Air Force Opens Competition at NCAA West Prelim

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Eight Falcons opened competition at the West Preliminary of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this evening (May 23) in Sacramento. The Falcons competed in three finals and two first-round races at Hornet Stadium.

Three Falcons represented the Academy in the pole vault on Thursday and, like the conference championships two weeks ago, all three vaulters – sophomore Mitch Lipe, classmate Greg Skage, senior Sam Hinegardner – recorded matching clearances. Lipe, who cleared the 16'3¼" bar on his first attempt, finished 29th in the 48-vaulter field, while Skage and Hinegardner, who both cleared that height on their second chance, tied for 30th.

Senior Nathan Thomas finished eight spots above his seeded position in the 10,000-meter run, as he clocked a time of 29:55.10 to finish 33rd in the men's race. On the women's side, junior Teri Brady posted a time of 35:55.57 to finish 44th.

Air Force also competed in a pair of first-round races at Hornet Stadium tonight, with junior Michael Rhoads advancing into the second round of the 800-meter run. Crossing the finish line in a time of 1:48.66, Rhoads placed third in his heat for the automatic "Q" into the next round. By running in the fastest of the six preliminary heats, Rhoads' time was also third in the full 48-runner field. Senior Gordon Kowalkowski joined the junior in the fifth heat, posting a time of 1:53.25 to finish seventh in that heat and 47th overall.

In other first-round action on the track, senior Sedacy Walden clocked a 400-meter time of 47.58 to finish fourth in his heat – just 0.11 seconds shy of an automatic qualifying spot from that section – and 35th in the overall field.

The Falcons return to Hornet Stadium tomorrow (May 24) for the second day of action at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men's javelin opens the day at 10:00 a.m., while action continues through the men's 3000-meter steeplechase at 9:00 p.m. (PT).

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