is one of two competitions for the Falcons this weekend, as Maria Mettler will represent the Academy at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Boston.
MEET INFORMATION
The Air Force Holiday Open, the first of five home meets for the Falcons this season, is slated to begin on the field at 3:00 p.m. (a complete schedule of events is listed below). Live results will be available via GoAirForceFalcons.com (a direct link is available on the team's schedule page), while in-meet updates and Air Force highlights will be posted on the team's official Twitter page (@af_tfxc).
ADMISSION NOTICE
Due to the Air Force hockey game taking place in the Field House on Friday evening, all fans arriving after the ticket office opens at 6:00 p.m., will be charged the price of a general admission hockey ticket.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
3:00 p.m.: Women's Weight Throw, followed by Men's Weight Throw, Women's Shot Put, Men's Shot Put; 3:00 p.m.: Men's Pole Vault, Women's Pole Vault; 4:00 p.m.: Women's Long Jump, Women's Triple Jump; 4:00 p.m.: Men's Long Jump, Men's Triple Jump; 4:00 p.m.: Women's High Jump, Men's High Jump; 5:00 p.m.: Mile Run, 60-Meter Hurdles, 500-Meter Dash, 60-Meter Dash, 800-Meter Run, 300-Meter Dash, Mile Relay (women compete first in all running events)
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
Maria Mettler, fresh off of a stellar cross country campaign, will compete in the prestigious 5000-meter run at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Saturday, Dec. 7. That event, which is slated to begin at 4:40 p.m. (ET), will be held at the BU Track and Tennis Center and be broadcast live on FloTrack.
LOOK WHO'S BACK
Air Force's roster includes one indoor All-American (Michael Rhoads: 800-meter run), four Mountain West indoor championships (Zachary Dicken: 400-meter dash; Maria Mettler: 5000-meter run; Rhoads: 800-meter run; Connor Stevens: pole vault) and two members of the winning 4x400-meter relay (Dicken, Luke Zuluaga). The squad's indoor lineup also includes two individual record holders – Rhoads (800-meter run), Aubrey Ridgeway (200-meter dash) – and members of three record-setting relay teams – men's 4x400 (Dicken, Rhoads), women's 4x400 (Kelsey Owens, Ridgeway), women's distance medley relay (Mahala Norris, Owens).
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
The Air Force Holiday Open is the first of five home meets for the Falcons during the indoor season. In addition to the December meet, the team will host the Air Force Invitational (Jan. 16-18), the Air Force Team Challenge (Feb. 7) and the Air Force Collegiate Open (Feb. 21) at the Cadet Field House.
ON THE SIDELINES
Ralph Lindeman, a 17-time conference coach of the year and six-time regional coach of the year, returns for his 31st season as the head coach of the Air Force track and field program. Lindeman, who oversees the Falcons' multi-event athletes, is joined on the sidelines by associate head coach Scott Steffan (vertical jumps) and assistant coaches Ryan Cole (middle distance/distance), Matt Layten (middle distance/distance), Dana Lyon (javelin) and Justin Wickard (sprints/hurdles). The Falcons' staff also includes volunteer coaches Hannah Everson (middle distance/distance), Bob Graf (horizontal jumps), Greg Hull (pole vault), Mark Stanforth (middle distance/distance) and Kara Winger (javelin).
HOME SWEET HOME
A total of 13 Falcons hail from the state of Colorado, including four from Colorado Springs – Terrell Bradford (Palmer), Maria Mettler (Air Academy), Aaliyah Ricketts (Widefield), Erika Willis (The Classical Academy) – and one from Monument – Drew Lester (Palmer Ridge). The squad's Centennial State roster also includes individuals from Brighton (Cameron Harris), Highlands Ranch (Luke Arkell, Shannon Osoba), Longmont (Ben Bi), Parker (Ryan Johnson, Scott Johnson), Sterling (Jace Pittman) and Superior (Heidi Liles).
COMING UP
The Falcons return to action on Jan. 10-11, when they travel to Boulder, Colo., for the Potts Indoor Invitational.
MEET INFORMATION
The Air Force Holiday Open, the first of five home meets for the Falcons this season, is slated to begin on the field at 3:00 p.m. (a complete schedule of events is listed below). Live results will be available via GoAirForceFalcons.com (a direct link is available on the team's schedule page), while in-meet updates and Air Force highlights will be posted on the team's official Twitter page (@af_tfxc).
