Falcons Continue Action at Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Air Force Relay record book received several major improvements today (April 26) in Des Moines, as members of the track team continued action at the 110th Drake Relays. Highlighted by three of the three-fastest non-traditional relays in Academy history, the squad impacted the program's all-time standings in every relay event contested on Friday.

The Falcons kicked off the day with a pair of top-five finishes – and top-three Air Force times – in the 4x1600-meter relays. The men's squad of sophomore Scott Johnson, junior Patrick Sullivan, senior Noah Riley and classmate Jacob Bilvado combined for the second-fastest time in Academy history (16:40.31) during a third-place finish in the nine-team race, while the women's lineup of sophomore Mahala Norris, junior Lindsey Blanks, classmate Swathi Samuel and sophomore Maria Mettler posted the program's third-fastest time (19:52.08) to finish fifth out of 13 teams.

In addition to leading off the second-fastest 4x1600-meter relay this morning, Johnson anchored the 4x800-meter relay that accounted for the third-fastest time in program history during the evening session. The relay, which included senior Gordon Kowalkowski, classmate Preston Roche and sophomore Aric Kedge on the first three legs, combined for a time of 7:30.15 to finish ninth in a strong field of competition.

During the qualifying round of racing in the 4x100-meter relay, the quartet of senior Miguel Molas, junior Terrell Bradford, senior Sedacy Walden and classmate Reece Pontious equaled their season-best time of 40.66 – the seventh-fastest time in program history – to finish seventh and advance into tomorrow's final and, in the Falcons' only non-relay event of the day, senior Aryn Maxwell recorded a season-best time of 1:02.31 in the 400-meter hurdles, taking nearly a half-second off of her prior best of 2019.

Air Force wraps up action in Des Moines tomorrow (April 27) with six more relays, while the remainder of the squad makes a return trip to Fort Collins for the Jack Christiansen Invitational.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jacob Bilvado

Lindsey Blanks

Terrell Bradford

Scott Johnson

Aric Kedge

Gordon Kowalkowski

Aryn Maxwell

Maria Mettler

Miguel Molas

Mahala Norris

Reece Pontious

Noah Riley

Preston Roche

Swathi Samuel

Patrick Sullivan

Sedacy Walden

Footer