
Photo by: Trang Le
Track & Field to Open Season with Holiday Intrasquad
12/2/2020 3:54:00 PM | Track and Field
The program's first intrasquad meet will begin at 4:00 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 4.
The Air Force track and field team kicks off the 2020-21 season – and ends a nine-month hiatus from competition – this Friday (Dec. 4), when it hosts its first Holiday Intrasquad Meet at the Academy's Cadet Field House.
MEET INFORMATION
The Air Force Holiday Intrasquad, which will kick off a busy indoor season at the Cadet Field House, is slated to begin on the field at 4:00 p.m. (a complete schedule of events is listed below). Live results will be available via GoAirForceFalcons.com (a direct link is available on the team's schedule page and will update once the first results are entered), while in-meet updates and highlights will be posted on the team's official Twitter page (@af_tfxc).
NOTICE FOR SPECTATORS
Due to COVID restrictions at the Academy, spectators will be not be allowed for Air Force track and field meets until further notice.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
4:00 p.m.: Women's Weight Throw, followed by Men's Weight Throw, Women's Shot Put, Men's Shot Put; 4:00 p.m.: Men's Pole Vault, followed by Women's Weight Throw; 4:00 p.m.: Women's Long Jump; 4:00 p.m.: Men's High Jump, followed by Women's High Jump; 4:45 p.m.: Men's Long Jump; 5:30 p.m.: Women's Triple Jump; 5:30 p.m.: Men's Triple Jump; 6:00 p.m.: 60-Meter Hurdles, followed by 500-Meter Dash, 60-Meter Dash, Mile (women only), 600-Meter Run (men only), 300-Meter Dash (women will compete first in all running events, unless otherwise noted).
LONG TIME COMING
In a sport that normally features a seamless transition between the cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons, a total of 280 days have separated the Falcons from their last competition. With the on-going coronavirus pandemic forcing the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships and outdoor season, as well as the postponement of the 2020 cross country season, the Falcons' last competition was the final day of the 2020 Mountain West Indoor Championships on Feb. 29.
HOME SWEET HOME
A total of 15 Falcons hail from the state of Colorado, including six from the Colorado Springs/Monument area – Braeden Holcombe, Drew Lester, Maria Mettler, Aaliyah Ricketts, Erika Willis and Kristina Willis. The squad's Centennial State roster also includes individuals from Aurora (Jackson Connelly, Caitlin McDonnell), Brighton (Cameron Harris), Highlands Ranch (Luke Arkell), Littleton (Connor Ohlson), Longmont (Ben Bi), Parker (Ryan Johnson, Scott Johnson) and Sterling (Jace Pittman).
LOOK WHO'S BACK
Air Force's roster includes one indoor All-American (Maria Mettler: 5000-meter run in 2020), four Mountain West Indoor champions (Zachary Dicken: 400-meter dash in 2019; Mitch Lipe: pole vault in 2020; Maria Mettler: 3000-meter run in 2020, 5000-meter run in 2019; Wyatt Murphy: heptathlon in 2020) and two members of winning 4x400-meter relays (Dicken in 2018 and 2019, Luke Zuluaga in 2019). The squad's indoor lineup also includes two Academy record holders – Aubrey Ridgeway (200-meter dash), Mahala Norris (mile run) – and members of three record-setting relay teams – men's 4x400-meter relay (Dicken), women's 4x400-meter relay (Ridgeway), women's distance medley relay (Norris).
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
The Air Force Holiday Intrasquad is the first of several home meets on the Falcons' schedule for the indoor season. In addition to the December meet, the team will host the Air Force Invitational on Jan. 21-23 and the Air Force Collegiate Open on Feb. 19. However, due to the ever-changing nature of scheduling this year, additional home meets may be added and announced at a later date.
ON THE SIDELINES
Ralph Lindeman, a 17-time conference coach of the year and six-time regional coach of the year, returners for his 32nd season as the head coach of the Air Force track and field team. Lindeman, who oversees the Falcons' multi-event athletes and horizontal jumpers, is joined on the sidelines by associate head coach Scott Steffan (pole vault) and assistant coaches Ryan Cole (middle distance/distance), Matt Layten (middle distance/distance), Dana Lyon (throws) and Devin West (sprints/hurdles). The Falcons' coaching staff also includes volunteer coaches Bob Graf (high jump) and Mark Stanforth (middle distance/distance).
