Falcons Collect Three Titles to Open Potts Invitational

BOULDER, Colo. – Sophomore Ari Martinez kicked off the new year with the sixth-best high jump clearance in Academy history this afternoon (Jan. 10), as the Air Force's field event athletes wrapped up the opening day of the Potts Indoor Invitational in Boulder. The sophomore was one of three first-place finishers for the Falcons, whose small travel contingent combined for seven top-five finishes.

Martinez recorded a career-best clearance of 5'7¼" on her first attempt at that height to debut in sixth on the program's all-time standings, as she tied Kristi Lowenthal's 1996 mark. The sophomore maintained a clean sheet throughout her first four bars to secure the victory in the 15-jumper event.

Air Force claimed three of the four vertical titles today in Boulder, as sophomore Erika Willis and junior Mitch Lipe swept the pole vault titles at Colorado's Indoor Practice Facility. Willis cleared a season-best 11'11¾" to win the 10-jumper women's event, while Lipe recorded a height of 15'11" to finish first out of 12 vaulters in the men's event.

In addition to the three event winners, Air Force accounted for four additional top-five finishes from the field on Friday. Sophomore Jake Hall captured runner-up honors in the high jump, as he recorded a career-best clearance of 6'7" to finish second out of 13 jumpers in that event. Classmate Lashawn Taylor placed third out of 14 athletes in the triple jump with a season-opening distance of 46'1½", while freshman Devin Broxton finished fourth in the 15-competitor long jump field after recording a mark of 20'6½". Junior Addyson Smith rounded out the Falcons' list of top-five finishers, as she recorded a weight throw distance of 50'4½" to finish fifth in her season debut.

The Falcons return to Colorado's IPF tomorrow (Jan. 10) to wrap up action at the Potts Invitational. The only field event of the day (shot put) and all running events are slated to get underway at 11:00 a.m. (MT).

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