Photo by: Isaac Kasten
Fall Sport Senior Spotlight: Drew Lester
10/27/2020 10:12:00 AM | Cross Country
DREW LESTER | MONUMENT, COLO.
CADET SQUADRON 03
CADET SQUADRON 03
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
I spent the whole summer here at USAFA, as the squadron commander of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Squadron. During the first and second periods, the cadre certified as operators on the RQ-11 Raven RPA, and during third period, we instructed three-degree (sophomore) students through our summer curriculum, where we taught them basics on how to fly the RQ-11, mission planning, fundamentals of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and familiarity on our Joint Domain Air Operations Center Simulator.
(Following graduation), I hope to be a Space Operator in the U.S. Space Force and drop Orbital Warfare as my career track. I am also looking forward to marrying my fiancée, Emily.
The COVID-19 crisis has taught me to appreciate and take advantage of opportunities as they come, because the next opportunity is never a given. We may have lost last spring track season, and this upcoming cross country season, but we are still out here grinding and working hard so that when competition does resume, we are in a better position to maximize our potential than anyone in the NCAA.
(Following graduation), I hope to be a Space Operator in the U.S. Space Force and drop Orbital Warfare as my career track. I am also looking forward to marrying my fiancée, Emily.
The COVID-19 crisis has taught me to appreciate and take advantage of opportunities as they come, because the next opportunity is never a given. We may have lost last spring track season, and this upcoming cross country season, but we are still out here grinding and working hard so that when competition does resume, we are in a better position to maximize our potential than anyone in the NCAA.
--
JUNIOR YEAR | 2019: Competed in three meets...clocked a career-best 8k time of 24:40.4 to finish 26th out of 237 runners at the Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invitational...was the No. 3 runner on a team that finished fourth out of 18 teams at that meet...earned a top-10 finish at the UCCS Open after clocking a time of 25:05.0 (ninth of 127)...opened the season with a four-mile time of 21:13.9 to finish within the top half of the field at the Air Force Open (12th).
SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2018: Participated in two meets...finished seventh out of 175 runners in the Black Race at the Fort Hays State Tiger Open...clocked an 8K time of 25:57.2 to pace the Falcons at that meet...opened the season by posting a 5K time of 17:16.9 at the Wyoming Invitational (68th).
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2017: Competed in three meets...opened the season with a 5K time of 16:31.7 at the Colorado State Invitational (89th)...clocked an 8K time of 28:25.4 to finish within the top half of the field at the Rocky Mountain Shootout (64th)...added an 8K time of 27:33.2 to finish 40th at the Woody Greeno Invitational.
HIGH SCHOOL: Palmer Ridge High School...member of two Colorado 4A state champion cross country teams (2014, 2016)... finished sixth at that meet as a senior...also ran on the 2015 team that finished second...member of the track and field teams that captured the state title in 2014 and 2015...finished fifth in the 1600-meter run at the 2016 meet...first-team academic all-state selection.
PERSONAL: Full name is Andrew Mark Lester...goes by Drew...nickname is "Latch"...son of Mark Lester and Colleen McCrary...mother is a 1991 Academy graduate and separated from the Air Force after eight years as a captain...father also served in the Air Force, separating after seven years as a captain...has one younger brother...majoring in geospatial sciences...future plans include working in the space program...served as the squadron commander for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) program over the summer...named to the Athletic Director's List...hobbies include cooking, listening to podcasts and collecting shoes...member of Cadet Squadron 03.
SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2018: Participated in two meets...finished seventh out of 175 runners in the Black Race at the Fort Hays State Tiger Open...clocked an 8K time of 25:57.2 to pace the Falcons at that meet...opened the season by posting a 5K time of 17:16.9 at the Wyoming Invitational (68th).
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2017: Competed in three meets...opened the season with a 5K time of 16:31.7 at the Colorado State Invitational (89th)...clocked an 8K time of 28:25.4 to finish within the top half of the field at the Rocky Mountain Shootout (64th)...added an 8K time of 27:33.2 to finish 40th at the Woody Greeno Invitational.
HIGH SCHOOL: Palmer Ridge High School...member of two Colorado 4A state champion cross country teams (2014, 2016)... finished sixth at that meet as a senior...also ran on the 2015 team that finished second...member of the track and field teams that captured the state title in 2014 and 2015...finished fifth in the 1600-meter run at the 2016 meet...first-team academic all-state selection.
PERSONAL: Full name is Andrew Mark Lester...goes by Drew...nickname is "Latch"...son of Mark Lester and Colleen McCrary...mother is a 1991 Academy graduate and separated from the Air Force after eight years as a captain...father also served in the Air Force, separating after seven years as a captain...has one younger brother...majoring in geospatial sciences...future plans include working in the space program...served as the squadron commander for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) program over the summer...named to the Athletic Director's List...hobbies include cooking, listening to podcasts and collecting shoes...member of Cadet Squadron 03.
Ryan Cole Interview - December 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Ryan Cole Interview - November 20th, 2025
Thursday, November 20
Ryan Cole interview Sept 30, 2025
Tuesday, September 30
Ryan Cole Interview - September 30th, 2025
Tuesday, September 30