COMING UP
The Falcons return to action on Jan. 21-23, when they host the annual Air Force Invitational.
MEET INFORMATION
The Air Force Holiday Intrasquad, which will kick off a busy indoor season at the Cadet Field House, is slated to begin on the field at 4:00 p.m. (a complete schedule of events is listed below). Live results will be available via GoAirForceFalcons.com (a direct link is available on the team's schedule page and will update once the first results are entered), while in-meet updates and highlights will be posted on the team's official Twitter page (@af_tfxc).
NOTICE FOR SPECTATORS
Due to COVID restrictions at the Academy, spectators will be not be allowed for Air Force track and field meets until further notice.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
4:00 p.m.: Women's Weight Throw, followed by Men's Weight Throw, Women's Shot Put, Men's Shot Put; 4:00 p.m.: Men's Pole Vault, followed by Women's Weight Throw; 4:00 p.m.: Women's Long Jump; 4:00 p.m.: Men's High Jump, followed by Women's High Jump; 4:45 p.m.: Men's Long Jump; 5:30 p.m.: Women's Triple Jump; 5:30 p.m.: Men's Triple Jump; 6:00 p.m.: 60-Meter Hurdles, followed by 500-Meter Dash, 60-Meter Dash, Mile (women only), 600-Meter Run (men only), 300-Meter Dash (women will compete first in all running events, unless otherwise noted).
LONG TIME COMING
In a sport that normally features a seamless transition between the cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons, a total of 280 days have separated the Falcons from their last competition. With the on-going coronavirus pandemic forcing the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships and outdoor season, as well as the postponement of the 2020 cross country season, the Falcons' last competition was the final day of the 2020 Mountain West Indoor Championships on Feb. 29.
HOME SWEET HOME
A total of 15 Falcons hail from the state of Colorado, including six from the Colorado Springs/Monument area – Braeden Holcombe, Drew Lester, Maria Mettler, Aaliyah Ricketts, Erika Willis and Kristina Willis. The squad's Centennial State roster also includes individuals from Aurora (Jackson Connelly, Caitlin McDonnell), Brighton (Cameron Harris), Highlands Ranch (Luke Arkell), Littleton (Connor Ohlson), Longmont (Ben Bi), Parker (Ryan Johnson, Scott Johnson) and Sterling (Jace Pittman).
LOOK WHO'S BACK
Air Force's roster includes one indoor All-American (Maria Mettler: 5000-meter run in 2020), four Mountain West Indoor champions (Zachary Dicken: 400-meter dash in 2019; Mitch Lipe: pole vault in 2020; Maria Mettler: 3000-meter run in 2020, 5000-meter run in 2019; Wyatt Murphy: heptathlon in 2020) and two members of winning 4x400-meter relays (Dicken in 2018 and 2019, Luke Zuluaga in 2019). The squad's indoor lineup also includes two Academy record holders – Aubrey Ridgeway (200-meter dash), Mahala Norris (mile run) – and members of three record-setting relay teams – men's 4x400-meter relay (Dicken), women's 4x400-meter relay (Ridgeway), women's distance medley relay (Norris).
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
The Air Force Holiday Intrasquad is the first of several home meets on the Falcons' schedule for the indoor season. In addition to the December meet, the team will host the Air Force Invitational on Jan. 21-23 and the Air Force Collegiate Open on Feb. 19. However, due to the ever-changing nature of scheduling this year, additional home meets may be added and announced at a later date.
ON THE SIDELINES
Ralph Lindeman, a 17-time conference coach of the year and six-time regional coach of the year, returners for his 32nd season as the head coach of the Air Force track and field team. Lindeman, who oversees the Falcons' multi-event athletes and horizontal jumpers, is joined on the sidelines by associate head coach Scott Steffan (pole vault) and assistant coaches Ryan Cole (middle distance/distance), Matt Layten (middle distance/distance), Dana Lyon (throws) and Devin West (sprints/hurdles). The Falcons' coaching staff also includes volunteer coaches Bob Graf (high jump) and Mark Stanforth (middle distance/distance).
COMING UP
The Falcons return to action on Jan. 21-23, when they host the annual Air Force Invitational.
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