Falcons Dominate Weekly MW Awards
12/7/2021 1:05:00 PM | Track and Field
Sam Gilman, Collin Schulz, Katie Thompson and Katie Schlather combined for five MW awards.
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – After a strong start to the indoor track and field season, Air Force claimed a record haul of weekly awards from the Mountain West this afternoon (Dec. 7), as the Falcons accounted for five of the league's six weekly awards. Air Force swept the men's honors, as junior Sam Gilman was named the MW Men's Track Athlete of the Week and freshman Collin Schulz captured both the MW Men's Field Athlete of the Week and the MW Men's Freshman of the Week accolades. The Falcons also claimed a pair of honors on the women's side with the recognition of sophomore Katie Thompson (MW Women's Field Athlete of the Week) and freshman Katie Schlather (MW Women's Freshman of the Week).
Gilman claimed the fourth MW track award of his career after shattering the Air Force and Mountain West Record in the 5000-meter run at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Dec. 4. Crossing the finish line in a time of 13:25.17, he obliterated the 11-year-old Academy Record by more than 16 seconds and took nearly 15 seconds off the MW Record that was set in 2019. With that time – a personal improvement of nearly 24 seconds, finished fourth amongst collegiate runners – and seventh overall – in the 137-runner field. Gilman, just two weeks removed from an All-America performance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, is ranked fourth in the NCAA at the 500-meter distance.
Schulz had a stellar collegiate debut in the high jump at the Air Force Holiday Open on Dec. 3, en route to the two conference awards. He registered a clearance of 6'10¾" to win that event by two inches and debut in a tie for 10th on the program's all-time standings. The freshman went four-for-five on first attempt clearances, en route to his winning jump and only missed one attempt during that span. With that clearance, Schulz is currently ranked first in the Mountain West and tied for fifth in the NCAA.
Thompson became the first Air Force female to break the 20-foot barrier in the long jump during her record-setting performance at the Holiday Open. With a distance of 20'3", the sophomore easily won the event, holding a foot-and-a-half advantage over the rest of the 19-jumper field. She broke her own Academy Record twice during the four-jump competition, as she posted a (then) record distance of 19'10¾" on her first attempt, before leaping to the 20'3" distance on her second attempt. One of only three women in the NCAA to break 20 feet this season, Thompson is currently ranked second in the nation this season. During the day, she also recorded the third-fastest hurdles time in Academy history (8.72 – a time that is second in the conference and listed among the NCAA Top 50).
Schlather posted the best pole vault clearance by a Mountain West freshman during the opening weekend of the season, as she registered a clearance of 11'11¾" at the Air Force Holiday Open. Posting a height that is tied for the 17th-best mark in Academy history, Schlather was perfect on first-attempt clearances through that bar, which placed her third in the season-opening meet.
Gilman claimed the fourth MW track award of his career after shattering the Air Force and Mountain West Record in the 5000-meter run at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Dec. 4. Crossing the finish line in a time of 13:25.17, he obliterated the 11-year-old Academy Record by more than 16 seconds and took nearly 15 seconds off the MW Record that was set in 2019. With that time – a personal improvement of nearly 24 seconds, finished fourth amongst collegiate runners – and seventh overall – in the 137-runner field. Gilman, just two weeks removed from an All-America performance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, is ranked fourth in the NCAA at the 500-meter distance.
Schulz had a stellar collegiate debut in the high jump at the Air Force Holiday Open on Dec. 3, en route to the two conference awards. He registered a clearance of 6'10¾" to win that event by two inches and debut in a tie for 10th on the program's all-time standings. The freshman went four-for-five on first attempt clearances, en route to his winning jump and only missed one attempt during that span. With that clearance, Schulz is currently ranked first in the Mountain West and tied for fifth in the NCAA.
Thompson became the first Air Force female to break the 20-foot barrier in the long jump during her record-setting performance at the Holiday Open. With a distance of 20'3", the sophomore easily won the event, holding a foot-and-a-half advantage over the rest of the 19-jumper field. She broke her own Academy Record twice during the four-jump competition, as she posted a (then) record distance of 19'10¾" on her first attempt, before leaping to the 20'3" distance on her second attempt. One of only three women in the NCAA to break 20 feet this season, Thompson is currently ranked second in the nation this season. During the day, she also recorded the third-fastest hurdles time in Academy history (8.72 – a time that is second in the conference and listed among the NCAA Top 50).
Schlather posted the best pole vault clearance by a Mountain West freshman during the opening weekend of the season, as she registered a clearance of 11'11¾" at the Air Force Holiday Open. Posting a height that is tied for the 17th-best mark in Academy history, Schlather was perfect on first-attempt clearances through that bar, which placed her third in the season-opening meet.
Players Mentioned
1500m / 800m
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
High Jump
/ Track and Field
Long Jump / 100m Hurdles
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