ADMISSION NOTICE
Due to the Air Force hockey game taking place in the Field House on Friday evening, all fans arriving after the ticket office opens at 6:00 p.m., will be charged the price of a general admission hockey ticket.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
3:00 p.m.: Women's Weight Throw, followed by Men's Weight Throw, Women's Shot Put, Men's Shot Put; 3:00 p.m.: Men's Pole Vault, Women's Pole Vault; 4:00 p.m.: Women's Long Jump, Women's Triple Jump; 4:00 p.m.: Men's Long Jump, Men's Triple Jump; 4:00 p.m.: Women's High Jump, Men's High Jump; 5:00 p.m.: Mile Run, 60-Meter Hurdles, 500-Meter Dash, 60-Meter Dash, 800-Meter Run, 300-Meter Dash, Mile Relay (women compete first in all running events)
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
Maria Mettler, fresh off of a stellar cross country campaign, will compete in the prestigious 5000-meter run at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Saturday, Dec. 7. That event, which is slated to begin at 4:40 p.m. (ET), will be held at the BU Track and Tennis Center and be broadcast live on FloTrack.
LOOK WHO'S BACK
Air Force's roster includes one indoor All-American (Michael Rhoads: 800-meter run), four Mountain West indoor championships (Zachary Dicken: 400-meter dash; Maria Mettler: 5000-meter run; Rhoads: 800-meter run; Connor Stevens: pole vault) and two members of the winning 4x400-meter relay (Dicken, Luke Zuluaga). The squad's indoor lineup also includes two individual record holders – Rhoads (800-meter run), Aubrey Ridgeway (200-meter dash) – and members of three record-setting relay teams – men's 4x400 (Dicken, Rhoads), women's 4x400 (Kelsey Owens, Ridgeway), women's distance medley relay (Mahala Norris, Owens).
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
The Air Force Holiday Open is the first of five home meets for the Falcons during the indoor season. In addition to the December meet, the team will host the Air Force Invitational (Jan. 16-18), the Air Force Team Challenge (Feb. 7) and the Air Force Collegiate Open (Feb. 21) at the Cadet Field House.
ON THE SIDELINES
Ralph Lindeman, a 17-time conference coach of the year and six-time regional coach of the year, returns for his 31st season as the head coach of the Air Force track and field program. Lindeman, who oversees the Falcons' multi-event athletes, is joined on the sidelines by associate head coach Scott Steffan (vertical jumps) and assistant coaches Ryan Cole (middle distance/distance), Matt Layten (middle distance/distance), Dana Lyon (javelin) and Justin Wickard (sprints/hurdles). The Falcons' staff also includes volunteer coaches Hannah Everson (middle distance/distance), Bob Graf (horizontal jumps), Greg Hull (pole vault), Mark Stanforth (middle distance/distance) and Kara Winger (javelin).
HOME SWEET HOME
A total of 13 Falcons hail from the state of Colorado, including four from Colorado Springs – Terrell Bradford (Palmer), Maria Mettler (Air Academy), Aaliyah Ricketts (Widefield), Erika Willis (The Classical Academy) – and one from Monument – Drew Lester (Palmer Ridge). The squad's Centennial State roster also includes individuals from Brighton (Cameron Harris), Highlands Ranch (Luke Arkell, Shannon Osoba), Longmont (Ben Bi), Parker (Ryan Johnson, Scott Johnson), Sterling (Jace Pittman) and Superior (Heidi Liles).
COMING UP
The Falcons return to action on Jan. 10-11, when they travel to Boulder, Colo., for the Potts Indoor Invitational.
Players Mentioned
100m / 200m
/ Track and Field
1500m / 5000m
/ Track and Field
100m / 200m
/ Track and Field
400m
/ Track and Field
110m Hurdles / 400m Hurdles
/ Track and Field
1500m / 5000m
/ Track and Field
1500m
/ Track and Field
1500m
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
1500m / 5000m
/ Track and Field
800m / 1500m
/ Track and Field
800m
/ Track and Field
400m
/ Track and Field
Discus
/ Track and Field
800m
/ Track and Field
Long Jump / Triple Jump
/ Track and Field
400m / 200m
/ Track and Field
Decathlon / Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
400m / 200m
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