Former Falcons Head to Olympic Trials

EUGENE, Ore. – Seven graduates of the Air Force track and field program will compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which begin on Friday (June 18) at the newly-renovated Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., and continue through Sunday, June 26.

The Falcons' lineup of alumni includes recent 2021 graduates Maria Mettler (10,000-meter run) and Mahala Norris (3000-meter steeplechase), who are coming off of a stellar weekend at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene (a third-place 10K finish for Mettler and a steeplechase title for Norris). The additional lineup of track and field graduates includes five members of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) – Michael Rhoads (Class of 2020; 800-meter run), Jaci Smith (Class of 2019; 10,000-meter run), Shelley Spires (Class of 2018; high jump), Kyle Pater (Class of 2017; pole vault), and Hannah Everson (Class of 2016; 10,000-meter run).

Friday, June 18
4:45 p.m. – Women's High Jump, Qualifying (Spires)
5:26 p.m. – Men's 800-Meter Run, First Round (Rhoads)

Saturday, June 19
4:30 p.m. – Men's Pole Vault, Qualifying (Pater)
7:04 p.m. – Men's 800-Meter Run, Semifinal (Rhoads)

Sunday, June 20
5:50 p.m. – Women's High Jump, Finals (Spires)
6:35 p.m. – Women's 3000-Meter Steeplechase, First Round (Norris)

Monday, June 21
3:30 p.m. – Men's Pole Vault, Final (Pater)
5:28 p.m. – Men's 800-Meter Run, Final (Rhoads)

Thursday, June 24
8:47 p.m. – Women's 3000-Meter Steeplechase, Final (Norris)

Saturday, June 26
6:44 p.m. – Women's 10,000-Meter Run, Final (Everson, Mettler, Smith)

All times local to site (Pacific). The top three finishers in each event will make up the United States' track and field team that will compete the Olympic Games next month in Tokyo. NBC Sports Group will provide coverage over all eight nights, including six in primetime on NBC, while NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app will present streaming coverage of select field events.

The Academy has accounted for two track and field Olympians in its history, including Alonzo Babers, a 1983 graduate who captured Gold medals in the 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, and Cale Simmons, a 2013 graduate who finished 13th in his qualifying group of the pole vault at the 2016 Games in Rio. In addition, head coach Ralph Lindeman served as the Team USA coach for the jumps, pole vault and decathlon at the 2004 Games in Athens, where athletes he coached accounted for two Gold and five Silver medals, and as a scheduling manager at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

Players Mentioned

Maria Mettler

Mahala Norris

Michael Rhoads

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