Michael Rhoads Shatters Record in All-American Performance

AUSTIN, Texas – Air Force junior Michael Rhoads shattered his own Academy Record and became the program's first Outdoor All-American in the 800-meter run this evening (June 7) during a sixth-place performance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas.

Rhoads posted a career-best time of 1:46.58 to crush the previous Academy Record of 1:47.10 that he set earlier this season at the Mt SAC Relays. Competing in temperatures that hovered around 90-degrees at Mike A. Myers Stadium, the junior found himself near the back of the pack when the group broke out of their lanes. As the bell sounded for the final lap, Rhoads made his move and picked off a pair of competitors to easily finish sixth and secure his First-Team status.

It is the second First-Team All-America accolade of the year for Rhoads, who also captured First-Team status with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

With tonight's sixth-place finish, Rhoads became the first member of the men's program to earn All-America status in the outdoor 800-meter run – and just the second overall (Annette Eichenberger, 2014). He is also the first Air Force athlete of to earn All-America honors in the same running event during the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Air Force concludes action at the NCAA Outdoor Championships tomorrow (June 8), when senior Jaci Smith competes in the finals of the 5000-meter run at 7:25 p.m. (CT).

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