Monday, February 1
Las Vegas, NV
9:00 am MT
Air Force Academy
at
Silver State Challenge
Air Force Opens Cross Country Season on Monday
1/30/2021 10:00:00 AM | Cross Country
The 27th-ranked Falcons kick off the Spring 2021 season at the Silver State Challenge.
The Air Force cross country team, which includes the 27th-ranked men's and women's squads, finally kicks off its delayed 2020 season this Monday (Feb. 1), when it travels to Las Vegas, Nev., for the Silver State Collegiate Challenge at Craig Ranch Regional Park.
MEET INFORMATION
The Silver State Collegiate Challenge, hosted by USATF Nevada and held at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas, will feature six total races (three men's 8K races, three women's 6K races). Air Force, which kicks off the day with two runners in the men's open race, will compete in the women's Blue Race at 9:00 a.m. (PT) and the men's Yellow Race one hour later. The entire event will be streamed live on FloTrack, though their subscription service, while real-time results will be available at NTS Timing. (direct links to both can be found on the team's schedule page at GoAirForceFalcons.com).
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Spectators will not be allowed at the meet.
LET'S MEET THE FIELD
The men's Yellow Race features five nationally ranked programs – including top-ranked Northern Arizona and No. 2 BYU. The seven-team field also includes No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 18 Washington, No. 24 Weber State and No. 27 Air Force, as well as a Boise State team that is receiving votes in the most recent poll. The women's Blue Race includes a pair of Top 30 teams – No. 13 Boise State, No. 27 Air Force – as well as teams from Grand Canyon, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah Valley and three runners from 18th-ranked Utah.
WEATHER WATCH
Monday's weather in North Las Vegas is forecasted to be partly cloudy, with a high of 61 and a low of 45.
WHEN I GROW UP...
The Falcons' senior class recently received their first job assignment following graduation from the Academy in May. Hunter Boyer (pilot training), Colin Dwyer (combat rescue officer), Scott Johnson (graduate school, then acquisitions officer), Aric Kedge (intelligence officer), Maria Mettler (logistics readiness officer), Alec Schrank (pilot training) and Konrad Steck (pilot training) will continue in the U.S. Air Force, while Drew Lester (space operations) and Mahala Norris (space operations) will transition into the Space Force.
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR
In addition to having three sets of brothers on the team – Scott and Ryan Johnson, Aric and AJ Kedge, Scott and Sean Maison, the men's squad also boasts a pair of second-generation Air Force distance runners. Frank Rossi's father, Frank Sr., was a four-time letterwinner in cross country and track prior to his graduation from the Academy in 1986, while Cole Lindhorst's father, Chris – a member of the first cross country team to claim a WAC championship (1991) – and mother, Grace (O'Neill), combined for 11 cross country and track letters before their graduation in 1994.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE LOCALS
Seven Falcons hail from the Centennial State, including one from Colorado Springs (Maria Mettler) and one from Monument (Drew Lester). Air Force's roster also includes runners from Aurora (Caitlin McConnell), Littleton (Connor Ohlson), Longmont (Ben Bi) and Parker (Ryan Johnson, Scott Johnson).
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Air Force added 11 men and seven women to its roster for the 2020-21 season. The men's freshman lineup features Eli Bennett, Ryan Child, Luke Combs, Jahson Ferguson, Jett Knight, Cole Lindhorst, Sean Maison, Aiden McLaughlin, Connor Ohlson, Alex Patton and Nick Scheller, while the women's list of first-year Falcons includes Rachel Crytser, Rayna Fruchey, Ava Gilliana, Savannah Ledbetter, Caitlin McConnell, Ezzie Posner and Rebecca Wusinich.
THE NEXT COURSE
Air Force returns cross country action next month, when it heads back to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Championships on March 5.
MEET INFORMATION
The Silver State Collegiate Challenge, hosted by USATF Nevada and held at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas, will feature six total races (three men's 8K races, three women's 6K races). Air Force, which kicks off the day with two runners in the men's open race, will compete in the women's Blue Race at 9:00 a.m. (PT) and the men's Yellow Race one hour later. The entire event will be streamed live on FloTrack, though their subscription service, while real-time results will be available at NTS Timing. (direct links to both can be found on the team's schedule page at GoAirForceFalcons.com).
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Spectators will not be allowed at the meet.
LET'S MEET THE FIELD
The men's Yellow Race features five nationally ranked programs – including top-ranked Northern Arizona and No. 2 BYU. The seven-team field also includes No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 18 Washington, No. 24 Weber State and No. 27 Air Force, as well as a Boise State team that is receiving votes in the most recent poll. The women's Blue Race includes a pair of Top 30 teams – No. 13 Boise State, No. 27 Air Force – as well as teams from Grand Canyon, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah Valley and three runners from 18th-ranked Utah.
WEATHER WATCH
Monday's weather in North Las Vegas is forecasted to be partly cloudy, with a high of 61 and a low of 45.
WHEN I GROW UP...
The Falcons' senior class recently received their first job assignment following graduation from the Academy in May. Hunter Boyer (pilot training), Colin Dwyer (combat rescue officer), Scott Johnson (graduate school, then acquisitions officer), Aric Kedge (intelligence officer), Maria Mettler (logistics readiness officer), Alec Schrank (pilot training) and Konrad Steck (pilot training) will continue in the U.S. Air Force, while Drew Lester (space operations) and Mahala Norris (space operations) will transition into the Space Force.
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR
In addition to having three sets of brothers on the team – Scott and Ryan Johnson, Aric and AJ Kedge, Scott and Sean Maison, the men's squad also boasts a pair of second-generation Air Force distance runners. Frank Rossi's father, Frank Sr., was a four-time letterwinner in cross country and track prior to his graduation from the Academy in 1986, while Cole Lindhorst's father, Chris – a member of the first cross country team to claim a WAC championship (1991) – and mother, Grace (O'Neill), combined for 11 cross country and track letters before their graduation in 1994.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE LOCALS
Seven Falcons hail from the Centennial State, including one from Colorado Springs (Maria Mettler) and one from Monument (Drew Lester). Air Force's roster also includes runners from Aurora (Caitlin McConnell), Littleton (Connor Ohlson), Longmont (Ben Bi) and Parker (Ryan Johnson, Scott Johnson).
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Air Force added 11 men and seven women to its roster for the 2020-21 season. The men's freshman lineup features Eli Bennett, Ryan Child, Luke Combs, Jahson Ferguson, Jett Knight, Cole Lindhorst, Sean Maison, Aiden McLaughlin, Connor Ohlson, Alex Patton and Nick Scheller, while the women's list of first-year Falcons includes Rachel Crytser, Rayna Fruchey, Ava Gilliana, Savannah Ledbetter, Caitlin McConnell, Ezzie Posner and Rebecca Wusinich.
THE NEXT COURSE
Air Force returns cross country action next month, when it heads back to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Championships on March 5.
Players Mentioned
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