Falcons Open Season Hosting AFXC Open

The Air Force cross country team, which includes a men's squad that is receiving votes in the preseason coaches poll, kicks off the 2021 campaign this weekend, when it hosts the AFXC Open on Saturday, Sept. 4. The meet, which will take place at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs, is slated to begin at 7:30 a.m. (NEW TIME).

MEET INFORMATION
The annual AFXC Open will take place near the north end playground area at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs. The men's four-mile race will begin at 7:30 a.m., while the women's three-mile race will follow.

DIRECTIONS
Spectators driving from the Academy to Monument Valley Park should take I-25 south to Fillmore Street (exit 145). After exiting the interstate, turn left onto W. Fillmore Street, right onto N. Cascade Ave, and right onto E. Fontenaro Street. Parking is located along Fontenaro Street and the north playground area is located down the hill.

MEN RECEIVE VOTES IN USTFCCCA PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The Air Force men received 28 votes in the USTFCCCA Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released on Aug. 31 – to sit at No. 33 in the overall standings and just 14 points out of the Top 30. It is the fifth-straight year that the men have been mentioned in the season-opening poll.

MEN PICKED AS MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON FAVORITE
The men were selected as the preseason favorite of the Mountain West during the annual preseason coaches poll, which was released on Aug 25. The Falcons accounted for five of the nine first-place votes and 61 total points. On the women's side, Air Force was picked to finish within the top half of the conference (fifth) and just eight points out of the top three.

LOOK WHO'S BACK
With the return of Luke Combs, Sam Gilman, Ryan Ioanidis, Ryan Johnson, Will Kitzhaber, and Scott Maison, Air Force brings back all but one of its seven all-conference runners from last season's Mountain West championship squad – a lineup that also led Air Force to a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

SENIOR SALUTE
The Falcons are led by 10 seniors during the 2021 season, including Garrett Blenkush, Mikayla Gallagher, Ryan Ioanidis, AJ Kedge, Jenna Kill, Will Kitzhaber, Frank Rossi, Adrianna Wilder, Joseph Wittig, and Matt Zacharias.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE LOCALS
A pair of Falcons – Ryan Johnson (Parker), Connor Ohlson (Littleton) – hail from the Centennial State.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Air Force added six women and four men to its lineup for the 2021 season, including Garrett Gallaher, Halle Hamilton, Bryce Lentz, Amalie Mills, Lindsey Peters, Ally Peterson, Jason Renze, Walter Sellers, Tiaree Towler, and Sydney Weaber.

THE NEXT COURSE
Air Force returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 18, when it travels to Lincoln, Neb., for the annual Woody Greeno Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

Garrett Blenkush

Luke Combs

Mikayla Gallagher

Garrett Gallaher

Sam Gilman

Halle Hamilton

Ryan Ioanidis

Ryan Johnson

AJ Kedge

Jenna Kill

Will Kitzhaber

Bryce Lentz

Scott Maison

Amalie Mills

Lindsey Peters

Ally Peterson

Jason Renze

Frank Rossi

Walter Sellers

Tiaree Towler

Sydney Weaber

Adrianna Wilder

Joseph Wittig

Matt Zacharias

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