Air Force Splits for Two Weekend Meets

The Air Force track and field team splits for a pair of competitions this weekend. The majority of the team will travel to Lubbock for the Texas Tech Open on Jan. 28-29, while a handful of runners will make a return trip to Boulder for the Colorado Invitational on Jan. 29.

MEET INFORMATION
The Texas Tech Open will be held Friday and Saturday (Jan. 28-29), at the Red Raiders' Sports Performance Center (a complete schedule of events is listed below). The Falcons will be joined by Abilene Christian, Arizona, Auburn, Boise State, Central Arkansas, Florida State, Incarnate Word, Kansas State, New Mexico JC, North Texas, Northwestern State, Oklahoma, San Diego State, Stephen F Austin (No. 20 women), Tarleton, TCU, Texas A&M (No. 7 men, No. 10 women), Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas Tech (No. 3 men, No. 4 women), UT Arlington, West Texas A&M, and Western Texas. Admission is $8 each day and purchased on TexasTech.com. Fans must also adhere to Texas Tech's "Clear Bag Policy". The meet will be streamed live on Big 12 Now (ESPN+), while live results will be available via Prime Time Timing.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
FRIDAY: 5:00 p.m.: 60-Meter Hurdles (prelims); 5:00 p.m.: Women's Long Jump; 5:00 p.m.: Men's Long Jump; 5:30 p.m.: Women's Pole Vault (B section); 5:35 p.m.: 60-Meter Dash (prelims); 7:05 p.m.: 60-Meter Hurdles (semifinals); 7:30 p.m.: Men's Weight Throw (B section); 7:35 p.m.: 60-Meter Dash (semifinals); 7:45 p.m.: 400-Meter Dash; 8:00 p.m.: Men's Pole Vault (B section); 8:45 p.m.: 60-Meter Hurdles (final), followed by 60-Meter Dash (final); SATURDAY: 11:30 p.m.: Men's Shot Put (B section); 12:30 p.m.: 800-Meter Run; 1:00 p.m.: Men's High Jump; 1:00 p.m.: Women's High Jump; 1:30 p.m.: Men's Triple Jump; 1:40 p.m.: 200-Meter Dash; 3:35 p.m.: 4x400-Meter Relay (women compete first in all running events).

BUT WAIT, WE'RE NOT DONE …
A handful of Falcons will travel to Boulder for running portion of the Colorado Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 29. Action will begin at 11:00 a.m. (MT) and, with the men competing first, be contested in the following order – mile run, 60-meter hurdles, 60-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, 200-meter dash, 3000-meter run. Admission is $8 for spectators on Saturday. Only water is allowed inside the IPF and fans must wear masks and adhere to Colorado's "Clear Bag Policy". Live results will be available via CUBuffs.com/TrackLive.

AIR FORCE IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Four Falcons are listed among the nation's Top 20 in this week's TFRRS standings, with Sam Gilman and Wyatt Murphy holding placements Top 10 marks. Gilman is listed fourth in the 5000-meter run (13:25.17) – and 12th in the mile (3:57.52a), while Murphy is ranked eighth in the heptathlon following a 5442-point performance. Katie Thompson is listed 13th in the long jump with a distance of 20'3" and Braeden Holcombe rounds of the Falcons' top-20 quartet with a 5284 total in the heptathlon.

HEADING HOME
Fifteen Falcons hail from the state of Texas – including 11 that are on this week's travel roster: Will Broadus (League City), Ryan Brown (Aledo), Darek Hackett (Houston), Philip Hundl (El Campo), Zoe Iwu (Houston), Seth Meador (Denton), Robert Postell (Cypress), Taylor Rioux (Austin), Jalan Rivers (Humble), Katie Schlather (The Woodlands) and LaShawn Taylor (San Antonio).

MEN RANKED 32ND IN PRESEASON POLL
The men received a No. 32 placement in the USTFCCCA preseason poll – their highest preseason ranking since the start of the 2016 season (No. 31), while the women earned a No. 89 placement.

COMING UP
Air Force returns to the Academy next Friday (Feb. 4) to host the Invitational at the Peak. Action is slated to begin at 10:00 am (MT), inside the Cadet Field House.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ryan Brown

Sam Gilman

Darek Hackett

Braeden Holcombe

Philip Hundl

Zoe Iwu

Seth Meador

Wyatt Murphy

Robert Postell

Taylor Rioux

Jalan Rivers

Katie Schlather

LaShawn Taylor

Katie Thompson

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