Program Record Highlights Air Force Opener

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Backed by the best long jump distance in Academy history and five improvements to the program's all-time standings, the track and field team kicked off the 2020-21 season at the Air Force Holiday Intrasquad on Friday (Dec. 4) night. The Blue Team earned the victory in the meet, outscoring their Silver counterparts by a 112-76 margin.

The meet got off to an impressive start, as freshman Katie Thompson bettered the program's 35-year-old long jump record three times during the first four attempts of her collegiate career. After surpassing Cathy Roberts' previous 1985 mark by nearly an inch in her collegiate debut (18'11¾"), Thompson broke her own mark two more times, posting a distance of 19'1¼", before finishing her four-jump run with a career-best clearance of 19'2¾".

The freshman wasn't done making a statement either, as she and junior Michelle Roca both impacted the program's all-time standings of the 60-meter hurdles. Roca posted a career-best time of 8.87 to match the fifth-best time in Academy history, while Thompson finished close on her heels with a time of 8.92 – the program's eighth-fastest time.

A pair of seniors also impacted the Academy's all-time standings this evening, as Kathleen Medill debuted in a tie for fifth on the high jump rankings with a clearance of 5'8" and Addyson Smith improved her No. 8 placement in the weight throw with a career-best toss of 53'8¼".

Thompson, Medill and Smith were three of the four members of the women's team that recorded victories for the Blue Team, as senior Aubrey Ridgeway won the 300-meter dash in 39.97 – a mark just 0.11 off the program record. The Silver Team earned its first-place marks from Roca, freshman Caitlin McConnell (mile, 5:32.88) and junior Erika Willis (pole vault, 11'5¾").

On the men's side, freshman John Collizzi earned a pair of first-place scores for the Blue Team, recording distances of 22'9" in the long jump and 46'7¼" in the triple jump. He was one of three freshmen to post winning marks for the Blue Team, as classmates Brian Hubbard and Philip Hundl won the 60-meter dash (7.04) and hurdles (8.30), respectively. Junior Frank Rossi (600-meter run, 1:23.10), senior Addison Brown (high jump, 6'6¾"), senior Greg Skage (pole vault, 17'0¾") and sophomore Jaret Prete (weight throw, 57'3") also accounted for first-place finishes for the Blue Team.

Junior Charles Dimnwaobi finished just 0.05 seconds shy of the men's record in the 300-meter dash, as he clocked a time of 34.42 to win that event, while classmate Sean Geither (500-meter dash, 1:04.82) and sophomore Hayden Bullock (shot put (51'7¼") rounded out the event titles for the Silver Team.

The Falcons return to action in January, when they host the Air Force Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

Addison Brown

Hayden Bullock

Charles Dimnwaobi

Sean Geither

Brian Hubbard

Philip Hundl

Caitlin McConnell

Kathleen Medill

Jaret Prete

Aubrey Ridgeway

Michelle Roca

Frank Rossi

Greg Skage

Addyson Smith

Katie Thompson

Erika Willis

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